Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-10
ALMIRA'S WEDDING.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

spell O. weather." said Leander Popple,
as he came in from the barnyard with
two trimming pals of milk.
Across the west glowed a bar of sullen
purplish red; the October wind rustled
hoarseIy in the scarlet-leaved naples,
and certain chill in the air portended
an atmospheric change ere long.
''There's Almiry diggin' up her
dahlia bulbs-she'd great deal better
be gettin' in potatoes, or harvestin
tieldcorn. What do them posies amount
to, nyhow? l never could see no use
of 'em. [ say, Almiry ~
Eyes, father !"
The girl Strengthened herself up flush
ing as guiltily as if her little piece of
amateur gardening were a state prison
offense, and instinctively tried to con-
ceal her trowel in the folds of her faded
calico gown.
"What we foolin' away your time
for?' snaried the old man. 'What
with the days CROWN shorter and this
weddin'. nonsense crowdin' everything
else outen your head, there don't
nothin' get done about the house.
Amt supper ready?'
eyes, father, quite ready. The
kettles boiling, and I'll make the coffee
in minute"
''The kettle boiling! Gracious mel"
groaned the farmer. "She talks as if
ire-wood growed ready chopped on ev-
cry bush. We amt millionaires, to
keep fires roarin' up every chimbley in
the house jest to bile a cup O coffee.
1t does appear to me you grow more
wasteful and eXtravagant every day. L
wish George Storey joy of his bargain,
Pm sure -
Almira sighed.
sit don't take much fuel to keep the
fire going, father" said she, "and [
picked it up myself in the woods. But,
speaking of my marriage"
1'Yes, speaking of your marriage"
contemptuously repeated the old man;
land / wish to goodness it was over and
done with Pm sick O. hearin' ont ~
"Ain't you going to, give me a we'd
ding, father, as other girls relations
do?"
"I dunno what ye'd have" said
Leander Popple. There's the best
room. 1t was good enough for your
mother to be married in. | don't see
why it won't do Tor you"
Father, you know I didn't mean
thatp'
"Humph !'' growled the farmer. 81
% chickens killed-chicken that'll fetch
twenty cents a pound, feathers and all
and cake baked with -four and raisins
at double price, and all the neighbors
invited in to eat and drink at my ex-
pense! Well, you can't have it, SO that
settles matters !"
II raised all the chickens, father, and
/ did every hands turn of the work my
self in harvesting-time this summer,
and saved you all the expense of a
girl !" cried indignant Almira
sit warn't no more than your duty at
that" said the sour old man. eff
you're bound to get married, get mar
ried. / can't prevent that. But [ amt
no notion O. spendin' money on no such
tomfoolery, nor as long as I'm in my
sober senses. And I've told you so be-
fore, and you know perfectly well I've
10 buy back that ar thirteen acres of
land that [ was blamed fool enough to
sell to Squire Storey last year, just be-
cause it jibed onto the northeast corner
of his farm"
AlIEira colored.
"Father," said she, you've got hun
dred and ninety acres already. What
do you want any more farm land for?"
Leander's eyes scintilated with dull,
covetous light. He paused from his oc-
cupation of removing half-charred sticks
from the fire with pair of rusty tongs,
and putting them on one side for future
use, instead of allowing them to burn
out in feathery drifts of ashes, and con-
fronted his daughter.
''I'll tell you why, Almiry," said he.
ssI've discovered secret. L found it
out last spring when Twas quarryin' out
that there rock Tor the barn cellar wall
that Squire Storey told me [ was well
come to- There's gold in that ledge o
rocks-lots on it. Deacon Howe's grand
father always stuck to it there was gold
in the sile hereabouts, but nobody never
b eleved him. And | was idiot enough
TO sell that thirteen acres to old Storey
for $50 an acre. But I've kepS my tongue
between my teeth, and I've driv' bar
gain. and all but bought it back at $75an
acre. Old Storey thinks l. fool, but
| guess time III show that. If anyone's
bein' cheated it amt me p
"Supper's ready, father, said Almira,
as she placed the chunk of coid-boiled
beef, smothered in coarse kale greens,
on the table, with loaf of rye bread,
pat OF butter-which was not quite yell
low enough for market-and a bowl Of
scanti.y sweetened apple sauce, and
poured out the cheap infusion which the
village grocer considered good enough
article of coffee to give in exchange tor
Farmer Popple's damaged buckwheat
and gnarly apples.
"And SO, added the farmer, as he sat
down and helped himself, courteously
leaving Almira to do the same, 81 amt
goin' to scatter no money to the right
nor to the left till [ get that matter paid
mp"
Almira glanced at him from beneath
her eyelashes.
"But, father" she said, nervously
stirring her coffee, "what do you want
of gold mines? OF what use is money
to you? Haven't you all you need ?"
Old Leander Popple uttered short,
sharp sound, ike an impatient bark.
s'Of what use?" he repeated. irri-
tably. |'Te put in the bank, to be sure y
"You have enough to eat and to
drink p
"A woman don't understand bust
ness" said Popple. "And Pm only
wasting time and breath a-trying' to
peat it into your head"
"But, father"
kENoII p,