The Irish standard., 1899-04-08
A Peculiar Marriage
BY J. A. Bolles
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L uT.d
peculiar than any of the others. He
lived on good farm of his own in
Duchess county, \. y.
He was widower, and the man.
agement of his house was entrusted to
Flora Floringer. the stepdaughter OF
his deceased, brother. Edwin.
Flora was II years old, pretty and
efficient. and Mr.. Smith, in hispeculiar
way. WAS very fond of her.
Jllstin's chief as,Sis,t ant in farm work
was his only son John, 90 years old.
John was as sturdy as his father. but
was more sensible and generous-heart-
ed.
! WAS rainy day. and John Smith
was industriously repairing a broken
| harness.
He sat on log in shed. The gen.
tie patter of rain on the roof seemed
to have soothing effect OH the young
man. and he alternately whistled and
sang snatches of song. But his work
became monotonous. and. he was feel
| ing "A bit lonesome. when Flora entered
the shed and stood beside him. She
smiled in a roguish way. and kept one
hand behind her back, as if she held
something she wished to conceal.
what favor do you want now.
Flora::" asked John, good-naturedly.
II want you to fill the box in the
kitchen with wood"
"But am to have no reward? l
rat her suspect from your attitude that
I, l.;
Il must have your promise that you
will bring in the wood before will tell
YOU.
"Nonsense! You know I'll do any
thing for YOU"
"lf you're sure you'll be rewarded
you should add"
'l'l add il, then. just TO please you, .
retorted John. with laugh.
"You're So good I'll not keep you
waiting longer"
Flora produced a rose, and, as a
slight blush swept over her fair checks.
she slipped the flower into a button
hole of his vest. John caught her
hands as she was about to step back.
and his handsome eyes We're full of
ardor.
This; cannot be all of my reward
he said, in low voice. tremulous wit h
feeling.
"Of course ii is. Let me 60"
The alarmed girl began to struggle
and to blush violently. but the hands
that could hold a pillow firmly for hours
behind a pair of strong horses were
fully equal to the present emergency
This Isl the only way to thank you
properly" cried John, as he suddenly
drew the girl toward him and imprint,
ed Il kiss.
Il think you're real mean. John
Smith," said Flora. in as indignant a
tone as she could summon.
81 know l am. but l can't help it, >
he rcjoined.
81 won't stay with you minute
longer" she cried, as he reluctantly
released her.
"Then I'll stay with you" And he
ran by her side.
'l'm sorry gave you the rose. You'll
never have another chance to get the
best of me-
Then I'll take the last chance
Flora, be mine and I'll be yours
mo, / thank YOU"
"You don't mean it, cried the young
man. as he caught her and bes,tow
another kiss.
You are my prisoner" he muir
INJURED. tenderly.
How can obtain my release?
"only by promising to become my
wife" ~
81 promise"
+. whats all this kissing and. fooline
mean?' cried a rough voice.
The young man looked up in a
startled way. He knew he had beer
caught by his father. In his haste and
rapture as a lover John had. thrown
caution to the winds and had forgotten
that he might be observed in his act
of ardent wooing.
at means that Flora has promised
to become my wife, said John, frank
ly and fearlessly.
well, I'm sorry to hear it, for I'm
afraid it may be necessary for me tc
make you seek another situation thar
the one on this farm" repeated Justin
glumly.
81 think 1 know what is in your
mind" said Nilsson.
"You probably do. lfyou think I'm
going to give up my hold on the Edwin
Smith farm in a hurry. you've made
the big mistake Of your life. The will
as neither You nor Flora can have for.
gotten, left Edwin's farm to be under
my control during my life. after which
it will become Flora's property. 1t j.
provided that the only way she car
receive it sooner Isl for her to marry be-
fore she is 81 years old. If she marries
before that age she is to obtain the
farm :otltfight at once. Now I'm sup
poseds1 Q know, and do know, a good
deal nore than you and, Flora, and m,
Judgment is that l can manage the
farm my brother left good deal bet
ter than anyone else, at least, unit
you two are as old and sensible asyor
ought to be when it is time for me tc
die. 1t is next to this farm. and g
larger and better farm than this one
is. and ! can manage the two farms
together with more profit and benefit
to all OF us than anyone else can. I've
no objection to your marrying Flora
after she's 81. Indeed I'd calculated
that such marriage would be the
thing to expect, the proper thing TO,
1~l,, O..