Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-08-22
JUST TOO LATE.
"Neverr' said Mr.. Parrham.


well, she certainly was not an old maid,
but she was 20, with brown eyes and
bright chestnut hair and lips fresh and
crimson as the earliest awberry of the
season. And Mrs. Parrham. the old bach
elors sister in law, had been doing her
best to get up match between them.
mo, said Mr.. Parrham, Il don't think
it is. Marriage is altogether a mistake"
"Oh, Paulus' chirpcd Mrs. Parrham,
with tiny shudder That's flying in
the face of Scripturer'
"How?" demanded Mr.. Parrham.
Don't the Bible say, 1t is not good for
man to be alone?'
"Ah-h-h," said Mr.. Parrham convinc-
iugly, "but we haven't lived up To the
Bible ever since. We have degenerated,
Sarah Marriage Is mistake, Any man
who sells his birthright of freedom and
independence for wedding ring and a
pretty face deserves to be put in bondage.
l shall never be such fool!''
Did Kitty's head drop very trifle as
Mrs Parrham watched herr Nevertheless
there was very perceptible movement of
relief in the room when Charley March
entered-a tall young follow, with laugh.
ing eyes and healthy complexion.
"You don't know what you have lost,
Mr.. March, said Mrs. Parrham lightly.
WHAT" demanded Charley
"A dissertation on matrimony.'
"Oh, that's u question that l have moth.
ing to do with
And he glanced as he spoke at Kitty
Glenn.
Its too bad" said Mrs. Parrham to
Kitty that night
"What is too bad?" questioned Kitty
innocently.
"Hewould have made you such splen.
did husband, sighed Mrs. Parrham.
"Pooh! That $ all past and gone!"
Whilo Mr. Parrham, in his own snug
room, enwrappcd as it We're In the fra,
GRANGE of u Havana, chuckled to himself as
he thought how nicely he had outwitted
the scheming clique of women down stairs.
A week afterward and the mental and
spiritual cline had changed.
I'm not going to be very sick, am Is'
asked Mr.. Parkham.
"Oh, nol' answered DR.. Medrick. at s
nothing but little touch of intlammatory
rheumatism! / had u patient last week
who's been down with it for seven weeks.
Couldn't lift his finger without scream,
ing, l assure youn'
II can't take caro- Of him any longer,
Kitty" said poor little Mrs. Parrham
coming out, pale and haggard at the ex-
piration of weary fortnight. "He says
l get the Cruel too hot and tho tea too cold,
and step like an elephant, and rustic my
dress as if l We're robed in newspapers,
and, do what will, l can't please him!
And he won't have a nurse--a mere mer-
cenary, he calls it-and what shall do?"
"Therc, there, soothed Kitty. don t
cry I'll see what l can do"
Some people have dewy GOODNESS at their
fingers ends, mesmeric influences in every
step or touch. The invalid's fevered impa-
thence subsidized as she moved softly about
the room.
IF you were to stay and nurse ME, l
should get well, 4" he said piteousy.
"Thcn III do my best" said Kitty
quietly. "Only, if you are not good, l
shall go away"
Mr.. Parrham frowncd and then smiled.
After all dignity aside, there was some
thing very pleasant in thus becoming u
mere spoiled humored child in such beau
tiful hands as those of Kitty Glenn, and
being admonishGd that he must be good
by u voice which was as sweet as n bird S.
And the third day, as Mr.. Parrham was
waiting eagerly for his soup, in came his
sister-in-law.
where's Kitty?' he demanded dolor-
ously, wrinkling up his broad brow like IA
4-year-old about to cry.
"She's gone riding with Mr.. March
It's quite an old engagement and she
couldn't very well escape it, but she will
be back by 4 o'clock.
"Four clock! How am to get along
until them"
'Im sure l don't know" said Mrs
Parrham, who possessed one great dis
qualification for u sick chamber. "Try
your broth, Paulus. It's very NIGEL"
tits sca-a-alding said the invalid. II
won't touch mouthful till she comes
back
"Do, Paulus,' urged Mrs. Parrham
nervously. ooh, dear, what will the doc
tor say?"
~ don't care what he says growled
the sick man.
When she came back, Mrs. Parrham in
dulged in burst of hystcrical sobs.
Don't leave us again, Kitty, she be-
walled, cor / shall certainly diei He is
such trial. F."
And Kitty laughed and went straight
into the sick room with her bonnet still
on to scold the patient for his bad behavior
Kitty" said he one twilight as she
stood opposite him, looking very pretty
and very graceful 'how can ever thank
you for all you have done9 1t will take a
whole lifetime to express my gratitudep'
II hope not, said Kitty, struggling her
shoulders. THAT would be very tiresome
TO both OF us!''
Nevertheless 1 shall try it, said Mr..
Parrham. kitty, I've a question want
TO ask you"
Ask away" said Kitty blithely.
"will you be my wife?"
"Thank you, " said Kitty, "but I'm en-
gagged"
Engaged
YES; to Mr.. Mach. We arc to be mar
ried in May"
But, Kitty
First come, first served asserted the
young lady calmly. Il won't deny. Mr..
Parrham, that / did fancy you a little
once, but you declared yourself devoted to
celibacy and Mr.. March was pressing and
eager and-dear me, what was girl to
dor
And as she ran blithely away Mr.. Parr-
ham sank back in his chair, convinced
that he was the most miserable of men in
49, 10, ~ ~ nf1ia nj ~