River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-01-08

II don't know" said /. ''but / don't
love Joel Griffin, and he's old enough to
be my father besides"
We'll" said mother, ''you know the
result if you refuse him." and she left
the room.
Sure enough the next evening Joel
was there. Mother called me in and
left the room.
Miss Nettie." said Joel. your moth
er has probably told you that l want to
marry you. have had that notion for
some time. but you always seemed to
try and keep out of my way. Now,
your mother has given her consent and
if you say yes I'll get the license to;
morrow"
II don't love you. Mr.. Griffin" said l.
We'll. that doesn't make any differ
ence." said he, probably in time you
will. You know those mortgages are
due in May and July, and I'll release
them both if you'll marry me-"
Suppose / don't marry you?" said 1.
''Why, them" said he, ''of course, you
can't expect any favors from me. The
mortgages will have to be paid when
they're due. or I'll have to foreclose and
sell you OFT"
The evening of the 1st of April joel
came, and when mother called me into
the room he said: "Well. Netsie. have
you decided" lie didn't even wait for
mother TO go out
"Yes, have decided" said /.
"What is your decision?"
eff either mortgage is not paid when
it is DUE" said /, Il will marry you the
next day"
Time passed on, so FAST The even
ing of the 1st of May j was sitting in
the front room, thinking how near the
18th of May was, and what fate await
ed me, for / knew there was no help for
it i must either marry Joel or we must
lose our home. George came in, and
found me crying.
Now. Miss Nettie." said he, please
tell me your troubles"
George. you can do no good"
please tell me. for you are worrying
yourself to death over something, and
you can't tell but l may be Of some
USE"
So / told him all-of the power of
.Ioel Griffin, and how l loathed him.
THE internal scoundrel!" said
George. you shall never marry him. .
''I'll have to. George" said |, ''or
we'll lose our home. can't see mother
homeless in her old age, and Ralph, too,
would have to give up his profession"
George sat still a moment; then he
said: Don't worry; take things easy.
Something tells me you will never mar
ry Joel Griffin. The 10th of May, be-
lieve, will rescue you"
Time sped on rapidly Till the 10th of
May. George went to the county seat
early that morning. About five o'clock
in the evening l heard a step on the
piazza and looked out of the window. 1t
was George Marvin. in a uniform OF
blue. What" / asked him, have you
deserted us in our trouble and enlist
ed?" And I know the tears sprung to
my eyes.
No" said George, 'and 1 never will
desert you, though 1 am now Union
soldier. There was another draft to-
day and Jerome Harvey, the banker,
was drafted. For twelve hundred dol
lars became his substitute. This time,
thank God! they accepted me. Here,
Nettie, take this envelope. It's all
there. Pay off the mortgage, and be
Free
1 needn't tell you that George Marvin
became Joel Griflith's substitute, and
my mama has been Nettie Marvin many
years. Ralph married Georges sister
Nell Now Oberon has many thousand
inhabitants. Ralph is its leading ply
sycian and my George its leading law
yer. Georges book was a success.
Mother is living yet on the old home
stead, though the city has spread all
over the old farm that was saved by my
substitute.-H. Z. Scott in Chicago
News,