The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-10-08


a brace OF mortgages, and owned a
block of houses in the very heart of
the village. And poor papa lost all
his money before he died, and left US
to Aunt Melissa's care, so that We
were poorer than poverty.
Aunt Melissa, however, had always
been very kind to us in her way, but
this was all over now. Mr.. Speckle-
bury wanted ''his dear Melissa" all to
himself, and 40 poor Aunt Melissa,
who saw all the world. through Mr..
specklebury's spectacles, gave us
notice to quit.
"Of course, girls" she said, "I'm
very sorry to loose you; but a wife's
obedience is due to her husband"
s'Whatever we d." said Kate, 1--WE
shall be better off than Aunt Melissa;
for, Annie, that Mr.. Moses Speckle-
bury is a knave," when Aunt Melissa
had left the room.
"But Kate, he is the superintendent
of the Sundayschool."
II can't help that"
"And he always leads prayer meet
ing" $3.50,
"And he quotes the Scriptures so
beautifully.
Nevertheless" persisted Kate, che
is a knave."
That evening we were with Aunt
Melissa, when MI. Specklebury tip
toed in, with that dancing master
gate of his which was so disagreeable
in our critical eyes. We both rose.
"Don't 60, my dear girls" said Mr..
Specklebury, with infinite patronage.
We are not your dear girls" said
Kate, flushing up.
"And," added I, 1--WE prefer not to
remain"
"Melissa," said Mr.. specklebury,
turning with elevated eyes to the bride
elect, evil you allow me your chosen
husband, to be .insulted thus by these
upstart girls?"
Don't, girls" said Aunt Melissa,
feebly.
II can endure much," said Mr..
Specklebury, "butnot this. Tell them,
Melissa, that they can no more remain
inmates OF your home"
Well, of course, that was the end
of it. Aunt Melissa begged us private
ly not to 60 until after the wedding,
because there was so much to do, but
the moment the benediction was pro-
nounced over the newly.joined couple,
we knew that we were, to all intents
and purposes, turned out OF doors.
And Mr.. Specklebury had triumph
ed. r~ -
. a
It was the day before the wedding.
The big cake had just come out OF the
oven, a huge mass of sugar, citron
and chopped raisins. Kate, who was
skillful in such matters, had frosted it
all over, and she and I were busy in
surrounding it with a garland of
sparkling sugar roses, while Aunt
Melissa was rubbing up the best
spoons with a piece Of channels leath-
er, and polishing the glass drops OF
the girandoles, when there came q ring
at the door bell. Aunt Melissa dropp-
ed her channels leather.
"Something's happened said she.
"Nonsense," said I, '.it's only the
man with the maccaroon castle and
the candy temples. You are nervous,
Aunt Melissa, that's ALL"
just then the door opened, and
Peggy, the maid-of-all-work, trotted
in.
"It's q lady, ma'am," said she,
"wants to spake wild yez!"
And the visitor, instead of waiting
to be shown into the parlor, followed
Peggy into the sitting.room, where
we were all at work.
(Which of you isit," said she, star
ing around her, in q careless, self-pos-
sessed sort of way, ."who is going to
marry Moses SpeckleburyY
II" said Aunt Melissa, in an as
tonished tone, Fam engaged to him."
.sWell, he's got wife living al
ready" said the lady. "And that il
mo / am Mrs. Moses Specklebury!"
81 don't believe you!" almost
screamed Aunt Melissa, who had
turned . dull, chalky white.
Here's my marriage lines, then, to
prove it" assertedthe stranger; land
my weddinR-ring; he deserted me-"
And the self-same moment Moses
6peck'ebury tip-toed in, behind =
basket Of flowers which he had brought
from the forist,s-c charged, Of course,
to Aunt Melissa's account.
"A-hem-m-mln said the matron.
"HoW dye do, Moses7"
Crash went the rosebuds and helio-
tropes over the floor. Mrs. Speckle-
bury stood looking like Hamlet on
the stage when he ICES his fathers
ghost.
Moses" gasped Aunt Melissa,
clutching at his sleeve, lis this true7n
Mr.. Specklebury stood limp and
helpless IN the middle of the room,