Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-27
AID said s,eruis

as he rubbed and pstted the old hv1se.
Me marry Cailisty.' he SAID la him-
self. We'll, I'd like To know who in
creation started that pack o lies to
goin' Old Hat Gibbons. rll be bound!
Callisty wouldn't have me if asked her.
l bet she wouldn't. The idea Of IL"
The Widow Newton was at that mo-
ment greatly perplexed aud discouraged.
She was a neat. coaley woman OF so, sud
she lived alone in cozy little old brown
house with few acres of ground around
It. Her -four married sons aud daughters
lived IN houses Of their own near by.
Each of them had in turn invited and
urged their mother to come and live with
them, but she had perslStently refused.
although she was a gentle, mild faced
woman Of a somewhat yielding spirit,
II want home Of my own" She
would say. i've been mistress of q
home, such as it is. for more than 30
years, and I'd never be satisfied TO have a
home somebody else is mistress OF.
When her husband died, three years
before the time of our story begins, he
had in his will left her his entire possess
ions with the exception of small hequests
TO each of his children. who had felt
themselves greatly aggrieved thereby.
Mrs. Newton was sitting in her favor
ite rocking chair sewing carpet rags when
her daughter. Mrs. Lucinda Evans,
came in somewhat hurredly, followed
by another daughter, Mrs. Betty Higgins
la. girls, said their mother in sur.
prised tone, Il had no idea of seeing
either of you on Tuesday-it's your reg
ular ironing day. Sit down.
II haven't got time replied Betty
coldly. Il just run over TO find out il
this story about you and old Peter Pills
bury is true.
That's just what I come for. said
Lucinda Il come by brother Henry's
home. and sister Hetty was there, aud
they're waiting for me 10 come back and
tell them what you say. Is it true. mat'
Mrs. Newton gave shrill little scream
and threw up both her hands, while her
ball of rags fell to the floor.
"Cindy Evans !" gasped Mrs. Newton,
"what are you and your sister Betty
talking about? Are you crazy? Am
going 10 marry Uncle Peter Pillshury:
The land of the living I"
She threw her green and white ging
ham apron over her head and BEGAN to
rock TO and fro, half crying, half laugls-
ing. With her head still covered she
finally said sharply:
Go home. girls, go home. and stop
and tell Hetty and Henry and everybody
else you meet that I'm going to marry
nobody till I've been asked, and haven't
been asked yet.
She fell to laughing Historically, and
Betty said sharply:
"Well, think it would be burning
shame for you to marry anybody. even
If you should be asked.
Yes, and old Peter Pillsbury. Of all
men !" said Lucinda
Mrs. Newton took her apron from her
burning face and said firmly:
"You hush right up about Uncle Peter,
Cindy Evans; he's as good and honest an
old man as ever lived. Your father
thought the world Of him. But you can
just set your minds at rest about him;
he hain't no more idea OF marrying tlan
have. The idea of It'll"
The girls went home with greater peace
of mind than they had known when com
ing to see their mother, since they now
felt confident that their share of the
S., 900 their mother had in the bank was
not to be lessened by other claims.
The smile On Uncle Peters face deep
ened the next day as he drew near the
Widow Newton's house while making
his daily rounds.
The Widow Newton heard him coming
and bushes came to her plump cheeks.
Il shan't let on that I've heard any
thing of the scandlous mess of stuff
bout me and him, she said, as the sound
of the Tattling cartwheels came nearer
and nearer; III just go out and ask
how the folks are at home and get me
pound of haddock and come right into
the house SOS the tongues of the gossips
won't have nothing to wag about.
Good morning, Callisty, Uncle Peter
said, stepping briskly into the widows
kitchen and standing, his old hat in his
hand, near the open door.
He had known her all her life. He
had often carried her to school on his
handsled when they were children, and
he had always called her Calista, but
somehow she blushed when he called
her Calista to day. He went on calmly
and directly:
~Calisty, you heard the yarns that's
goin' round bout us?r he asked
"I-I-yes, Peter.
She turned her burning face from him,
lingering her apron corners.
Did it make you mad when you heard
'em?r
III didn't like it, Peter :
II suppose not-not at first. no how
was mad as wet hen when first heard
'em, but. Calisty, l was glad in tile end !;
yes. sir. jist was. Air you mad now
as you was at first:"
"I-I-hardIy know They want
true no how, Peter.
No. they want caI:sty. tbat's so;
there want a word Of truth IN EN-.
He came nearer and Caught one Of her
hands in his own as he said
Let's make 'em tr,le, Calisty. Frsm
bein' mad ~ first I've come 70 wislsiii'
and hopin they might be true. that ~,
aud You was gein' 10 be married that ?
a week later they drove quietly - a
neiglsboring town and came home man
and Wife. Uncle Peter joyful, and boldly
proeiaiining the fact 10 all whom they
chanced 10 meet.
They came back 10 the brides coy lit