The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-06-14
LAWYER JUDD'S BARGAIN.

| Engaged, eh? said Jlhn Jaggett
Well, | never looked at it exactly il
that light before
| We've all took it for granted, salt
| Mrs. J lgget, pursing her thin lips ant
knitting away very fast.
Does she think SO, mother?
What else can she think, John?
| never asked her to marry me
mother.
There's other ways of proposing Il
girls, John, except askln' 'em to MARI,
you in so many words, said the ole
lady.
John Jaggett gave his thick, brown
moustache resentful tug.
I'm blessed if | knew what they are
mother, said he.
Everybody has taken it for granted,
John, peated his mother, severely
AID Melinda is capital housekeepel
Just the girl I'd Ii e to see IN charge
i things a-rr, now thlt I'm getting old
md feeble.
John Jaggett put his hand caress.
ingly on his mother's shoulder.
Why, mother, said be, don't talk that
way. So tar as | can see, you're as
young and spry as you ever were.
Mrs. Jaggert shook her head mourn
fully.
No, amt John, SAID she. When a
woman gets to be sixty odd, she be.
gins to fail in spite of everything-and
rheumatism always ran in my side oi
the family. If could see you married
and settled down before the Lord sees
fit to call me away.
John whistled.
Time enough, mother, said he-quite
time enough.
| don't know about that, John. You
were thirty yesterday urged Mrs. Jag
gett.
How the dear old mother remembers
things! said ne, laughing. And Me-
linda Butts is three and thirty.
A year or two don't make no great
odds, John.
Well, perhaps it don't, he assented.
John, cried the woman, as her son
took up his hat, where are you gong
I'm gong to New York tol day OF
two. to see about that new hay-cutter,
mother, before the grass gets too high,
answered he.
To-day, JohnP
Yes today. Why not?
Go over and see Melinda first, John
Get something settled, pleaded Mrs.
Jaggett
Why, mother, what hurry you're in
TO get me married off he cried lightly
She expects it, John.
Couldn't you manage it for me
mother2 jestingly dema ded the Young
man.
John !
Well, really, / don't seem able to ge
up any enthusiasm, said he, shruggins
his broad, handsome shoulders. And
| must get that hay cutter ordered. W.
shall have th1pdery sunni er, and the
grass meadows must be looked after
John lsgett went his way to the
city, and straightway forgot all abou
Miss Melinda Butts, who lived at tht
red shingled farm house on the othe
side of Skull Mountain.
She was plan and red-haired, anc
never seemed to Eave very much TO sa,
tor herself; and J ,hr lggett had all
mans appre, ililon OF beauty and soft
ness in womanIy presence. Why shoulc
he think about Melinda Butts?
He ordered the hay cutter, looked il
at sale of st ut farm horses, made in
quries as TO a new cooking stove 70
bis mother and finally stopped at lit
tie millinery store, kept by forme
Skull Mountain neighbor.
| want to get mother lace cap or
shoulder cape, or something, though
he.
But the store was full of strange faces
and a new name cleaned, in newly
painted letters, on the sign above tn
door.
Halo said Jaggett. What's tn
matter?
Mrs. Mixsell was buried last month
said the incumbent, a stout widow wit
a row of artificial auburn curls whic
did not in the least match her bac
hair. And poor Alice is crving he
ewes out in the back room. P'r'ap
you know some of her friendSr
don't stand to reason as | can kee
her, with ,hree daughters of my owr
And you know
Oh, Mr.. Jggett, uttered soft, ap
pealing voice from the stufy, hall
lighted little apartment beyond, is tha
you? Oh, poor mother has died an
left me, ard | don't know what to do
Alice Mlxscll was a fair haired, mou.
tain daisy Compl, xron d girl of seven
teen. Her blue eyes, drenched i
tears, looked plteously up to J phn Jag
gett as her coral lip uembled. The
were old acquaintanceS, and he had al
ways admired her. Nay, once or twice
when he had been staying IN the city
he had taken her to a theater matine
or picture gallery. As he looked a
her sweet, helpless loveliness, grea
wave Of protecting tenderness sweE
over his whole nature.
Alice, said he, my darling Swee
Alice dry your tears. Henceforth yo