Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-10

into his capacious mouth, and washing
them down with weak coffee.
81 guess I've made her unde rstand
this time" said he to himself.
But when he lighted his tallow can
die for bed Almlra spoke once more.
Father" said she, q am to be mar
ried on Thursday"
He started little.
Here ?'' said he.
eyes. father. You said l might at
least have the use of the room in which
my mother was married.
II hain't no objection to that" said,
sidering the matter. "But | guess you'd
better take up them breadths o. rag car
pet. | paid Desire Hutchins round
price fer weavin' 'em, and | hain't no
notion of havin' 'em trampled out with
Virginia reels and that sort O scamper-
in dances"
cpl take up the carpet, father" said
Almira. 'And | shall furnish the mu-
sic and refreshments myself, since you
refuse to do fathers duty"
"Who's to foot the bill?" sharply
questioned MI 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 l have already
done in asking favors from you," said
AImira. "No; the bills shall be paid
out of my own pocket"
"Where did you get SO much mon
ey?"
"It's mine, father-honestly minew
"Guess we've been writin' for the
papers ~ shrewdly uttered the farmer.
mo, 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 a loom. | have
earned little money here and there"
''And you can't be easy unless you
can spend it, eh?" 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"
AImira colored.
you're glad to get rid of me, father"
said she. "That's very evident. But
but you might speak a word or two of
kindness to me, now that [ am SO near
leaving you -
81 b'lieve in speakin' the truth, ," said
Popple, grimly. Goals is a 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 bitten dahlias and dusty lilac trees.
"WeiI, pet ?" uttered a deep voice
close to the gate post.
ooh, George, don'tn'
"Whv shouldn't kiss you, dearest?
Only four days now! Did you tell
him ?''
Eyes, 1 told him. Is it really SO,
George? Is he buying back that
land?"
"At an advance of SO per cent. p'
chuckled George Storey, leaning back
against the fence to laugh. "He would
have it. My dear, l shall be marrying
an heiress, after all -
"But ought we to allow it ?'
GLOW can we help it, Allie? He
drives the bargain with my father, who
is the nominal holder of the land. He
asks no ones advice, and is MORALLY
offended if anybody ventures to make
a suggestion"
'tBut he must know when the title
deeds are executed"
"Well, let him. Isn't it his own do
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 al
ways desired should be yours. Mr..
Popple resolutely refuses to give you SO
much as head of timothy grass off it,
You secretly toll and work to earn
little money, and as secretly intrust it to
my father, who, acting as your agent,
makes the purchase, SO that You will not
come Pennies to me, you proudest of
little princesses (No, | won't do it
again. But you see you are weather.
than you supposed. The stony-hearted
miser who grudges you decent we'd
ding Zone more kiss, sweetest y is buy
ing back the land at an advance, and
you are unconsciously becoming spec
ulator How | shall enjoy his amaze
ment when he realizes mattersv'
The old Popple farmhouse was all
alight that October night; the rude
wooden mantles were banked with dab
las, zinnias 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.
Old Leander looked on with lowering
brows.
Gail waste and folly - said he. els
the girl mad? Never mind; after to-
day she'll b no responsibility of mine.
Let George Storey take the care Of her
then !"
Father, you'll kiss me goodbye"
pleaded the bride, coming to him in her
dainty dove-coiored travelling dress, at
the close of the evening.
"Kissin' amt in my line," said Lean
der Popple. However, don't object
to shakin' hands with you. You've
spent deal Of unnecessary money to-
day, but I've done toll able good stroke
O. business, too. I've paid the last cent
O. money into bank for that quarry
ground"
The bride looked wistfully at her hus-
band as she turned away.
Gle has told me his secret, George"
she murmured, "and if any one is to
have the gold, | am glad it is to be he."
"Gold?" said George, with shrug of
the shoulders. .'Not a grain Of gold is
to be found within forty miles He's
too avaricious to consult mineralo-
gist, and too opinionated to ask advice.
What he faDciaS tn he GOLD is merely a