Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-03

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man."
1T will work out all right, Nell:
don't worry over it"
But how can it work out all right?'
wait, and you shall see.n
Yes, and that's what you said about
those three men, and that hasn't
worked out all right yet. have tried
SO hard to understand you, Polly, but
sometimes l just can't. Why do you
wish to mystify me? Haven't always
been frank with you?"
"Yes, too frank, perhaps"
That's what sometimes think my
self. But here comes father"
The old man came out, wearing q
horseshoe nail mounted as breastpin.
Father" said the girl, .sif were YOU
would take off that fool thing and
throw it away"
Throw away my betrothal pledge,
hah? Not much. You 90 on into the
house and Polly and will walk down
ana look at that bottom field of corn
by moonlight"
Il don't care to walk this evening"
Polly replied. I'm tired"
"All right, We'll wait till some other
time; but say, you might let me kiss
you once just for luck"
No, you've had luck enough. BY
the way, there is clause that / must
insert in our contract, and that is
this: If you speak to me again or to
anyone about our compact the engage
ment shall be instantly broken. There,
not word or I'll break it right now"
To observe the new clause required
on the old mans part strong exertion
OF VIII; and sometimes, in babbling
about his bottom field of corn, he ap-
preached near the danger line. News
e@ the engagement got out. but the old
fellow swore that he had told no one;
out he had been seen talking to the
president of the mite society, and it
was known that she had spread the re-
port. And she said many things that
were not complimentary to Polly; said
that she had come to Bloomfield mere
~ to catch husband. She even
stopped Polly in the street and asked
her when the marriage was to take
place.
1T seems of deep concern to you,'
Polly replied.
"Oh, not at all, I'm sure. 1 just
merely happened to think of it. L
don't care if you marry him to-day, I'm
sure. He's nothing to me, goodness
knows. And so far as that's concerned,
could have married him long ago. 1
suppose the match will be very suit
able. He's getting old and you're not so
very young yourself. Those city women
have knack Of hiding their age, too.
Oh, yes, should think that you are
very well suited. It's nothing to me,
I'm sure"
Good, and hope that You will ac-
cept an invitation to my wedding"
"Oh, l am the last person in the
world to go to weddings. Of course if
it's Romantic affair don't mind 60
ing, but cut and dried marriage never
did catch me. Oh, by the way, what
will those three strange men think?"
II don't know, but have invited them
to the wedding"
"Miss, must say that you are about
the curisest critter l ever saw, and it
strikes me that the less q body has to
do with you the better it will be for
'em."
Several months passed, and the ex-
piration of the lease was approaching.
And so was tn time set for Pollv's
marriage. The bottom field had yielded
lavishly and the old man wore a new
hoInespun suit. "You know we had a
sort of contract" he said to Polly one
evening.
Eyes, but if you, speak of the engage
ment I'll break it,
81 CAD, you've got me wound up in a
close place. I'd like to ask YOU if it
ain't about time you was gettin' your
dress ready, and all that sort of
thing"
Look out now, Mr.. Aimes."
The old man ducked his head as
though stone had been thrown at
him "All right, miss, but don't for
get to blow the horn when you are
ready"
1t was morning, and Polly anduNell
were sitting in the parlor at home,
Polly had said that as the lease was
about to expire there was no need of
going to the office. 1--WE will wait"
she said, land let the owner of the
paper come here if he wants to see u.s."
do you think of taking it again?"
Nell asked, with touch of sadness in |
her voice.
mo. think not"
$50 then you are in earnest about
marrying father"
mo, think not"
"You think not? Don't you know"
"Yes, think do"
polly, you have one of your myst.ri-
GUS fits to-day. What's the use in keep
ing up this foolishness? Tell him that
you can't marry him. You have let it
run on SO long already that he has
gone to the expense Of getting new
suit Of clothes"
Eyes, but he hasn't any more clothes
now than he needs"
Nell sighed and Polly looked dream
lily out into the garden. "Your coming
and your stay has been romance to
me, Polly, and now it must end" She
sat with her elbow on table and med
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