Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-07-12

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Oug I lad rather - odd thing hap
pen to me = few weeks ago. When
! came this WY ! was very tired,
having travelled . long distance, 90
! stopped over for . days rest, in
tending to take the train again aobut
eight in the evening. Mr.. Strong
was anxious 10 hare me call on you,
but / told him / should probably
60 farther and settle in B..
Still he insisted upon me giving me
q letter Of introduction to Mr.. Mas
sey- and / promised to deliver it if
| had time. | slept nearly all day,
had my trunk sent down to the
station, and strolled idly about the
town waiting for the train to start.
| heard the music Of o concert, and
walked over toward the college
grounds, to listen. / had stopped
in the angle, made by the chapel
with the wall Of the library, to light
q cigar, when some one, whom /
could not see for the darkness, thrust
a rope in my hand aad whispered
hurried, For Heavens sake pull on
the rope, and don't let go, or Jim
viii be dashed to pieces Then he
was of again, and stood there do
ing as / was told, and wondering
who in the dickens Jim was, and
where he was that he should be
dashed to pieces, il | should let 60
the rope, and try to catch my train.
/ heard the whistle as it came in,
and then it went ont again without
me. Suddenly it flashed across my
mind, that this was some students
lark, and i, q staid Eiddle-aged
man, was helping them. By and
by the voice came to me and said,
IT'S all right, Jim's up there aad
we've got all the ropes and pulleys
disposed of except this one. Jerk
it down now, and bring it round to
the old place when you come. Hur-
nv now, or you'll get caught 2
4 have the rope now. waiting for claim
ant; IL was more than a week afterward
that found assisted in hosting the mule
Jim up into the belfry. / wonder If thai
Voice has found out yet that was the
wrong man.
BY Jove, exclaimed Ned, who was pres
emf, they must have mistaken you for me.
was to be there that night, but one of the
professors got hold of me, and wouldD'tle LEI
me off from hearing some long -winded
story until knew il was too late. Luckily
for me. though, next morning, when they
accused me Of being the head ofthat affair
l could prove that I was with the professor
all the evening"
Amid the general laugh, the party broke
up. Mother went upstairs with the chill
dren, father received caller on business in
the library, and Ned and win went out
was lying on my lounge, in the corner
watching the fire. Aunt Nix was quie,
while Mr.. Hutchins walked first TO the win
dow, then to table where he examined Q
book, then back to the fire. Suddenly be
went over and stood in front of her chair
Mike, he said softly. had never heard
him call her by that name before. She
looked up and then dropped her eyes quick
| ly, her cheeks flushing.
why did you go to Africa p she said al
last.
Because loved you and was too pool
to ask you TO marry me. Mike, I have
loved you twenty years And he held ou
his hands to her.
And have waited for you TO say thai
for twenty years. she answered, rising
slowly. Then he put his arm round her
and crept softly out of the room. I wal
amazed when thought itover. Aunt Nix
our aunt, had been in love all these years
and we had never suspected IL. How glad
Mr.. Hutchins must have been to find hei
still unmarried, and how much prettier thar
ever she had grown in these last few weeks
And then l went to sleep.
We had quiet wedding at cur house {
few weeks later, and then our new unc.s
carried Aunt Mike off to Chicago with hin
TO live.
Tom, said Aunt Nix, 4 want all tn,
children to come and make as long visi
as soon as we are settled
Elizabeth replied Uncle Tom severely
you will have to be contented with my
company for whole year. Taen you
numerous nieces and nephews will be wei
come for q week or two
And Aunt Mike only laughed