St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-12-06

His interest in hisrash matrimonial
project had cooled considerably; but
going to see his uncle on the follow
ing Saturday afternoon, he inquired |
casually at the post office again, and |
was not altogether displeased that
there was still no letter for him. He
decided that his epistIe had not Gre
ated a satisfactory impression, and
that he should hear no more OF it.
Turning the corner little beyond
the post Office, he was surprised to
run into Uncle Cottle, gorgeous in a
new white waistcoat, and with
flower in his buttonhole
Tim, my boy" he CALCULATED, "Pve
been expecting you daily. Sorry |
was out when you called last-I was
out on particular business"
"Ohw
Tim had dim premonitions of dis
aster; he inly upbraided himself for
neglecting the affairs OF Miss Holt.
Yes"
Uncle Cottle winked his left eye and
smacked his nephew on the shoulder
exuberantly.
II was arranging to get married"
"To Miss Holt ?" faltered Tim.
mo" laughed Uncle Cottle.
You'll never guess. It's the widow
Mrs. Netley. You remember, we
wrote to her? She answered my
letter that evening, an hour before
you called"
Tim was too confused to grasp
what he heard.
"But you said" he stammered,
that if Miss Holt rejected youyou'd
know there was curse on you and"
II haven't asked Miss Holt-be-
sides, it's three months since wrote
to the widow, so, in any case, she has
a sort of prior claim over the"
THE other curse" suggested Tim,
bitterly.
"Here's her letter." said Uncle Cot
tie, disregarding his Interpolation,
Read it for yourself"
He thrust the missive into Tins
hands, and he read it dazedly as they
walked on together.
Dear Sir-If you care to call on me
| shall be pleased to see you. lregret
you did not give me your own adj
dress, as | should have thought it
implied either a want of confidence in
me or of candor in yourself, had it
not been that we are almost neigh
bors, and l had the pleasure of meet
ing YOU few months ago, and
know you by reputation. Under the
circumstances you will appreciate my
preterring to send this to your pri
vate address, which | have taker
from the directory.
Yours truly,
MAUD NETLEY."
That's all right, Tim, amt it ?
chuckled Uncle Cottle.
Tim realized in a flash that thl:
was his Maud" and it was his let
ter she was answering, not his uncle's
but he could not see his way to saying
so.
What does she mean about your
address ?" he said.
why, was nervous when | wrote
that letter, and l must have forgot
ten to put my address in. That:
why she didn't answer before; sh'
. couldn't. And it's just occurred tC
her to look in the directory. See?
meant to have asked her about it
but she was so nice and amiable ant
f smiling, and | was so-so-well,
5 hardly knew how | was-but Their
: didn't seem any need to apologize
: and, in fact, | never thought ahou
: it till l was coming away"
f as she young?" asked Tim, for tn
f sake of saying something.
1 81 thought at first she was nearl.
e forty, but she's only twenty-nine-
S she told me so herself showed he
nv bank book and list of my sc
curities.
S "Oh, that's all right she says
r laughing.
"'Then when's it to be ? says |.
r "And it's going to be next month.
e Next"
e Month. I'm going around to tn
wears now to put up the banns-
n YOU come with me. And SAY! she
n an orphan, so we want you, my boy
d age don't matter; it's only a matte
of form to be father to her at tn
l wedding, and give her away"
IT,. 'T;,,, ,,,aC o1oonv and rpclx less an