Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-24

net of Miss Simpson-all gray shirred
velvet, hurryin' OH her up SOS to have
it to wear. next Sunday. That's to show
Job he needn't wait long for her to
leave off mournin'. Hee-h ee-hee 1"
Il don't believe single word of what
you've said" cried Mrs. Peters in
passion, tits all got up by some one to
make talk
81 had it from her own SELF" retorted
Aunt Sally smartly; Il guess she knows
what she's a-talkin' Of"
Who? Sarah Baeley, did she tell
you?' gasped Mrs. Peters, laying hold
OF the table to support herself.
Sarah Bagley Who's talking of
her? [ amt l got done on her affairs
long ago. Job may marry her If he
wants to- / don't care All said was il
was nip and tuck with her and the wild
der. But [ do know about the gray
velvet bonnet, for Miss Simpson told
me SO herself last night. She ought to
know, for she's a-mak1n' it."
II thought you said you knew some
thin sure about Job marryin' Sarah
Bagley."
"Well, you see if the blue gown don't
fetch him." said Aunt Salley, with a
vigorous nod. 81 tell you | never see
| her look SO nice as she does now I've
| fixed it,
"She never looked nice in her life
cried Mrs. Peters, beside herself with
fear at all her plans gone away, and los
ing her head as she saw her own hand
precipitating matters; "all skin and
bone, as she is, regular scrawny thing
an she couldn't now"
"Well that covers up her neck splen-
did and makes her quite plump" said
Aunt Sally, deity whipping together
the baking materials on the tableend.
II tell you if l did do it, it looks real
glancing up at the big clock "there you
stand, an you goin' to have company in
on you in less than two hours, an all
| this dinner to git"
Unhappy Mrs. Peters saw no reason
to deny this, and flying she now essayed
to do, but it was pretty hard work
weighed with a heavy heart, and as
| each step was taken, and each duty
pronounced done, she confessed over
and over to herself that she would
rather a thousand times see the Widder
Hines installed as her next neighbor
than her invited guest, who was soon to
appear in her blue silk gown. Wild
plans of tumbling down in fit, to have
Abner send word that the dinner party
was given up, even of setting fire to the
heated brain only to leave her more
helplessiy distressed. She flew wildly
hither and thther, one eye on the
clock, and her tongue issuing confused
orders to Aunt Sally, who soon, to use
her own words, grew so nervous she was
"ready to fly off the handle"
II declare to gracious, Mrs. Peters,"
at last she said, sinking down in chair,
the drops of perspiration on her fat face;
81 can't stand it no longer. I've just
gone and put pepper in the puddin'
sauce, Pm SO fustered. I'd druther git
the dinner up alone, if you'll only go
anyway, for they'd orter be here in
half an hour"
"Well, you may them" exclaimed
the little woman, throwing down the
spoon she was basting the huge turkey
with, and marching out with scarlet
countenance. "for Pm most beat out
myself, an fit to drop"
can cross as stick too" said Aunt
Sally, when she was safely off. Land
| don't see what's got into her. [ pity
Abner"
But if Abner were to be pitied then,
what did he not need that night, when
could be no mistake as to Jobs
adherence to the blue gown, and the
guests had all gone. Brother John
fingered a few moments before taking
the train for MixviIle
give had splendid time,'' he said.
NJ ria, an thank you for it. [ don't
know-hem-bu what / ought to tell
you somethin', but it's kind O. awk-
ward, it's come so suddin', hem"
what is it, John?" asked his sister
from the calico-covered rocker, at the
end of her endurance, so tired she did
not care if Aunt Sally were talking off
half the fragments in the kitchen.
"Why, Keziah an mes about made
up our minds to try the rest Of our lives
together. She's lonesome, an som |,
an
John Henderson," screamed the
little woman, bounding from her re 'uge,
and gripping her brothers arm, what
are you thinkin' of? You hain't spoken
you hain't spoken, John?" she de-
manded barshly.
eyes, I have, to-day. Had a good
chance, alone. 1t all came over me at
dinner; twas the best thing in the
world to do. She's our relation, Mira,
you know. | thought you'd be
pleased" he added reproachfully.
Shes after your money" gasped his
sister feebly, loosing her ,ldof him,
ttHd Staggering OdCh 10 uG1 CHdtI, tu
it's too soon after Mirandy's gone to
think of such things"
John coughed. s'Mirandy'd want me
to be comfortable, an [ shouldn't "a
thought of it if [ hadn't seen her to-
day How sort of cosey she's grown.
I'd got used to being lonesome, but I'm
blessed if Pm goin' stand it an longer.
Well, we're goin' to be married
whether you like it or not" With that
he shot out of the door without stop
ping for good-by.
"Abner," said Mrs. Peters feebly.
you'll have to put me to bed. Tell
Aunt Sally to heat the sand bag to lay
at my feet; they're stone cold"
"Shall l stay an put away the turkey
wings an other fxin's?" asked her
husband. ''There were the drumsticks
of the goose an whole duck, an your
riz cake. She's got big bag hangin'
behind the door. Can't you wait
till see to things?"
Don't you say riz cake to me as
long as you live,'' cried his wife in
shrill voice; "an' let her take every