The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-28

III y. u \ efAilyl (Ils u 4 y
v7Fs Did and blossom Of hef wJrnsont
Iife.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and
hnd. and had money oat at interest {:
Jut she was shreWd old lady and
liked to keep her affairs in her own
hands. And pretty Minny. albeit an
heiress in prospective, taught the
district school, and took care of the
farm dairy out Of hours.
sit 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 l was girl"
And upon this dreary December
night Mrs. Naples swift knittin.
needles CLEANED like steply light
ming in the freight; and Minny sat
on a low chair beside her, mending "A
table cloth, while ever and anon a
big drop would pIash down upon the
davned spots like a glistening glob-
uie of dew.
"But, grandmother. why ?" burst
out Minny, at last, with blue eyes
lifted up like forget-me-nGts drench-
ed in rain, TO the old lady's parch
nent-like face.
"Because ! say -o," said old Mrs.
Maple. And the fire cracked, and
the snow clicked softly against the
vindow-pane, and the knitting-nep-
lies made zigzags of light a.
hey flew back and forth.
but you say, yourself, grand
mother, that he's good young man.
pleaded Minny.
Z Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
without one bad habit in the
lW6ad.,, ...-... --..-....
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded
like a Chinese mandarin in a collec.
tiOn of curiosities.
And forehanded with his farm
For the third time Mrs. Maple
nodded.
"Then. grandmother. why won't
you consent to our marriage ?" urged
the girl.
Child" said Mrs. Maple, turning
| her rspectacle glasses full upon Min.
ny's sweet, f1ower-like face, "chlld
I've told you why, half hundred
times. It's because your great-grand
father Maple and his great-grand
father were mortal enemies. Because
your grandfather's last words upOr
his death.bed were: Il leave my
seal to Heaven, my money to my
dear wife. and my everlasting en-
nifty to Job Crofton p"
"But. grandmother" said Minny
with a shudder, "that was very
wicked! And surely, surely, thu
shadow of tombstone should be &
reconciliation ?"
old Mrs. Mapleton shook her white
head.
"Your grandfather was very vim
dicative man. Minny." said she. 81
never disobeyed him living, and
never will disobey him dead ="
"But, grandmother" coaxed Min
nv, with her fresh cheek against th'
old lady's hand, "he wouldn't know
1t, how could hep"
"Child, child, your grandfather
! isII.pIe knew everything" said thu
old lady, with sudden superstition
glance over the left shoulder, a
something seemed to rustic at TIN
easement. "And I do believe hi
ghost would haun: me if I didn'
give good heed to his last words. No
no; Gilbert Crofton can never b.
your husband. and you may as wei
give up the idea first as last"
And Minny Maple cried herself Il
sleep that night.
"For / never, never can MARI.
him without Grandmother Maple
consent" she sobbed. "I'll stay sin
gle for his sake until the day of m.
death but l never can disobey tn
kind old soul who has taken u moth
er's place to me and brought me u
from baby"
But the next night there was a.
apple bee at Deacon Dangerfield's
and Minny Maple was there. Gil
beit Crofton did not make his az
pearance until late.
"Gilbert," said the little fiance
who sat reproachfully amid Grim
son avalanche Of annIQs. NWh1