Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-06-15


afternoon, to keep her Aunt Huldah
company until Monday morning, ran
into the buttery, where the old lady
was screwing down her patent jars OF
canned blackberries.
why, Aunt Huldah" she cried, rosy
and breathless, who on earth is that
old loafer smoking his pipe in the back
garden? l never was so startled In
my life as when / saw him.
"Old loafer, indeedw cried Aunt HUI
dab, bristling up. I'm sure, Catherine
Fielding, 1 don't know who you could
once in a while out there is Mr.. Hi
ram Pearson, the rich merchant, as is
just settin' up business at Cranch's
Corners-you've heard of the Forty
| Nine Cent Store there, haven't you?
All tie country's a-talkin about it.
It's a-goin' to revolutionize commerce
and Mr.. Hiram Parsons a-goin' 20
be your uncle!"
What" cried Katie, with wide-open
blue eyes. you never mean to tell
| me, Aunt Huldah, that"
Yes" said Aunt Huldah, I'm goin'
to be married. Why shouldn't l? Miss
Burdett Coutts got married, and I'm
good ten years younger than she is.
And he's loved me faithfully this thir-
| ty-odd years-and I'm to be lady and
keep pianny and a hired gal and a
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 l
have been absent from you?"
Eyes, 1 have" said Aunt Huldah,
giving screw to the last jar of black
berries which cracked it half way down
the side. $50 there!"
And then she related the whole story
Of Mr.. Parsons long and constant
love, his financial successes, and the
great enterprise now in process of COM
pletio2 at Cranch's Corners.
And, of course" added unsuspect-
ing Miss Huldah, IL considered it q
very great privilege to be able to in
vest my little savings in business
like that, as is sure to return at least
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"
''Sot if know it," cried Katie, with
spirit Dear Aunt Huldah, stop and
consider! The very looks of this man
proclaim him to be a swindler, Has
he given you any security for all this
money!"
Security" cried Aunt Huldah.
What security do / need? Amt we
TO be married just as soon as | can get
my wedding dress made?"
But you never have given him your
money"
why shouldn't -" said Aunt HUI
dab. Yes. l 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 II like him, Katie when
cnce you get acquainted with him. He
amt 20 insignificant whiffet like
Abram Holley, your young man. Make
haste and help me to get out the best
table-Lloth-he's 10 take tea here to-
night.
But you'll let me consult Abram
Holley about the matter, Aurty,
pleaded latte. Hes lawyer, you
know: he'll understand"
II don't consult nobody but myself, &"
said Miss Pettibone, loftily. I'm
phrenologer, and a physiognomer and
judge of peoples character And
I've knowed Hiram Pearson more
years than you've been born; so just
dish up the apple-sauce, and leave of
talking, while | go out and call Hiram
to tear'
Dear, dear" said Katie sadly to her
self, as she poured the stewed sweet
dDDlto lillO DiuS-SuEtu DONl WHICH
would have crazed a yotary of the
ceramic art. What a 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"
ii he had, however the postofice was
a 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
curry being made at Cranch's Corners.
the Forty nine Cent Store was found
to be but a vision OF Hiram Pearson's
fertile brain.
And Aunt Huldah was left 10 bewaii
herself in tears and impecuniosity. Not
even the neighbors sympathized with
her. They only smiled shrewdly at one
another, and said, under their breath:
mo fool like an Old fool. New
York Ledger.
Scotland's last Train.