Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-05-02

Hunter. In the first place he was too
old. (He was thirty-hye and Orphies
only eighteen.) In the next he was a
widower with four children, (Orphies,
being an only child, was unused to chill
-dren.) And lastly, he was the crossest-
grained, most misery man that ever eX-
listed.
Every one in Hillwood knew him.
They knew he had been the means of
his first wife's finding an early grave;
and now he wanted to break Miss
brown-eyed Orphies, the pride of the
village, and the admiration of all.
How she came to choose surly, self
ish man like Hector Hunter was Won
der to everybody. It was well known
that blue-eyed, sunnv-faced Charlie
Chester stood ready to lay down his
life for her sake, and that James Single
ton had offered himself to her at least
three times.
Either would have been considered a
good match. and yet it was quite evident
that Hector Hunter was the man she
loved, and she had been known to watch
beside him day and night when he was
Ill and refuse all food till she was sure
he was out of danger.
Yes, Miss French did love him. She
was engaged to him, too, and that sunny
morning in June was to witness her
bridal.
She was to be married in the little
church where she had been baptized,
in the presence of those who had known
and loved her from child.
So what was really nobody's business
was everybody's business, and proved
the topic of conversation throughout
the entire village.
All her girl friends pitied her; all
her male acquainta noes envied Hector
Hunter. All the matrOns bewalled her
fate; all the sires limited that the bride
groom was lucky man.
Finally came the organ peals then
the solemn service-for it was solemn
and then pretty Orphies went down the
aisle leaning on the arm of her sour
looking husband as smillingly as if her
path was strewn with roses, and her
future as clear as lake at even, when
the glory of the setting sun rests upon
its placid bosom.
81 can't afford to take wedding trip,
Orphies," Mr. Hunter had said the
night he slipped the engagement ring
on her finger, and listened to the shy
yves" whispered under the tree that
grew back Of her homse.
''It costs good deal to live nowadays.
The children need clothes, and twill
take fve-dollar bill right out of my
pocket to pay the minister. You won't
care, will you ? You had just as soon
settle down as a sensible woman hadn't
you That is the way my first wife did. T"
And Orphies said Ives, she'd do any
thing he liked" like the dear little
thing she was.
So as soon as her grayhaired pastor
had made her Mrs. Hector Hunter, she
walked quietly across the village COM
mon to the large, gloomy-lOoking house
built on its edge, and closed the door in
the faces of those looking after her with
world of commiseration in their eyes.
'tShe'll regret this act OF hern, or my
name is not Mirinda Highfyer," said
one narrow-minded spinster to another.
She'll look like a wi1ted rose by the
those children" said Miss Dean, the
village dressmaker, to her customer,
Mrs. Flint. Il know all about them.
| once made a dress for the first Mrs.
Hunter, and [ had chance to see
some of their actions"
''We've lost our pretty Orphies for
.ever,' said gray-haired Farmer SIocum.
Crude hands have picked our sweet
briar rose, and there Is none other SO
fair"
ave are going to have Orphies French
for a step-mother, said the Hunter
children, pressing up to the window
common and church. 'She's awful
pretty, but it's a mystery how she came
TO marry father
''You know the young folks SO well,
Orphies that there is no need OF an in
PRODUCTION" said Mr. Hunter, as his
young bride kissed one rosy face after
another, and sat down in his dead wife's
rocking chair with the youngest on her
knee.
when you are rested we will 60 over
the house and take a look at things, then
we viii have some dinner. | dismissed
the housekeeper to-day, as | knew we
should not need her after you came.
Her month was UP, and as a penny
saved is a penny earned, [ let her go.
Rosa Bell is large enough to help you
about the house. She is sixteen, ind as
tall as you are. [ guess you will pull
together first rate.
Pretty Orphies looked at her step
daughter questioningly.
Il hope So" she said quickly. ~ s, }"
kissing her, IT am quite sure that we
shall"
That kiss won Rosa Bell.
Arthur" she said to her twelve-year
old brother, the moment the door
heart l do believe there is a change
coming. The second Mrs. Hunter is
very sweet and smiling, but l should
not be surprised if father had found his
match. She doesn't say a great deal,
bnt there is a look in her eye which
makes me feel funny"
Hell tame her before long," an
swered Arthur, with a knowing shake
Of his head. "She'l have to knock I'M
der the same as the rest Of us. | Won
der if he'll let me go out on the com
mon tonight? The boys are getting
up base ball match. Tom Jones was
here this morning, and made me prom
Use I'd come. The Skinfints are going
to play against the Ironsides, but I'll
bet on the"
"You mustn't bet at all, interrupted
Rosa Bell, tying on her apron aud bust
ling about the poorly spread table in
the room adjoining.
This is fathers wedding day. and it