The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-07-25


I didn't think this of you, William. 1t
amt deserved for you to get mad"
"Iryin to play reproachful, Ell? Just
look back over the last 80 years or
more. Amt I always been all a broth
er could be? Amt Martha been more'n
a flesh an blood sister could be? An
how about your home? Amt it been
all reasonable man could want?'
The deacon's voice trembled little
as he rapidly summed up the list of
unappreciated kindnesses. 49,
"Well, William, 1 amt forgettin all
that, not bit of it. But what if a
man after awhile gets tired of Twin
day in an day out in rut? What if
he wants to get out into a bigger, bet
ter life? I suppose I wouldn't thought
of it if the railroad hadn't been put
through. l got to goin there first
when they was layin the tracks. Well,
that was all right enough, an them
"Thatl do! Enough Of that! 1 won't
hear it from your lips"
can them
'Stop, man! say stop, in the name
Of what little regard for decency you've
got left! I won't hear from you! l
didn't come out here to listen to your
boastin an plumin yourself about your
reckless, senseless goin on
The deacon's bloodless lips trembled
as he fairly Numbered the command
and shook his clinched fist in unbridled
wrath. Il won't have it made any
worse by your goin into all the details
of what you did," he went on hotly. 81
wanted you to listen to reason, an
wanted to talk to you like a brother.
But there amt any reason left in you.
It's gone too far, an Martha an I'm too
late. You're proud of that broader life
you talk about, are you? All right,
then. Now listen to what I've got to
say. The ways still open for you to
turn over a new leaf an come back an
be one Of us as you was before the
Lowdens All their tavern came to
Quaker Church. It's got to be one or
the other, an you've got to decide right
now. Either you quit this new, broad
er life that you've been harpin on or
you must get along without Martha an
me from this day for'ard!"
: The deacon pronounced the sentence
in excited, impassioned tones. "Tle
ways open. Which do you take?'' he
repeated, wiping away the beads of
cold sweat that stood out upon his
brow
Joels flushed face turned pale at the
deacon's words. They cut him like
sharp knife, and his brother knew it:
But quickly the scornful look returned,
and he met the issue squarely half
way. Without a tremor he stepped
close to his brother and, placing his
hand gently on the others shoulder,
exclaimed:
William, William, if it was the last
thing on earth I didn't expect this of
you! If it was anybody else, I'd "a
said he'd gone clean crazy. You an
mother never did circulate much
around among the neighbors, but
never once had an idea either of you
had anything against Mis- Cook. 1
can't understand it. Her husbands
been dead for three years now, an dur
In that whole time she's hardly been
outside her dooryard. It's goin to be
hard to tell her that this is our weddin
present from you an Martha, but l can
do it, an will. One thing has got to
be settled between you an me, howsom-
ever" Here JoePs words became DELHI
crate and foreboding. Il amt goin to
stand up an listen to anybody throw
miserable slurs on the woman that's
goin to be my wife, not even you, nv
own brother an a deacon in the church,
who ought to be above such a thing.
want you to understand that if the
Lowden boys did build their tavern
across from her house she amt respon-
sible nor the worse for it. An as far as
that place is concerned, hate it worse
than you do. It's hurt her property
scand'lous."
Wedding bells often ring out in unex-
pected places. Their notes are the
sWeeter when they sound above the din
Of discord. In vain the deacon, per-
picked and confused, his excited mind
in whirl, tried to interrupt Joel's
words. Then he gave up the attempt
and grasped weakly at the objects near
him for support. He could only gasp,
"1is' Cook; you marry Mis- Cook-the
Widow Cook at the crossin-I-you"-
''We've been thinkin it over ever.
since the day the circus was in town,
an last night we fixed it all up an de-
cided to hitch"
lord saTe us all! Joel, r. It was
too much for the deacon, and his
strength deserted him. His knees bent
beneath his weight, and his voice drop
ped to an inaudible whisper. He lean
ed upon the sleigh and rubbed his eyes
as if to bring back his scattered senses.
Then he suddenly found his voice
again. us that the meanin of it all?
Is that where you've been goin eyenin
after evepinA when mother an me
thought you was at the Lowdens'? Say
somethin, man! Are you struck clean
dumb?"
The scornful look had left Joeps