Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-26

.us both, a widower like the deacon ant
an old maid like me, besides l couldn I
have the heart to leave him here to look
after himself.
No, I'll have to give James up she
concluded, and forthwith began to cry. il
which occupation the deacon discovered
| he1.
"Pshaw," said that gentleman, smiling
Well Just make the foolish fellow res:-
son. Because he's a rusty. crusty o..
| hater of matrimony be mustn't expect Il
mske other people such. He shall live
with us, Caledonia. and you shall be as
| devoted to him as you like, only you must
spare little love for me. Now here l.
the question. Will you tell him or sail
Miss Caledonia shivered, but answered
braveIy: mo, no. IF must strike him
| this blow. let me be the one to tell him. Ii
shall be part of my punishment So af-
ter the manner of women she cooked her
brother an unusually nice supper and made
much of him when he came in. Some
how he seemed very thoughtful, and sever
| al times their anxious eyes met by acct
dent, when both faces flushed and both
hearts felt pang of keenest self-reproach.
Obadiah scarcely touched the narmalade
poor Miss Caledonia had brought out on
this special occasion because he was so
fond of it, and the lady noticed it in dis
may. Can he have heard it? No surely
not" There was no hope that some one
else had saved her the dreadful task Of
breaking it to him.
After the things were cleared away and
the fire heaped up in a cheerful dancing
fame, Miss Caledonia drew her chair
close to where her brother sat staring into
the fire. Obadiah, dear brother, she
faltered, II must-hem-l feel it my duty
to speak to you of something
Yes, yes, Caledonia, | know know,
Feared you would-you would stam-
mered Obadiah, EN- EMBARRASSED and foush-
ed as school boy.
ut grievess me very much, dear brother,
went ON his sister twisting her aproh
around her hands.
81 knew it would, knew it.
Il cannot bear to think of leaving you,
said the poor lady bursting into tears.
"Why you must not think of such
thing. There, there, don't cry! Nothing
shall be changed. We will love each
other just as well, and you shall teach
Kitty all you know"
''Kitty?' echoed Miss Caledonia. "Oh,
yes, | shall love her as daughter. How
good you are, Obadiah, to think of her.
Love has daughter. Humph!" said
Obadiah.
"Why, there's not all that difference in
your age. Plenty of sisters have the
same years between them. A daughter!
You might have spared that allusion,
Caledonia, knowing | am only few years
younger than you.
younger than me-" cried Miss Gale
donia, bewildered and indignant. why
you know perfectly well, Obadiah Crump,
that you are FIVE years older thar | am. -
Then melting sher ran to her brother and
casped him in her arms. 81 see how it
is, my dear, dear brother, I've grieved
and upset you so you don t know what
you re saying. If you feel so about it, I'll
not go away from you not for al the Deacon
Bliffens in the whole world"
Obadiah raised her dropping mead from
his breast and looked her in the face. his
lips twisting violently. Caledonia. .
he said solemnly, what have you been
talking about?''
About about my marrying Deacon
Bliffen next week.
Obadiah gave a shout. You were?
Well, thought you were talking of my
marrying Kitty Bliffen the week after!
Miss Caledonia burst into fresh tears
"Oh Obadiah, Obadiah am so happy!
May-may you be happy. brother. But
please forgive me-I'm afraid she won't
know how to roast your mutton to the
turn you like it, nor to-season the catsup
as I did p