Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-09-10
CROSS PURPOSES.

said ,Ir Perrin, his rcproachfu! gaze
axed upon the fly promenading the
widow, plump wrist. II had hoped,
on reflection you'd come to consider
my prof. osal t,vorably, but it seems
you think you couldn't be happy With
me"
81 couldn't be happy with Roxan-
ma" responded the lady, impatiently;
then, checking herself, she flushed like
the woodbine at the window, and in
her turn gazed upon the itinerating
Ely.
"Oh, if you refuse me on account Of
sister, Mrs. Deery, / really can't take
NC for an answer" cried her snitor,
looking UP with an encouraged air.
The widows gaze never swerved
from the insect, now chatting its stiff
ened little legs upon her thumb.
"You Il have no trouble with get ting
on with sister, III wager,' pursued
the enyor wooer. ''You rarely sec an
eyener tempered woman"
ayes, that's just it, Mr.. Perrin.
Roxann,s s too perfect" broke forth
the lah,', brushing away the fly with
startling energy. 1T would fidget me
TO death TO live with her. She's a
chosen vessel, and I'm only common
elay.'
The widow Deery common clay, in
daed! Mr.. Perrin would have OWNED
the contrary unaided by the ofticious
sunbeam which da rted in at that in
slant TO point out her manifold at
fractions. Being deeply in love, he
took advantage OF his opportunity to
pay a. handsome compliment and to
renew his suit,
For one Intoxicating moment his
fair listener wAvered, but the moment
passed.
FLUSH, please, Mr. Perrin! non't
say any more about it," cried she,
with a. willfu! toss CT her btwtching
brown curls II might core Tor you"
the tremor in her voice was very
nearly his undoing--"I might care for
you, but I couldn't breathe with kox.
annA Think how MY lit tie boy would
WORRY her. She wouldn't speak an
unkiud word, but e:>ry time he lett
sticky finger prints ON a. door I should
feel that She was wishing that he and
his mother had staid away"
II might" Mr.. Perrin paused,
shocked vt his base impulse. Had he
actually been about to remark that
he miSLt provide sister with another
home9 Sister, who, but for devotion
TO his interests might now be matron-
izing Il household Of her own? Dear,
lnitiill Roxanna! Could he ever re-
quite hnr for those weary years OF
watcl,u. beside the couch OF his help
less, dying wife? The full measure OF
her sri-aacritice he had not known at
the time, but he now had no doubt
that iOr UimenaA sake and hia she
had discarded Joel Kirby. No, no;
sister should never he requested to
vacato the dwelling over which she
had ruled SO we'll and SO long And
to Mr.. PERKINS, credit be it stated,
that in the lr,lor OF his passion for
the little widow he closed his lips upon
the d'slul'al words that perchance
might have won her, and strobe forth
from her cottage rejected lover.
III Kirby should want Koxanna
NOW as much as, according to &C
counts, ~ wnrtci her before he won't
10 California. why it might straighsen
things unused he, Flooding dospond-
entity along the path through the
fields; "out they say lie has his eye on
his vo,'>,u Martha. Naturally he
woul! Ar looking forsomebody young
or th;,A sister, she has faded. There
III Oh III women And the lovers
thou:,ht reverted to the buxom wld-
ON, lttIr younG''r than Roxanna, yet
no more t,.lcu than u morning glory
vt sunrise.
Mr.. !'errin's fest had traversed the
meadow ard assembled the slope OF he
pasture adjoining the highway ere his
mind caught up with them. Then he
murmured, half audibly: II wonder
whether Kirby did call this afternoon?
When LAW his team ming over the
ridge. Il struck me might as we'll steal
off throu;h the orchard. Considering
he's in the neighborhood looking up
his cd friends, he can't civilly pass by
RoSa"na, and wouldn't be him
GranCe IN Case--.'
His solloquy merged in allow whis-
tie ot satisfaction. Hehad reached the
bars opposite his own gate, and at the
gatr, his ?orefeet deep in a hollow paw
ed by their impatience, stood Mr..
kirby's gay sorrel.
at the spectacle Mr.. Porrin's heart
bounded within him, and he clutched
the topmost rail forsuppolt. Should
he Lead the forgotten horse away TO
the stable, or should he by so doing
appear to take too much for granted?
He desired to be hospitable, he desired
TO be exceedingly hospitable, but he
he was oyer-zealous for brother in.
law, and thus annoy Roxanna. Sister
was so tastidious
In unprecedented excitement the
habitually easy-going man debated
within himself regarding the course
OF conduct BETTING this exceptional
occasion, and finally Judged it best to
interfere with the probable wooing in
no particular. Accordingly he crept
quietly around to the porch door,
with a surreptitious glance at the sit.
ting-room in passing. A brisk fire o.
chips revealed to him his rather prin
blonde sister seated in a low rocker
before the hearth, and Joel Krby
leaning against the mantel near her
vclubly discoursing. s1.=s:
They've opened the ball without
me, guess" mused the skulking host
facetionsly, as he hitched his chain
along to the kitchen stove to warn