Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-10-22
ALL Is FAIR IN LOVE.

against the easements of old Mrs. Ma
Piles farmhouse patter, patter, the
last dead leaves of the old sycamore
tree drifted down upon the door-stoLe,
1t was an old, old house, and Mrs
Maple was an old, old woman. But
you will sometimes find turfts OF
snowy blossoms bursting from age
lichened apple trees, and sprays of
greenery on the boughs of century.
old oak trees; and it so happened
that Minny Maple, the ancient crone's
great grand daughter, was the bud
and blossom of her worn out life.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and
land, and had money out at interest
but she was a shrewd old lady, and
liked to keep her affairs in her own
hands. And pretty Minny, albeit an
heiress in prospective, taught the dis
trict school, and took care of the farm
dairy out of hours.
1T won't hurt her to work for her
living if she is to be rich one of these
days." said Mrs. Maple. II worked
when 1 was a girl"
And upon this dreary December
night Mrs. Naples swift knitting.
needles cleaned like steely tightening
in the freight; and Minny sat on a
low chair beside her mending table
cloths, while ever and anon big drop
would plash down upon the darned
spots like glistening globule of dew.
"But, grandmother, why?' burst
out Minny at last, with blue eyes
lifted up like forget.me-nots drench-
ed in the rain, to the old lady's parch-
ment-like face.
Because / say So" said old Mrs.
Maple. And the fire cracked, and
the snow clicked softly against the
window-panes, and the knitting-needles
made zigzags of light as they flew
back and forth.
But you say, yourself, grandmother
that he's good young man" pleaded
Minny.
Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
"Without bad habit in the world %
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded
like a Chinese mandarin in collec-
ton of curiosities.
"And forehanded with his farm ?"
For the third time Mrs. Maple
nodded.
"Then, grandmother, why won't
you consent to our marriagel" urged
the girl.
"Child," said Mrs. Maple, turning
her spectacles full upon Minny's sweet
face, 1--WE told you why, half hun
dred times! It's because your grand
father Maple and his great grand
father were mortal enemies. Because
your grandfather's last words upon
his death-bed were: II leayc my
soul to Heaven, my money to my wife
and my everlasting enmity to Job
Crofton %
But, grandmother" coaxed Minny,
with her fresh cheek against the old
lady's hand, "he wouldn't know it.
How could he ?"
"Child. child, your grandfather
knew everything" said the old lady,
with a sudden superstitious glance
over her left shoulder, as something
seemed to rustic at the easement.
"And / do believe his ghost would
haunt me if / didn't give good heed
to his last words. No, no; Gilbert
Crofton can never be your husband,
and you may as well give up the idea
first as last"
And Minny Maple cried herself to
sleep that night.
For l never, never can marry him
without grandmother's consent" she
sobbed. "I'll stay single for his sake
until the day of my death; but
never can disobey the kind old soul
who has taken a mothers place to me
and brought me up from baby"
But the next night there was an
apple bee at Deacon Danger6eld's
and Minny Maple was there. Gilbert
Crofton did not make his appearance
until late.
GILBERT" said the little fiancee
who sat reproachfully amid crimson
avalanche of apples. "What makes
you SO late ?"
1--WE been busy" said Gilbert
But never mind so long as I'm in
time for the Virginia reel"
And they walked home together
through the snow-drifts, talking hap
PLY Of what might be If only Grand
mother Naples adamantine heart
could be softened.
But, late though 1t was, with the