Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-01-08
MISS MIDF ER MS WEDDING.
ny HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Midfern, and now his words have
4 come true. = 81 M ss =535
There had been q railroad accident
1 on tho Black Rock aud Rewnesvoort
4 Line. " The engineer had been killed
at his post, the telescoped train had
caught fire, one passenger was taken
up for dead. and all the rest were
more or less bruised, wounded and
terrified; and by the way of sequel to
the rest, Miss Midfern's barn was
burned to the ground, with all the
neWly-garnered store Of hay, and the
new patent reaper, which had cost
sucha sum OF money. The farmhouse
itself had narrowly escaped; the cat
tie being at pasture, were Unfortunately,
unhurt. ~ ~
Miss Midfe.n never had been a nerv-
GUS woman, but she was q little pale
as she stood on the front porch, look
ing at the wrecked train, whose
hands were hard at work. @
..How's the young MANI" said Mrs.
Dulcimer, who lived ON the nearest
tarm.
Giles BETTER" said Miss Midfern.
Mrs. Dulcimer sighed. Even in a
railway accident, luck seemed to go on
the opposite side of the boundary
fence, which separated the two estates
of Dulcimer and Midfern. Why, she
asked herself, could not the pleasant
looking young man with the diamond
studs have been flung into the arms of
her four unmarried daughters, instead
OF falling to tho lot of Martha Mid
fern?
"Going to recover" said Mrs. Dull
elmer.
That's what Doctor Palcy hopes"
= "H you want any help in nursing
him" feebly began Mrs. bulcimer.
"Much obliged, Pm sure" promptly
answered Miss Midfern; "but 1 don't
require any assistance"
Mrs. Dulcimer made no reply, but
she glanced obliquely at Miss Midfern
and thought that there was no danger
OF any mans losing his heart to that
wry-faced old maid.
IF it had been my Caroline Augusta,
now, or Hannah! thought Mrs. Dull
elmer, with a thrill of maternal pride.
But there is no accounting for the
freaks of Cupid. Henry Sevior was
young and grateful. DR.. Paley told
him truthfully, that Martha Midfern's
careful nursing had saved his life, and
one autumn evening" in burst of
gratitude, he laid that life at the mid
dle-ayed woman's feet.
"Do you really mean it," said
Martha, who had never had q bonafde
offer OF marriage in her life.
And she blushed red and white like a
girl.
lis it likely that should Jest on
such a subject?" said Harry, earnest
ay:
"But am older than you.
In years, perhaps--yes. But what
difference does that maker"
So Miss Martha Midfern became en-
gagged to the handsomeyoung Georgian
whom fate had drifted to her door.
II supposepeople will laugh at me,"
she thought. "But there-why should
care? He loves me and I love him,
and that is enough. But Iguess we'd
better keep the secret to ourselves
just at present. H.
As the beautiful October woods
blazed forth in their mellow autumn
tints, Mr.. Sevior began to stroll out g.
little way at a time, to sit on me ssy
powders and dream beside merry
little brooks. And one day Hannah
Dulcimer came dancing home from
. q search after nuts in the woods.
Z GIVE seen him, mother" said She
"the Captive Knight The old witch
has let him out of the tower for
awhile: And he's as hand some as d
picture! and oh mother, he is so nice!
And he is coming here this afternoon.
osee the view from Apple Tree Knoll.
May l bake fresh angel cake, mother?
And can Sarah Alice make some van
lila fritters?"
4 "What will Martha Midfern say?"
uttered Mrs. Dulcimer.
'As if that signifedl" gaily retorted
Hannah. who was the Youngest and
prettiest of oil the Dulcimer girls. He
isn't hers, il he?" s~&s ~. Il.
And then she ran upstairs to brush
out her auburn curls, which were
clown into silky confusion by the
"Au, GNU w Puo MGO W1LoI Tue
cluster of blue asters which Mr.. Sevior
had given her.
Nobody was to blame-in these un-
fortunate cases nobody ever is to
blame. But the mischief was all done
before poor Hannah Dulcimer found
out that Harry Sevior was the cap
tive of Martha Midfern's bow and
spear. And Harry himself awakened
! at last to a consciousness of his lies
mistake. ii l. G:&2,,s
He was a Georgian gentleman, how
ever, and honor was }dearer to him
even than love, so he made no sign.
"a Hannah, however, was less reticent
and self-cOntained; and when Martha
Midfern came over to consult, Sarah
Alice Duicimer, who was O. milliner by
trade, as to the wedding bonnet,
Hannah came into the room with red
eyes and burning checks. 1t : II III.
ooh, Martha! Martial" she sobbed.
Il know it isn'tmaidenly, but can't
help it. I love him, and he loves me.
Oh, Martha, be magnanimous and
leave him to me!'' 81 -:..
Hannah, hold your tonguel'' cried
Sarah Alice, greatly scandahzed.
*z 81 cant help it!'' walled Hannah,
wringing her hands and rocking to and
/. fro, like one in mortal pain. II love
him, and he loves me, and he is en-
4 gagged to you, Martha Midfern! oh,
4 what is to be done?" II. = =,
II Martha turned pale, More than
once some linking Of this unfortunate
complication had crossed her mind,
D but she had dismissed it 90 too utter
" impro bable. IS s s.5 . S..
He has never asked for his free.
dom, /" she said, hoarsely
Because he istoo 60 sd too noble!n5s
hvnterica1iv nriat1 Hannnh aye