Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-06-10


afternoon, to keep her Aunt Huldah
company until Monday morning. ran
into the buttery, whore the old lady
was screwing down her patent jars OF
canned blackberries. isl .i
why, Aunt Huldah! she cried. rosy
and breathless, who on earth is thai
old loafer smoking his pipe In the back
garden? I never was 80 startled In
my life ~ when / saw him"
''Old loafer, indeed!' cried Aunt Hull
dab, bristling up. I'm sure. Catherine
Fielding, don't know who you could
ha' seen. The gentleman as smokes
once In a while out there Is Mr.. HI
ram Pearson, the rich merchant. as is
just settin' up business at Cranch's
h Corners-you've heard Of the Forty
Nine Cent Store there. haven't you!
All tie country's a-talkin' about 1t.
It's a-goin' to revolutionize commerce
and Mr.. Hiram Pearson's a-goin' 20
be your uncle!"
WHAT" cried Katie, with wide-open
blue eyes. "You never mean to tell
me, Aunt Huldah, that
eyes," said Aunt Huldah, "I'm goin'
to be married. Why shouldn't I? Miss
Burdett Coutts got married, and I'm
a good ten years younger than she Is.
And he's loved me faithfully this thir-.
ty-odd years-and I'm to be q lady and
keep a PLAINLY and a hired gal and q
canary bridal Of my own"
Katie knew not what to say. She
stood gazing at her aunt in breathless
surprise and dismay.
Dear Aunt Huldah," said she, "do
let me understand. Are you really In
earnest? Have you actually made up
your mind to this important step In
life during the one week in which I
have been absent from you?"
Eyes. I have" said Aunt Huldah.
giving screw to the last jar of black
berries which cracked it half way down
the side. So there!"
And then she related the whole story
Of Mr.. Pearson's long and constant
love, his financial successes, and the
great enterprise now in process of COM
spletion at Cranch's Corners.
&C. ""And, of course" added unsuspect-
ing Miss Huldah, Il considered 1t q
very great privilege to be able to in
vest my little savings in a business
like that, as is sure to return at least
a hundred per cent. And told Hiram
that you had some money in the saw
ings bank at only four per cent that
you would be glad to place with him
if"
"Not If know it!' cried Katie, with
spirit. Dear Aunt Huldah, stop and
consider! The very looks of this man
proclaim him to be swindleT! Has
he given you any security for all this
money!"
Security cried Aunt Huldah.
What security do I need? Amt we
to be married just as soon as can get
my wedding dress nader"
"But you never have given him your
money!"
'Why shouldn't II" said Aunt HUI
dab. Eyes, I have. And I'm to have
cent-per-cent interest for It, once the
Forty-nine Cent Store gets we'll under
way. But it amt that so much" she
added, with elderly bashfulness, "as it
is that we love each other-me and
Hiram. You'll like him, Katie, when
once you get acquainted with him. He
amt no Insignificant whiftet like
Abram Holley, your young man! Make
haste and help me to get out the best
table-cloth-he's to take tea here to-
night"
"But you'll let me consult Abram
Holley abou. the matter, Aunty,"
pleaded Katie. "He's lawyer, you
know: he'll understand
81 don't consult nobody but myself"
said Miss Pettibone, loftily. I'm a
phrenologer, and physiognomer and
a judge of peoples character. And
I've knowed Hiram Pearson more
years than you've been born; 50 lust
dish up the apple-sauce, and leave of
talking, while go out and call Hiram
to teaw
Dear, dear, !" said Katie sadly to her
self, as she poured the stewed sweet
apples into the blue-edged bowl which
would have crazed a votary of the
ceramic art. What fool Aunt HUI
dab is! To think Of getting married at
her age|
But Aunt Huldah called and called
and only echo replied.
"How provoking" said Miss Petit
bone. "He must be gone to the post
Office
If he had. however, the postofice was
long way off, for Mr.. Hiram Pearson
never came back. Neither did Aunt
Huldah's coupon bonds, her little bag
Of gold eagles, nor her five one hundred
dollar bank notes, which he had so
kindly offered to invest. And, upon in
quiry being made at Cranch's Corners.
the Forty-nine Cent Store was found
to be but vision of Hiram Pearson,s
fertile brain.
And Aunt Huldah was left to bewat1
herself in tears and impecuniosity. Not
o1o,, ho 10, hn,o c.,,,,