The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-12-26

W1nO; ana as she laDOfo0 through the
brief telling and climbed the dizzy
heights that led to the airy castles she
had so recently been building for him,
his thoughts, as the startling climax
reached him, leaped far and further
| ahead of hers. VS.. -. :.
At times, it is said, one may live a
lifetime in a. moment-now it wss that
ages seemed passing with every second,
capital invested, houses built, stores en-
larged, stock bought, luxuries enjoyed,
and home and Joy and light and cheer
mess all flashed before him like the
sunlit prisms of faceted glass!
His dream should come true-Miss
Num-, the niece of the Argentine mill
ionaire, should sit at the head of his
table dispensing his-their-hospitali-
ty. He thought not once of herself-of
her pale little face and her slender little
body-they were put out mucn the
same as a weak candle-fame is outshone
by golden sun rays at noontime; but
she represented his great ambitions, and
he must make her all his own before
she knew of the news of her relatives
enthusiastically before; there would
be plenty of time in which to disclose
that fact afterward; and
"Mrs. Pimlott," he said, "your plans
for my happiness and advantage are
kindly received. will give it my serious
attention. Do you please keep the
postal until New Years Day, when, 1
hope, you will be able to place it in the
hands of my qoVe."
man hovv Nv or1 n;oo ,,o,, -;
never reckoned you'd be so willin' all
at once like. New Years Day is only
three days from now, and"
"You will leave that to me, Mrs. Pim-
lott, as entirely as shall leave the fix
ing up of the two rooms upstairs to you.
Do you think that if / should buy all the
necessary furnishings immediately-to-
day-that you could,p the rooms in Or
der by day after tomorrow
''Sakes alive, sir, but you air brisk!
spect could. There's Martin Allen
doin' abslootly nothin', ye might say,
and she's powerful cleaner, is Martin;
she could help. And could get William
Penn to whitewash and do the heavy,
lifty work-he's a purity spry sort O.
darky-and, we'll, yes. O. course we could
put it all purity ship-shape by Choosdy.
When air you thinkin' o.
81 said: that you were to leave that to
me-" -
And she did.
Out at Farmer Wheatfield's the snow
lay deep and white and billowy over the
rolling pasture and meadow lands. Not
blemish or track of any kind marred its
pure expanse; and, save in the narrow
lane that led past the homestead, no
sign of life was visible. The snow in
the roadway, though cut and trampled
by many passing wheel, runner and
hoof. was still so dazzlingly pure that
old Farmer Wheatfeld, jogging home
ward along its white length, looked in
the sunset like rich bit of glowing
color, from the butternut brown of his
wide felt hat to the crimson saddle-cloth
of his big black mare.
On he came-a red-cheeked, grizzle-
until a. noise of fresh, young voices
greeted him from the breezy altitude of
the high pillared porch.
Letters? Oh, yes, you gals is allus
expeotin' letters-and here they be! But
you haint the only ones this time; for
Miss Mum, she's got one-a ripsnortin'
big one, too; and jest you be leetle
keerful, gals, er she'll pass the jedge's
stand fust and win the race!"
The very improbability of the thing
raised a general, good-natured laugh,
full music" that Mercy Num- first
touched the cornerstone of her wonder
full afteriife. 1t was a goodly-sized cor
ner-stone. and after she had found a
cozy mock all to herself, with many
queer st>'mises and a pair of small
shears, opened it.
II old Nick's dreams had pleased him
how uuoh more did the waking fancies
Of tho dear little old maid, who seemed
ali at >nce to be sailing through heav-
enly fistas on the pink clouds of a
strange and glorious sunrise?
That n;ght-late that night-Mercy
Num- answered the letter. Because of
her transport of joy, her ecstacy of de-
light she could find no words to please
her; So, as answer sufficient to his long
and ardent epistle, she wrote four words
only and then signed her name; and
these words said: II will be ready"
Or the last day of the old year a jan
Cling Of many-toned silver bells coming
from the snowy lane drew all eyes win
downward, and when the melodious noise
grew louder-when the smart livery
rig" came clashing harmoniously up to
the farmers pillared porch, there was
commotion within doors, and scudding
upstairs of every one save Mercy Num-,
who, when loud knock sounded out
side, went to the door, opened it, and
admitted-herlover.
And in an hours time the bells went
jangling down the lane again-but now
| old Nick was not alone. Miss Num- was
about to pass the judges stand, and
leave the two blooming Misses Wheats
field two weeks and three days behind
! her!
am certain that not even the glories
of home beyond the sun could have
dimmed the radiant present that now,
upon this mundane sphere, encircled the
meek little old maiden, as she felt, for
the first time in all the considerable
period of her life, SO tenderly cared for,
so protected, so guarded during that
long ride home.
Every breath was q frosty delight;
every sparkling Recovered twig was a
gem for her bridal day! When, at last,
the solemn rite was actually gone
through with, the minister had pocketed
his neat fee, the grocery was gained,
the stairs assembled, and the newness,
brightness and luxuriant furnishings
Of her new home dawned upon the small