The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-06-01
SELECT STORY.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

in the brick house on the hill, and she
in the cottage opposite, and they we're
mortal enemies. He despised her be-
cause she kept two cats and a canary,
and she loatted him for his affection
for a huge mastiff and an old knocked
kneed horse.
Wby on earth the man don't try to
get q decent horse is more than can
i'm ,gine !" she would say, as she plod-
ded up to the door. 81 believe that
he is too mean and miserly to buy
one." b. r--ni as1-a
Miss Briggs would have hardly felt
pleased had she known that Mr.. Perry
rode back aud forward on this worn
out piece of borsehesh for the purpose
of annoying her. ''s"
They never spoke, but yet they man.
aged to keep up perfect warfare, by
disagreeable manners and wrathful
glanoes. maa0-rl lsa.
She sat hour after hour beneath the
canary bird in the wirdow, with her
cat perched upon the sill and her knit
ting in her hand, throwing glances of
scorn to the opposite side where he
with cigar and newspaper received and
paid them with interest. -.
His detestable dog came over and
ran through her garden, destroying all
her beautiful tulips and hyacinths and
she gave him a hot bath which sent
him bowling to his master, and when
said master demonstrated, sent word
that she would treat hun worse next
| time.
| Her little red COW broke through his
enclosure and devoured his turnips and
cabbages, and he led her home and in
formed Miss Briggs that a second Of
fence would give her comfortable
pasture in the pound.
For two years they had lived and
fought, and no one could bring about
peace between them. 1t was a pity,
the neighbors all said, for Miss Briggs
was dear little soul and there was not
finer man in the country than Mr.,
Perry. .ste5,
"Julia, my love- said Mrs. Perkins
one afternoon, as she entered the cozy
parlor. 81 am going to have party,
and / want you to come down in the
afternoon to tea and remain during the
evening. .5l ,is
"Will that old bach over the way be
there u e.
"Mr. Perryi Oh, yes! We could
not get along without him."
"Then that settles the matter. |
sha'n't CO."
"Now, Julia, don't be SO foolish
If you remain at home he will think
that you are afraid of him."
Miss Briggs thought the matter over,
Well, it would look little like that,
and she would not have him think 80
for the world-the conceited! I!
Mrs. Perkins went home, aud it was
arranged that Miss Briggs was to
spend the afternoon and remain for the
party. a,oerre
She was pretty little woman, and
it was always a puzzle to every one
why she never married. She had a
round rosy tace, clear brown eyes, and
beautiful hair, and if she was 80 there
was not smarter woman in town.
She stood before the looking glass in
the chamber, and fastened her lace col
lar over the neck of her dress with a
plain gold brooch, and began to think
that she looked very well. There was
bright healthy flush upon her cheek,
and her eyes were full of light and
beauty.
She walked into Mrs. Perkins sitting
room, and found her awaiting her with
a smiling face. She thought that she
must be in very good humor, but
said nothing, allowing the good lady
to smile as long and pleasantly as she
wished.
She understood it all when supper
time came and Mr.. Perkins entered
followed by Mr.. Perry. This was a
well laid plan to make the two become
friends.
Miss Briggs bit her lips and inward
ly vowed that nothing should tempt
her to give "that man" her hand in
friendship. She hated him and always
would. ,.............-..
He was placed directly opposite at
the table, and many times forced to
pass the biscuits or preserves, and Miss
Briggs accepted them, although she de-
clared to Mrs. Perkins after supper
that they nearly ohyked her.
Before evening they were both per
suaded to overlook the horse and COW
difficulty and be civil, and Miss Briggs
was frightened when she found her
self talking to him with easy ana
pleasant familiarity. .-.
The party was success, and al
though the sports were generally mon
opolized by the ounger portion, they
found room for the old maid and her
enemy, and several times they found
themselves doing mosu ridiculous
things in the way of paying forfeits.
AT the end of the evening Miss
Briggs was at the door ready to depart,
when he called:
"Miss Briggs, ! am going right up
your way. Will you ride y
Would she ride behind that old
horse, and beside that detestable man
She was wondering whether she would
or not, when Mrs. Perkins came and
triumphantly led her out and packed
her into the carriage. ~.
1t was as dark as pitch, aud they
bad to let the horse go his own way
and find it best he could He did sc
very we'll until they reached the cot
tage, and then he was bewildered.
Mr.. Perry spoke, jerked the reins
but 10 no purpose. He then took out
the whip. Whether his natural dislike
to that articles or the memories of the
indignities he had suffered from the
hands of the owner of the cottage
overcame him, it is hard to decide, but
at all events he kicked up his heels,
ran few yards and fell, overturning
the buggy and its precious contents.
| Miss Briggs was.up in moment, un-