Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-12-28

just begun, when Fresh Celery AM
Cranberries" stared chalkily white a
her from a leaning black board at tn,
entrance of the grocery.
1t took not many minutes to impair
the news that had been shown to he
by Curiosity and blown to her by The
wind; and as she labored through tn,
brief telling and climbed the dizzy
heights that led to the airy castles shC
had so recently been building for him
his thoughts, as the startling china,
reached him, leaped far and further
ahead Of hers.
At times, it is said, one may live
lifetime in a moment-now it was tina
ages seemed passing with every second
capital invested, houses built, stores en-
largcd, stock bought, Injuries enjoyed
and home and joy and light and cheer
mess all flashed before him like the
sunlit prisms Of a faccted glass.
His dream should come rue Miss
Num-, the niece of the Argentine mill,
i%onaire, should sit at the head OF his
table dispensing his-their-hospitali-
ty. He thought not once Of herself-oi
her pale little face and her slender little
body-they were put out mucn the
same as a weak candlc-fame is outshont
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
dcath-decidedly 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 arc
kindly received. will givsit my serious
attention. Do you please keep the
postal until New Years Day, when, |
hope, you will be able to place it in the
hands of my TJs."
"La, man, how hasty and nice you air.
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. PIN.
lott, as entirely as | shall leave the fix.
ing up of the two rooms upstairs to you.
Do you think that il should buy all the
necessary furnishings immediately-to-
day-that you could put the rooms in OF.
der by day after tomorrow"
"Sakcs alive, sir, but you ar brisk! ]
spect | copId. There's Marth' Allen
dom abslootly nothin', ye might say,
and She's a powerful cleaner, is Marth';
size could help. And could get William
Penn to whitewash and do the heavy,
lifty work-he's 4 purity spry sort o
darky-and, well, 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 Wheatfeld's the snow
lay deep and white and billowy over the
rolling pasture and meadow lands. Not
a blemish or track of any kind marred it:
pure expanse; and, save in the narrow
lane that led past the homestead, nc
sign of life was visible. The snow In
the roadway, though cut and trampled
by many a passing wheel, runner and
hoof, was still so dazzlingly pure tina
old Farmer Wheatield, jogging home
ward along its white length, looked il
the sunset like a rich bit of glowing
color, from the butternut brown of his
wide felt hat to the crimson saddle-clotf
Of his big black mare.
On he came red-cheeked, grizzle-
bearded messenger Of fate-on and on,
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
expcctin' lctters-and here they be! But
| you haint the only ones this time; fol
Miss Num-, she's got one-a r%ipsnortin'
big one, too; and Jest you be a leetle
kcerful, gals, err she'll pass the jedge's
stand fust and win the. race!"
The very improbability of the thing
raised a general, good-natured laugh,
and it was in the midst Of this ''mirth'
full music" that Mercy Num- first
touched the cornerstone of her wonder
full after-lifc. 1t was a goodly-sized cor
n%er-stone, and after she had found {
coy nook all to herself, with many
queer surmises and a pair Of small
shears, opened it.
If old Nick's dreams had pleased hin
how much more did the waking fancic.
of the dear little old maid, who seemed
all at once to DO sailing through heav-
only vistas on the pink clouds Of /;
| strange and glorious sunrise?
That night-late that mig ht-Merc,
Num- answered the letter. Because o
her transport of joy, her ecstacy Of de
light, she could find no words to pleas,
her; so, as answer sufficient to his lonl
and ardent epistle, she wrote four word
only and then signed her name; ant
these words said: II will be ready"
On the last day Of the old year a jan
Cling Of m~any-toned silver bells comm
from the snowy lane drew all eyes wir
downward, and when the melodious nois
grew louder-when the smart liver
rig" came clashing tremendously up
the farmers pillared porch, there was
commotion within doors, and = scuddin
upstairs of every n saw Mercy Num-
who, when a loud knock sounded on
side, went to the door, opened 1t, an
admitted-her lover.
And in an hours time the bells wer
ijangling down the lane again-but no
old Nick was not alone. Miss Num- W
about to pass the judges stand, an
leave the two blooming Misses Whea
field two weeks and three days benin
her,
am certain that not even the glorit
Of a home beyond the sun could hay
dimmed the radiant present that nov
upon this mundane sphere, encircled III
meek little old maiden, as she felt, Il
the first time in all the considerab'
period Of her life, so tenderly cared 70
so protected, so guarded during th'
long ride home.
Every breath was a frosty deligh
every sparkling Recovered twig was
gem for her bridal day! When, at las
tho solemn rite was actually gor
through with, the minister had pockett
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