Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-17
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.

lcmma by the horns, sir, and"
..When did they make the attack"
yesterday; it was brilliant!'
"Oh. well, they re parcel of fools. "
"Ccrtainly, sir, certainly; what we
want to do is to chcckmate them at
once. Something brilliant, you know;
something slick and brilliant! Lincoln
should order out ten thousand men
and sweep the whole internal lot into
the sea, sir! L"
"Oh, it won't amount to any thing"
growled Joel, and he got up and start
ed out, but was run into at the door by
Absalom. That sweaty worthy seized
Julius by the hand without looking at
Whitney and shook him around the
room crying eXplosively as they went:
''Thcy've fired on 'em! I'm goin' in
the mornin'! Got to get married to-
night. can l hav 'er?"
Take whatever you're after! shout
ed Julius, doubling up and trying to
get his hand out of Absalom' grip.
"Bless you, my children!" cried the
painting youth, catching him about the
neck; "they've fired! Hurrah for the
liccnscr' and out he flew.
Julius picked up his hat and cane
and pulling the former very far down
upon his nose he glared at the laughing
Joel and squealcd: "What did the Wild
cat wantP'
Why. he asked you for your
daughters hand in marriage, and you
gave your consent" laughed Joel.
did he? Dunn me, now this is brill
liant. Well, he's a likely young hound,
anyway. So he wants Ether? Well, |
thought it would come to that. It's
brilliant! What else was he talkin'
about?"
"IIe said he was going in the morn
ing. suppose he means he is going
10 the war;
THE dickens!' said Julius, and he
started off very springy at the knees.
Here" said Joel. "where are you
going to have the wcdding?'
oh, well-l-dum me! this is
bril-
"Have it up to our house. If he
goes, Ether can stay right along just as
She has been"
I'm obliged for the honor, SIR
said Julius. with feeling. 1T would
coincide precisely with my inclinations.
OF course, we must have it in shape
and brilliant, YOU know. Every thing
slick and brilliant and proper and
well, l will consult Mrs Popp, you
know" and he went springily away
with his hat n little on one side.
Joel walked homeward rather slower
than usual. with his eyes following, but
| not consciously seeing the sidewalk
| just before his feet Here and there
were knots of excited takers all dis
cussing the ly-inaugurated war and
its probable duration. Some spoke to
him. but he merely nodded and contin-
ucd turning this red and rocking prob
lem to and fro in his mind: 81 think it
will pay" he said to himself rs he came
to the gate. lit will certainly help
business" and he went in. Mrs
| Whitney was in a trcmor over the
news, but Joel diverted her mind at
once into less fearful, but scarcely
less exciting, channel by apprisinG her,
with burst of laughter, of Ahsalom's
| prrcipitatr intentions. Il invited Popp
to have the wedding here" he added.
| Mrs. Whitney looked dumfoundrd.
joel enjoyed this, and laughed until he
quite Stranglcd But he had not wholly
finished when John Earling and Harry,
coming home from school, brought
note from Mrs. Popp to Mrs. Whitney.
| saving that her daughter would he
married ut homo, and praying that she
would give the girl her liberty directly
after dinner if convenient.
Mrs. Whitney looked relieved when
she had read thus far, but clouded
again when she read the invitation to
herself and husband to he present at
the ceremony. She handed the note to
Joel At the conclusion of its perusal
he fetched chuckle: ''Of course you
are going, sis?'
Mrs. Whitney got up with her thin
lips closed very tight and her head
Jerking back little and went to the
window; joel laughed. 1T wouldn't
90 to its rcd-girl's wedding. wouldn' t
lip" he qucricd. Mrs. Whitney only
puckered her thin lips tighter and
looked out. Wouldn't it go to its
hired girls funeral, l wonder, wouldn't
it?' he laughed.
Mrs. Whitney tapped her foot and
darkencd.
20 fudge! Come now" said Joel,
"you know they are just as good as
we dare be, if we have got the most
money. OF course We will go. The
girl who has cooked our victuals for
ten years, if she is cross-cyed and
frcckled, is as good a girl as ever wore
a flounce!' Joel smote the stuffed arm
of his chair until the dust came.
"Of course l suppose we must go,
said Mrs. Whitney, i'll rather biting
way.
. "Ot course suppose we VIII go!
blurted Joel, land if there is pair OF
gold-pegged white satin slippers in
, town, and diamond chain as long as
your arm, our hired-girl shall wear EN-
this evening""
Mrs. Whitney gave him such seorch
ing look that Joel burst into laug hter.
and catching her in his arms pushed
her into the dining-room before him
When they were seated at the table
and Ether came in with red checks tC
= serve them with coffee. Joel turned his
head back over his shoulder and winkeC
with infinite enjoyment
CHAPTER VII.
When the moon came very leisurel,
from under the world that evening ant
looked down benignly upon Openstone
at no point, perhaps, did her coming
seem so inconsiStcnt-for at no point