The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-17

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eyes, I do" persisted Marian. 'T
mean it! Are the calicocs ready,
mother1 It's a pity to miss even an
hour OF this bright sunshine"
SO the farmers daughter returned to
the homely details OF her everyday life;
but In her heart she carried the VOW
she had made in that first hour of her
wounded pride and flial tenderness.
As for AIrs. Calliper, she forgot all
about it. Phobo had left her and
Louise had left her, and so, she roa-
soned, Marion would also, when the
fateful moment camo. Il was only nat
ural. Girls would marry, aud the old
folks must cxpe ct to DO lett to them
selves.
Simon Garry was the first suitor that
came-a welI-to-do young clerk in the
village store.
'Tvo some m oney Of my own," said
he, "and I get thirty-five dollars
month at tho store; and father and
mothcr'll let me have tho south wing
of the farm house to keep house in
without rent. AID I've always loved
you, Marian, since that first Sunday you
came home from your Aunt AIma's AMI
If you IL accept INC, you shan have no
reason to complain"
Il can't leave father and mother"
said Marian, calmly, Fathers helpless,
and mother is growing old, and I'm
the last child at home"
"a man amt generally expected to
marry the whole family" stammered
h..
'And besides, " went on Marian, 'Tll
marry no man until the old farm is out
of dobt, and the hou,o fitted up to look
as it once did. No, Simon-many
thanks to you, but I m in no hurry to
settle yet
And Simon went away, scarcely know
ing whether to be glad or sorry.
Marian Calipcr was, by all odds, tho
pvett1cst girl in the ncighborhood; but
who would marry her, weighted as
she was with old folks and the old
housc7
Neither was Marian herself much dis
turbcd. She liked honest Simon we'll
enough; but as for loving a stupid
oaf like that, it was too ridicu,ou
SAe felt quite differently, however,
when Gilbert Weston asked her,
ono soft September twilight, to be his
wife.
Il don't pretend to bo rich, " said he;
"Jut I can mako nice, cosy little
homo for you, Marian Aud tho rich
est man in all the world couldn't love
you more than l do"
III don't feel prepared to bo mar
ried yet" said Mali,n, intent on a clus-
ter Of tubc-roscs which she had gath
cred from the struggling gaElcn.
81 can wait, Marian" pleaded he.
''Oh, it isn't worth while for you to
wait" said she, hurriodIy--for she
knew that GiIborts slender income
would rot 90 far toward tn oJj3c she
had at heart. "But I hope We shall
always bo-bo fricnds!'
And poor Gilbert withdrew, cut to
tho heart
Tho next day she accepted John Van
dcrbruggcn, the rich squire's 500.
"Hos a suIIen, rough sort of follow,
daughter" said Ms. CaIIipcr, visit
fully. care you sure you love him2'
'II, has promised to cancel the mort
gage" said Marian, exultaqtJy. "And
to put the pace in order; aud he will
let me 1.-Two here with you, dear, and
father. What else could L hope fOr7'
Young gVanderbruggen went home and
told his father of tho bargain he had
made.
"Humphr' gruated the squire,
"Couldn't you have done better than
that2'
"She's got face like a rose" said
Joha. 81 want her; and I'd havo her,
if it cost twice as muchr
"Humphl' again uttered the squire.
'WelI, promises arc cheap. Aud as
long as nothing is put down in black
and white, nobody is boundW
John Wander bruggen chuckled. He
was truo chip of tho old block.
"Do you s'pose didu't know that1"
said he.
The week before the proposed we'd
ding, however, poor old Mr. Calliper
died, quietly sitting in his rocking
chair, and the ceremony was postponed.
Aad one day Marian took courage and
went over to the squirc's house.
"John," said she, "pm sorry If it's
any disappointment to you; but I've
been thinking it overland I can't
marry you. don't love you as wife
should love her husband. 1t was the
money was thinking of-not you.
Hero is the ring and the presents you
have given me. And now go ood-by!'
John Vanderbruggen turned purple
with rage.