News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-08-29

in his arms Tom, once so sleek, anC
now so ragged, with one eye closed ant
in generally disreputable state. Hi
mistress uttered her favorite little cry o
dismay at this spectacle, whereat Mr.
Wilkins, putting him gently down, said
'Ies, Miss Annie, here he IS; L knew
he'd run away, cause [ heard you call
in him several times to day, so when
went to carry old Mr.. Smiths boots
home to night, who should come rub
bin up ag in me in the street but ole
Tom? I'd never nowed him if hadn't
knowed he was lost. Can [ come in 8
few minutes, Miss Annie." added Mr.,
Wilkins, biushing all over his cherub {
face, partly from embarrassment and
partly from q fearfully tight collar
| which was doing its best to choke him.
"Why yes, Mr. Wilkins, please ex-
cuse me for not asking you before, please
come in; l was so fiustered seeing Tom
looking so, L cutie forgot everything
else, and after all your kindness bring
ing him home too, dear mel" and Miss
Annie flew around to get her easiest
chair for her Wis tor.
Mr.. Wilkins came in and sat down a
trife gingerly, as though he feared
something might break; put his hat ex-
actly under the middle of his crair, and
then sat up and noted the little bright
room with its rosy mistress flying around
to get her wounded pet some supper,
and calm smile of approval broke over
his face.
''Tll do it, he thought "I'll do it
If bust this confounded collar, and I
hope 1 will, for its choking the life out
of me. I'll ask Miss Annie Diamond,
town of Maryville, State of Illinoy;"
and now Mr.. Wilkins knew why he had
liked the sound of these words, they
sounded like license to him-''to be
my welded wife
To think was to act with Mr. Will
kins, and he thereupon laid his honest
heart at the little miliner's feet, when
without word and to his great dismay,
she burst into a flood of tears.
'Bless my heart, Miss Annie Oia-
mond, town of Maryville, State of Hi
noy, he was going to add, but thought
better of it,, "don't, 1 beg, cry I
wouldn't a-grieved you not for nothin'
nor nobuddy," he continued, with a
storm of negatives.
But she kept ON crying for a few
minutes, until observing the concern on
her friends purple countenance, she
stopped crying and said as we'll as she
could, go, Mr. Wilkins, dom t mind me.
am feeling kind of hysteriky this even
ing, and just couldn't help it. You've
been so kind that [ hope you won't
think me ungra teful, but really [ can't
think of marrying you or anybody else.
II was going to marry some one once,
you know, but things went wrong, and
l. never must think of such thing
again, but I'll just stay alone all my
life" " AT which cheering prospect her
tears gushed forth again. - i
"Now that, said Mr.. Wilkins, with
so much earnestness that it is a marvel
that his collar button did not fly, is
utter nonsense. I don't say but we both
lad our youthful romances, but that's
40 earthly reason why we should each
perish with loneliness now. l tell you |
low, if you could see my forlorn room |
ust separated from all This coziness by |.
me wall you'd marry me in purely
spirit Here Miss Annie
,egan to look interested 'tI tell you,"
vent on the sturdy wooer, "this red
ooin with its womanly fiNin's looks like
bit of heaven to me. Come now, An
lie, don't be foolish. I'll try and make
-ou happy, and I'll take care that frost
bitten look see on your face this morn
n don't git there ag'in through any |
ault of mine. / aint goin' to say no |
more tonight, but IN a goin' home, and |
cave you to think about all I've said"
And Mr.. Wilkins, quite out of breath
rom his eloquence and collar, took his
cave.
Annie was surprised to find the ten
ZION about her heart had melted away
md had not killed her, but left her on
he whole much more comfortable.
Meantime things went ON about as
Usual. Tom licked himself respe ctable |
gain. Morning after morning went by, |
lntil it was very near Thanksgiving. |
Every morning Mr.. Wilkins banged his
loor open at exactly the right moment |
o sing out, "And how do you find your
elf this morning, Miss Annie z" and the t
nswer came as usual, "W'y, Mr..
Wilkins, how do you do, sir?" The wood
n both yards was chopped. The feet
nd heads of Maryville were appropr.-
tely covered for cold weather, and one
vening Mr.. Wilkins appeared in his
lelghbor's cosy room.
This time he was not as near strang-
Ilat:on from his collar, which was a
omfOrt, but there was resolute air
bout him that caused gentle futtcr
bout Miss Annie's heart care you
.oin' to James soon +" he asked.
Yes, expect to start day after to-
norrow," she answered.
"Well, what do you say to being
married. up there Thanksgiving even
ng?" suggested this audacious lover
asily.
Miss Annie almost screamed.
"Mr. Wilkins the idea Why /
aven't thing ready" she gasped.
"That don't make mite of differ
nee" calmly replied Mr.. Wilkins. 81
O hate a lot of fuss and feathers, don't
on? Then, too, we can have the par
tion between this room and mine
nocked out while we are gone, and you
an fix 'em up"
Miss Annie was positively spccchless
o after a short pause he arose to take
is leave and added:
"I'll be up night before Thanksgiving
nd make all the arrangements; you
eedn' t be to Il grain of trouble"
Annie knew her cause was lost, but
IL some reason or other she took kindly
} this peremptory wooing. That night
S she was putting her hair up in crimp
lg-pins she laughed as she thought,
Well, that ridiculous man. to think
g should fall in love with me, and see
lg me every morning with these. things
1! It's enough to spoil beauty's
)Oks lat alone minp-T racyOn FOLKS