Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-27
CHAPTER VII.
MATT crows MATRrnoN1AI.

mat night the young man of the caravan
mad curious dreams, and throughout them all
moved, like a presiding fairy, Matt of Aber,
| GYM. Sometimes he was wandering ON
stormy shores, watching the wrecks Of mighty
argosiess again, he was in mysterious cav.
ems underneath the ground searching for and
finding buried treasure; still again, he was
standing ON the decks of storIn-tossed vessels
while the breakers Numbered close at hand
and the halefires burned on lonely headlantls.
But at all times and in all places Matt was
his companion
And, curiously enough Matt in his dream
was very different to the Matt Of waking real
ity: taller and brighter-in fact, as beautiful
as vision can be; SO that his spirit was full
OF strange sensation of love and pity, and
tho touch of the warm little hand disturbed
his spirit with mysterious joy. So vivid did
this foolish dream become at last that he
found himself seated ON a sunny rock by the
sea, by MATHS side; and he was talking to her
like lover, with his arm around her waist
and she turned to him, with her great eyes
nxed on his, and kissed him over and over
again, so passionately-thath he awokel
1t was blowing hard. and the rain was pelt-
ing furiously on the roof of the caravan He
tried to go to sleep again, but the face of
him for a long time awake
snow, young man." he said to himself.
''this is idiotic. In the first place, Matt is a
child, not young woman; in the second
place, she is a vulgar little thing, not young
lady; in the third place, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself for thinking Of senti-
ment at all in such a connection. Is your
brain softening, youngsteT. or are yen labor
ing under the malign influence of William
Joness The kiss you gave to this unsophisti-
Gated daughter of the desert was paternal. or
say, amicable; it was very nice kiss, but it
has no right to make you dream of stuff apd
nonsense
But the influence of the dream was over
him, and in that housekeeping, half-waking
state, he felt like boy in love He found
himself calculating the age of his own friend.
Let him seel it was fifteen years since. in her
own fgurative expression, she stcome ashore. y
and the question remained, How old was she
ON that interesting occasion! As far as ha
could make out from her appearance, she
conld not be more than sixteen. For a danlsal
of that age, her kiss was decidedly precocious.
AT last he tumbled off again, and dreamed
that Matt was young lady of beautiful
attire and captivating manners, to whom he
was engaged" and her speech, strange TO
say, was quite poetical and refined; and they
walked together, hand in hand, to country
church on green hillside, and were lust
going to enter, when who should appear uporf
the threshold but Mr.. Monk, of Monkshurst.
But they passed him by, and stood before the
altar, where the parson stood in his white
robes, and when the parson asked aloud
whether any one saw any just reason or inn
pediment that the pair should be Joined in
v mo Nv, avNx- n.
forward, with a Mephistophelian smile, and
cried, eyes, / do' On which the Young
man awoke again in agitation to find that it
was broad daylight and fine fresh summer
morning.
Whom should he find waiting for him when
he had dressed himself and stepped from tho
house on wheels but Matt herself. Yes, there
she was, as wild and quantity attired as ever,
quite unlike the ethereal individual of his
dreams; but for all that her smile was like
sunshine, and her eyes as roguish and friendly
as ever.
Conscious of his dream he blushed while
greeting her with friendly nod.
well, Matt, here again, ehn he said;
adding to himself, "This WON'T do at all, nv
gentleman; if the young person continues to
appear daily the caravan viii have to move
on"
Matt had evidently something on hernind.
After looking at Brinkley thoughtfully for
some minutes, she exclaimed abruptly:
'sWilliam Jones don't like you neither. No
more does William jones' father
Dear mel" said the young man. S'Tm very
sorry for that
she says-William Jones says-you'rc como
here prying and spying Do you.a
MY dear Matt, replied tho young man
lightly, II come hero as q humble crtist,
seeking subjects for my surprising gcnius to
work upon. Ii it is prying and spying to
attempt to penetrate into the beauties OF ma
ture-both scenic, animal and human-I fear
| must plead guilty; but otherwise
She interrupted him with an impatient ex.
clamation, accompanied by hitch Of her
pretty shoulders.
Don't talk Like tha5; for then know
you're chatting. Talk seriuus, and I'll tell
you something
Albright. I'll DO serious rs {. parson. Go
ahead!'
''Mr. Monl1, OF Monkshurs5, vents tomarry
me. He said otto William Jones.n
The information was delivered with as
sumed carelessness; but after it was given
Matt watched the effect Of It upon the hearer
with precocious interest. Drinlley opened
his eyes in very natural emazement.
sCome, come, hiatt; you're joking"
mo, amt. Its true"
"But You're only a child-avery nice child,
admit to talk Of holy matrimony in
such connection is-excuse my frankness-
preposterous. People Con marry little girls"
But Matt did not consent to this proposition
at ell.
II ain't a little GIRL she affirmed, with O
1Nf of boo yfrv, cs.rfe
I'm growed up.n
Tho young man was amused, and could not
refrain from laughing heartily. But TITO
girls brow darkened as slle watched him, and
her under lip fell as if she would like to cry
''If you go on laughing, !" she said, ''I'll run
straight back home, and never come here no
more"
well, I'll try to keep my countenance;
but the idea is very funny. Really, now,
don't you see it in that light yourselfg''
Certainly Matt did not, to judge from the
expression of her face. Sho turned her head
away; and Brinkley saw, to his surprise, that
a tear was rolling down her cheek.
Come, Matt, he said, kindly; ''you mustn't
take this SO seriously. Tell me all about
it-there's good girl"
81 Wilt you won't laugh.n
81 won't then-there.n
wen, when was lying IN my bed this
morning heard William Jones a-talBing to
some one. He thought was asleep, but |
got up and listened, and heard Mr.. Monks
voice; and he said, says he, She's over six
teen years old, and III marry herr ard VIII
liam Jones said, Lord, Mr.. Monk; what can
you be a-thinkiDg about9 Matt amt old
enough; and what's more she amt fit to be
the wife of fine gentleman Then Mr..
Monk he stamped with his foot, like he docs
when he's in a passion, and be said says he,
My minds made up, William Jones, and I'm
going to marry her before the years out; and
[ don't care how soon Then Iheard them
moving about, and crept back TO bed and
pretended to be fast asleep"
The young mans establishment increased.
There could be no doubt of the veracity and
sincerity of the speaker; and tho story size
told was certainly puzzling Brinkley made
UP his mind, without much reflection, that if
Mr.. Monk wanted TO go through the marriage
ceremony with that child he had some
special and mysterious reason for 50 doing
unless-which was scarcely possible he was
of sentimental disposition, and, in the man
ner of many men advanced toward middle
age, was enamored of MATHS youth and mex
perience.
"Tell me, Matt" said Brinkley, after pom
dering the matter for some minutes; s'tell
me how long have you known this Mr..
Monkf'
Ever since ] came ashore, !" was the reply.
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