The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-14


Mrs Hood had heard no such rumor,
but being agog for gossip. she devised
| this romance in flash Of inspiration.
1--WE heard nothing about it, answered
Mercy.
Haven't you now? Oh, well, it's one Of
them rumors as gets about. I've quite for
got who told me-"
amy one would think that there's
nought to do to Bradhembury but to
talk about my brother John,'' said Mercy
yes, you're right. AS I said yesterday
to Mrs. Bywater, Emma, if you know
another sech a place as this for gossip,
I'd like you to mention the name And
the disagreeable remarks as is passed,
too 1 wouldn't like to bring about ILL
! feeling, but really sech spiteful things is
said! Still, l know as you're not one to
care what's said about you"
mot in the least said Mercy. I've
no time or patience to listen to the non
| sense of some folks
Same with me, my dear / stop 'em
/ short with If you haven't something
/ pleasant to say about so-and-so, don't
say nothing at all That's my own mot
ter. Now, there was Amory's DLettice
come in just now and begun about John,
and his young lady, and this and that
OF course | know you don't care a brass
farthing what's said about you. But you
! would have laughed to hear her talking
about you as old The remark came out
when she was sort of plying you for
/ being left lonesome again when John mar
ries 'Iis curious how every bit of a gal
of twenty thinks that a single woman of
thirty has passed her chance of wedlock
Well I must set back against the mail
cart comes along. Middling fine weather.
! isn't it? Good day, my dear
! For a few moments Mercy stood looking
upon the ground and twisting a bit of
+ri,a foo
pale, but smile played about the firm
lips.
, THAT decides me- she said aloud.
! Throughout the afternoon she worked
with the more than normal energy which
/ she exercised when perplexing matters
weighed upon her mind. She was afraid
! to sit down and prudently ponder upon
; her resolve. The impulse must be kept
I alive and not anaiyzed. Her calmness
j astonished her. But towards evening,
/ when she went upstairs to put on her
! best gown, her heart began to flutter,
and the looking glass showed her white
| face Then, for the first time since the
morning, she felt fear at the probability
/ of the defeat of her purpose; and for a
/ while her intention wavered.
1t was about half a mile to Marion
farm, and Mercy went along at quick
pace, with her heart beating time to
| her steps. At the doorway of the farm
( sue lett as LnOuSn Sn6 would drop TO the
ground. Yet, with great control, she set
| her face and tapped at the door. 1t was
| opened by Cornelius Mirchin, a tallish,
/ sturdy man Of about forty years, with
| just a few StreakS of grey in the hair
| above his temples. His face was fresh
and ruddy, and his eyes of a light blue.
| lie seemed surprised at this visit from
Mercy, but he bade her come into the
| sitting room, and, with rather shy
| manner he sat down before her in the
window recess.
"A long time since you were at the
farm ne said. II hope things are go
| ing well with you?
Without looking at him Mercy said:
Cornelius, do you still care for me?''
| His eyes opened wide, and there was
| deeper unge of red on his cheeks.
! Same as ever, Mercy every bit the
same, he answered wOnderingly.
linen reckon I've changed my mind,''
/ she said, looking up.
| What! you do love me- after alp?
! Il don't know for certain whether [
do. I've not given the matter
deal OF thought since you last asked me.
Maybe, L might come to be very fond
OF you, Cornelius, and maybe I
mightn't It's risk for both of
I'm prepared to run it, he said
/ eagerly. Il shouldn't wonder now if
you're not main sight fonder O. me
than you care to own to. Not as I ever
set myself up to be much of a catch
Tor any woman. But, Mercy, honor
| L L.
there's one woman in Bradhemburv for
me tbs Mercy Saunders And all along
| I've kept a-hankerin' on that idea. like
| a sorter dream as might come true aft
/ er all When heard that your brother
John was going to marry saws l. 1NOW's
! your opportunity, Cornelius Mirchin for
! one more last and final proposal to Mer-
| cy. Wen, them two other refusals that
you give me was terrible hard to bear
and you may be able to understand that
I've ftinched and held back not from
! any change O. feeling mark Won but
Tor fear of third and finalest refusal
put now you come, as open as day.
ngnt, and welcome as flowers in Nav
ana meet me fair with the very question
| as Id have given all I own for you to
ask me! 1 take it as this is Providence
| and that we was ordained for one another
| All along: He took her hand and con-
unued: You've put it to me so honest
Mercy. that I'm sure your heart is good
as gold. say I'll run my chance, wheth-
er you love me or not Then you'll mar
| ry me. Mercy?"
Yes" she murmured
II was strange to Mercy to be seized
and kissed upon the cheek. She was TOO
daZed to realize whether she was happy
or alarmed at the upshot of her visit.
| nevertheless, she felt that her fate had
peen given into the hands of a good
hearted, well-respected man, who had
always been her friend Yet she could
not own that she loved him.
Inc next day Mercy wondered at her
selI. ohe was not naturally impulsive
yet upon sheer, sudden impulse she had
] given herself to Cornelius Mirchin The
| thcught lmbued her with a strange vague
dread OF meeting her lover. What did he
think OF her innermost mind? If folk
only knew, they would spitefully declare
| that she had thrown herself into this
| mans arms. Her face flushed warm
| red. Sooner or later she must tell John:
! o9t ior the present she hesitated to speak
| of the matter.
John and mes out" she said with q
just YETI '-i 0eii nm
That evening John remained at home.
ne sald that he wished to tie some sal
| mon flies; but Mercy could see that
there was another reason for his STAYING
!hdcors Several times during the even
! ing, john pushed aside the gaudv bits of
aTgIatner, and gazed through the window,
There was something so piteous in his
expression that Mercy could no longer re-
strain her mingled sympathy and curi
oSlty. He seemed almost on the point of
sheoolng tears, when she said: whats
dear?'' on your mlnd'
Rosa Murphy won't have me-" he an
| sSWereG, IN husky voice that went to
iMterc 5,. heart. I'D rather not speak of
H. "R, Iis the ne, worst blow I've ever had
but thought you were engaged - she
| murmured. why, people have been f1Ws
ing the wedding day!'' IA
.. mo NO such thing, Mercy he groaned
been IS co an l9 30 of gossip I've only
der promise Now. she has refused me
10 n1WnIlght. Wen, | should have seen if
al a. along. Sne's looking for someone
iii Ma..r up IN IN NE than a river keeper
Iae.cy lace was quite white ard her
Ups tWltched 1t was all gossip. then ,
John was not pighted to the Sergeant
daughter 1
ron ana I've gone and promised to marry