The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-04-03
oh, poor mother has died and left me,
and don't know what to dow

III
her coral lip tremblcd. They were old
| acquaintances, and he had always ad-
mircd her. Nay, once or twice, when he
had been staying in the city, he had
| taken her TO a theatre matinee or pict-
urc gallery. As he looked at her sweet,
helpless lovclincss, great wave Of pro-
tecting tcndernts swept over his whole
nature.
"Alicc. said he, "my darlingl Sweet
Alice, dry your tears. Iienceforward YOU
snail be my care. Get your bonnet and
things! Wen 20 TO the little parsonage
around the corner aud be married at once
and III take you back home with me ~
Alice drew back-her velvet blue eyes
flashed
"No" said She "You are saying this
simply out Of pity
"l'm saying it because love youl" he
cried, earncstly-and the deep light of
his dark eyes corroborated his words.
Man is a creature Of impulse, aud John
! Jaggctts feelings had taken such com.
| plclc possession of him, that it was not
/ until Alice hai become his welded wife
that hc thought Of Melinda, of the red
hair and turkcy-egg complexion.
"But it will all be right, " he argued to
himself. Mother cant help liking dear
( little Alice. She aud Mrs. Mixsell used
to he good friends in the old days before
tn" MiNscll farm was sold; und Alice will
be perfect sunbeam in the housc-God
/ bless herr
1t was the yellow twilight of May even
/ ing when John brought his pretty, blush
Ing young wife to the old homestead.
"Wc'll surprise the mother" said he,
chcerily. Gwen 90 around by the syca.
more tree lane and creep in at the back
door. And YOU shall he sitting in the
kccping-room when she comes in. Shes
talking to some one ut the carriage block,
now
Its company, ! think, John" said
Alice, her heart iluttcring like bird in
its cage. ats carryall with big
trunk strapped on bchind, and a tall,
rrd-haircd woman stepping out On,
John, who can it bc!'
john Jaggctt changed color, as he
recognized the shrill, nasal accents of
Miss Melinda Butts,
"No" uttered that female. al must
allow didn't reckon on gittin' married
quite so sudden, Mrs. Jaggctt; but after
what you said to me, and ncighbors'
gossip and all, why, OF course
John drew long breath rs he realized
this new complication. His mother had
proposed to Melinda Butts for him, as
he had jcstingly suggested, and here she
was, bag and baggage, an embodied ac-
ccptancc Of the offer.
Am / Il Mormon in spite Of MYSELF"
he thought. How, in the name of all
the fatcs and furics, am TO get out of
this tanglc,
"Slt still minute, Allie he said to
his pretty young wife. "Ill go and tell
them you're here
"But if you've got company, John
-"
"No company can be more honored
than my wife, Allie he said, gently, as
he passed into the shady little paror,
where scent of dried rose leaves came
from the quaint old China jar on the
mantle.
There stood lanE, specialized, elder
ly man.
"Why its Lawyer Judd!' said John
starting back. "lIow do you do, Mr..
judd: May ask what has procured us
the honor OF this visit:'
Lawyer Judd smiled and wrigglcd and
iutcrwoyc his spcctablc-g -gloved fingers
in each other, after most embarrassed
fashion.
..JI,,,- ,r, ,.,,,, NJ T,,,,,,tt hon, ,r,
YOU said he. "Wcll, to be candid
with you, came here with the young
lady outside
You did"
"Ycs, did, " nodded the lawyer, who
was one OF those restless individuals who
can never keep still minute, but slipped
md writhcd aud twisted himself about
like Il snake in black cassimerc gar
mcnts, "On-hc, he, he "a little qucs-
tion o, matrimony.
John flushed to the roots of his wavy
brown hair
Was this To bc a matter of breach of
promise. Did they imagine for \ sec
ond that he was to he cocrced like this!
MIR. Judd, said he, "thcre is some
'lil7Nhh' ltl'.
Il hope not, neighbor Jaggett," said
the lawyer, more like the letter 5 than
cycr-'l nope not. Why should there
bc a miStakcf'
And, went on John, cxcitedly, 81
don't propose to be bullied, | have
never engaged myself to the young
woman, nor have given her any reason
10 believe
"No, no-uo, to.bc.surc not. ~ uttered
the lawyer, swaying himself to and fro,
IF had supposed so, | should certainly
never nave married her,
Married whom demanded John.
Married Mrs. Elias Judd, to-be.sure
the late Miss Melinda Butts. This
morning, Mr., Jaggctt; and we're on our
way To the Albany boat now, and my
ahcm,-wifc has stopped to bid your re-
Spcctcd mother good.by as we came past
And really glancing at "A turnip-shaped
silver watch which he carried in fob
pocket, "wc have no time to spare.
Melinda, my dear
He was amazed at the vehemcnce and
cordiaIity with which John Jaggctt