Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-12-13


ness" said Popple. "And I'm only
wasting time and breath a-trying' to
beat it into your head
''But, father"
"Well?"
lie glared at her, with elbows poised
on the table, and knife and fork up
lifted in either hand.
eff your going to make SO much mon
ey, won't you give me, your only child,
wedding such as other girls have?"
"No, | won'tp was the decided re-
ply.
Almira said no more. Leander Pop
pie went on shoveling beef and green's
into his capacious mouth, and washing
them down with weak coffee.
81 guess I've made her understand
this time, said he to himself.
But when he lighted his tallow can
die for bed AlmIra spoke once more.
Gather" said she, Il am to be mar
ried on Thursday"
| He started little.
! "Here ?" said he.
ayes, father. You said l might at
| least have the use Of the room in which
my mother was married"
81 hain't no objection to that" said,
Popple, slowly, as if he were still con-
! sidering the matter. But | guess you'd
! better take up them breadths o rag car
| pet. paid Desire Hutchins round
| price for wcavin' 'em, and | hain't no
notion of havin' 'em trampled out with
| Virginia reels and that sort o scamper-
| in dances"
"Ill take up the carpet, father" said
| Almira. "And | shall furnish the mu-
sic and refreshments myself, since you
refuse to do q fathers duty"
"Who's to foot the bill?" sharply
questioned Mr.. Popple. "Mind, |
won't. And | hope you've too much
pride to ask favors from then Storeys."
81 am not likely to humiliate myself,
| father, further than | have already
done in asking tavors from YOU" said
Almira. "No; the bills shall be paid
out of my own pocket"
"Where did you get SO much mon
Cyl"
ats mine, father-honestly minen'
"Guess we've been writin' for the
papersW shrewdly uttered the farmer,
"No, father; but I've sewed at odd
times for Mrs. Daley, and | helped
Jane Docket in the dyeing business,
and learned from Desire HutChins to
weave rag carpets in loom. | have
earned a little money here and there. y
"And you can't be easy unless you
can spend it, ell? ' growled her father
"Well, we'll, be a fool if you want to !!
AFTER next Thursday evenin' it'll be
! George Storey's business, not mine
Almira c0lored.
"You're glad to get rid of me, father
said she. CHATS very evident. But
| but YOU might speak u word or two of
kindness to me, now that | am so near
leaving you y
81 blieve in spcakin' the truth, " said
Popplc, grimly. Gals is II great ex-
pense, and eff you'd been boy"
But Almira stayed to hear no more.
After the dim candle spark had gone
out in the old mans chamber window,
and the pile of ashes on the kitchen
hearth was gray and dead, Almira softly
stole out of the hall door among the
frost bit Gu dahlias and dusty lilac trees.
"Woll, PETE" uttered deep voice
close to the gate post.
ooh, George, don't!'
"Why shouldn't | kiss you, dearest?
Only four days now! Did you tell
him?"
eyes, l told him. Is it really so,
George? Is he buying back that
land ?"
"At an advance Of so per cent. !"
chuckled George Storey, leaning back
against the fence to laugh. "Ho would
have it. My dear, shall be marrying
an heiress, after all -
"But ought we to allow it ?'
GLOW can we help it, Allie? He
drives tho bargain with my father, who
is the nominal holder of the land. He
asks no ones advice, and is mortally
offended if anybody ventures to make
a suggestion
''But he must know when the title
deeds are executed ?"
TnH lat u ly,,' 4 hIgj n
ing?" retorted the young man. Gust
consider the whole thing Almira. Here
is this thirteen acres of land, originally
belonging to your mother, which she nj
WAYS desired should be yours. Mr..
Popplc resolutcly refuses to give you so
much as head of timothy grass off it.
You secretly toll and work to earn Il
little money, and as secretly intrust it to
my father, who, acting as your agent,
makes the purchase, SO that you will not
come ponniless to me, you proudest of
little princosses No, | won't do it
again. But you see you are Weather
than You supposed. The stony-heartcd
miser who grudges you q decent we'd
ding tone more kiss, sweetest J is buy
ing back the land at an advance, and
ulator. How | shalt enjoy his amaze
ment when he realizes matters y
The old Popple farmhouse was all
ahght that October night; the rude
wooden mantles were banked with dab
has, xinnias and white asters; the vii
lage musicians piled their instruments
in the hall; the table in the low-ceiled
dining-room was spread with frosted
cakes. baked by Almira's sympathizing
girl friends; fruit baskets, arranged by
the scholars she had taught IN Sunday
school; viands prepared by her future
mother and sister-in-law.
,.rifh