The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1894-10-13

have done what was right and BEST
She has ridden off the first heat of her
wrath by this time, and is framing in
her mind the note of apology she will
send me to-morrow."
Hut for once notable Mistress Abbott
was mistaken. Her niece dashed down
the long Ashford hills with her horse
on a mad gallop, minding no more the
light weight upon his back than as II
1t had been a feather. Through the
charming Fenton river valley they
went and up the hills on the willing
on side with hardly a break or a slack
ening OF speed, until the intelligent
animal came to a standstill ut the
door of the blRcksmith's shop where
William Grazier, as usual, was shaping
an iron upon his anvil.
Slipping from her saddle the excited
young girl rushed into the sm~oke-dyed
little shop, and with characteristic i'm
~petuosity told her only parent, as she
told him everything, the whole story
Of her quarrel with her aunt. regard
less Of the fact that in the shadow
cast by the huge leather bellows stood
. young man who was n stranger, gaz-
ing with admiration at her glowing
face and kindling y
"Oh she was angry" cried the girl,
so dreadfully angry that she called
me Niece MRry'-think Of thstl-and
she said ! tool my bad temper from
you, father, and she tainted me with
being eighteen and not yet engaged,
and l told her just what I have re-
Peated to you, father, word for word.
You were too hasty, | fear, daugh-
ter. You will lose the wedding of
which you have thought so much, for
you have pledged yourself to the i'm
possible. Even had you a suitable
lover there would be hardly time for
you to be published according to law
before New Years day. And you GER
tainly will not now select a husband
from the lovers yON have rejected"
No, father, but I have said what l
have said. and l cannot help 1t that |
feel within my very soul that have
spoken truth, although whom | am to
wed l know not
Il will wed you within the appointed
time II you will accept me. | shall
never love anyone better than | do you
at this moment. | never have cared
for a maid in my life before. This is
the love at first sight Of which | have
heard. came with recommendations
to your father to purchase some of the
large tracts Of land of which he holds
the title, said the young stranger,
stepping forward.
Yes, daughter, this young Master
Wolcott Is q kinsman of the one who
,aVna Fhr,,Vrh Nn,Vn HAnFnn 20 Hart ford
with coach and four, laying out the so
called Wolcott road. He brings the
letters from my people in Massachu.
sets, aud l know that his family are
quite as we'll born as ours. Well, save
your bushes, lass, and go you In and
prepare the supper. The stranger will,
be our guest, a~tleast. dislike TO have
one of my kin forfeit her word, and
dislike to lose my favorite nisce's we'd
ding. We will talk 1t over"
Molly glanced up at the comely
young man who now stood in the full.
light OF the ruddy forge, and felt al
II a prince had come to her rescue GU
Of fairy land; and SO abashed was She
that, audacious though she was gen
orally, she dropped the lashes over
Der luminous eyes, and turning quick
ly, ran away into the house without q
word.
l She neither lost her head nor heI
wits, however, but thought and
planned while preparing the repast
, which, be it said to her credit, was
l lacking in nothing. for a pattern house
) keeper was this wild little Molly
about whose pranks the'whole coun
tryside was talking And when the
T young stranger came in with hel
i father she presided at table with Sc
> much dignity mingled with gtrlisl
! shyness aud sweetness, as to entirely
> complete the conquest OF his hear
{ If there had been any reservation
, before.
I I'VE must be published neGt SUNDAY
. at the same time and place as my o u
in Prudence" she said to her fathei
next morning, and that will give jus
: time To be married on New Years day
: bat who will perform the ceremony
u know not. PRrsOn Fuller will be start
: ing SO early to marry my cousin"
Il will manage that" said the smith
the parsOn Is a good man, a very gooC
y man, but he is fond OF q Joke, aad | an
owing him one that have not paid OF
This is a rare chance rare chanc,
u indeed"
/ The next Sunday, greatly to the as
Constituent of the whole congregation
5 Molly and Young Master WOlcott wer,
published as intending marriage. Pru
deuce and her lover being published
also.
= Neither of the prospective brides wa
present, but next day Mistress Abbot
g and her daughter Prudence called a
the Glazier residence to congratulate