Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-30
JOANNA.

"Oh yes" said old Mrs. Merrydew,
II told Johns wife that you wasn't
pleased with the match-that you had
looked higher for a man like your
brother"
Colonel Brantley Merrydew frowned
slightly.
WAS that necessary, mother?"
ut was the TRUTH" answered the
old lady, COMPRISING her thin lips.
"She was only shop.girl in fancy
store, anyway i"
STILL" said Brantley, slowly, and
as if he were thinking aloud, 81 can't
help feeling sorry for the girl"
That's all nonsense" said old Mrs.
Merrydew, sharply. "She is nothing
to us now that poor, dear John is
dead and buried. And I'm glad she
is safe back in her shop, selling tape
and ribbon, and making big eyes at
the next foolish young fellow that
wants to lose his heart across the
counter"
"Was she pretty?" Colonel Merry
dew asked.
"Why, yes" unwillingly admitted
Mrs. Merrydew. Pretty, in a bold,
brack.eyed, gypsy sort of way. |
never liked her looks; but she had
no faculty at all. When your fathers
health failed, and we had to come
here, she wanted to stay at the old
house where John was born. faint
as if l could have trusted her to take
care of thiugs-a silly, city-bred girl
No, wasn't such fool as that. So
| put Huxley in charge of the farm !;
and now that he has died, and the
widow has rented it to some one else,
l don't feel bit easy about it. So if
you could spare time when you 60 to
town, Brantley, l do wish you'd 60
there and see to things little"
Colonel Merrydew smiled.
"Set your dear old heart at rest,
mother" said he. "I'll make an
especial pilgrimage to the old farm in
your behalf"
So it came to pass upon one golden
September afternoon, Colonel Brant-
ley Merrydew came walking up the
lane to the old Merrydew farm, on
whose green turf his footsteps had not
trod for more than twenty years.
He came up to the front door in
rather melancholy mood. He had
expected to find everything going to
wreck and decay. But on the con-
trary, the fences were newly painted,
blossomiDg plants were tied to neat,
green stakes along the paths, the grass
was shorn as smooth as velvet, while
at the rear of the house he could see
the cattle coming slowly home to be
MIXED, their bells playing silver,
sweet monotone, as they came.
"Hallo !" said Colonel Merrydew
to himself. "Some one is doing justice
to the old place, whoever it may be. F"
He knocked. A trim maid-servant
came to the door.
"Who lives hereF" he asked
Mrs. Burney, sir" with little
surprise.
II thought that Mr.. HUXLEY"
Dear, dear, sir" explained the
girl, "he died long ago, and his execu-
tors rented it to Mrs. Burney for a
year."
Can see your mistressg'
Certainly, sir"
Mrs. Burney came in presently, a
beautiful, dark-eyed young woman,
in calico dress, snow-white linen
collar, and hair as smooth and shin
ing as rippled bands of jets.
II am Colonel Brantley Merrydew,' u
he said, rather loftily.
She colored, bit her full, cherry
lower lip, and courtesied, with hui
mility which might almost have
seemed comical.
Being in the neighboring town, ]
thought ! would just run out and see
how the farm was doing" he said, q
strange sensation of false modesty
stealing over him as he stood there.
Il hope you are pleased with 1t, sir
she remarked, calmly.
~ never saw things in finer con-
dition," he said. "Your husband Il
perhaps an experienced farmerf'
II have no husband" she answered
quietly. II manage things myself
Every man, boy and woman on thu
place, takes orders from me. Perhaps
you would like to 20 over the farm p