Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-12

| home especially as he owned as good
a place as you'd find on the river
while the Blount cottage was fast fall
ing to decay. He wouldn't let her for
mer refusal Of him tell against her, for,
now he looked back he really didn't
| see how she could have married any
body at that period. She ought to be
rewarded for the devotion she had
shown to the family. and. for his part,
| he felt magnanimOus enough to give
| her a second chance to accept him.
such was the worthy wtdower's state
Of mind when he asked James BlOunt.
with mock humility, whether it would
be Of any Use for him to try to make
a bargain with Dolly.
That's moren can tell" Mr..
BlOunt had answered; 'Dolly's puz-
zle You'll have to find out for your
| self"
Mr.. Wiggin smiled in cOmplacent an
| ticipatlOn Of acceptance. Indeed. II 1t
might not seem like a reprOach to the
memory OF his lost Olive. should say
| that the kind hearted man rejoiced in
this opportunity Of maAing Miss Dol
ly's happiness.
l}enevOlence was in his face, benev-
olence was in his spirit, as he sailed
forth at an early day to acquaint her
with her good fortune. The broken
ARROW which he had strapped into the
wagon to give the neighbOrs plausible
rea son for his trip to the Falls was by
no means typical Of mental laceration
in it's owner. His feeling as he ap-
proa ched Miss Dolly's moss grown cot
tage was purely one OF thankfulness
that 1t was in his power to provide her
better home. Not that he was CRATE
full to his dead wife for leaving a va
cancy there. Mr.. Wiggin had mourned
faithfully for Olive a year and day.
Miss Dolly was out in the garden
gathering catnip. She never used 1t
herself. but there were nervous old la
dies in the village who looked upon
this herb as the substance pleasant
dreams are made Of. and Miss Dolly
dried 1t every year. and often left little
bundles Of 1t when she made visits of
consolat ton. She had built a chip fire
under the tea kettle, and then whisked
of to pick an apronful Of the pungent
leaves while the water was boiling.
There she was, STOPPING beneath the
caves Of a log ca bin sun bonnet, and
humming lively tune. when Mr.. Wig
gin drove up.
nv, hnlavAd "a At n u
piped Miss Dolly, cheerily, swapping
| llriskly at the stalks.
"'Cut short the hours Of thy delay;
Fly like youthful-'"
Ely like a youthful-'" struck
in wheezy bass.
The sun-bonnet tipped back like
cart body.
"Sakes alive" cried Miss Dolly, not
in the words Of the hymn, as Mr.. Wig
gin strobe toward her in his slightly
rheumatic legs.
Il didn't mean to put you out"
laughed he, shaking hands heartily,
but it seemed kind of material to take
part with you in 'Invitation.'
You always had way OF falling in
at the most unheard-of time. l remeln-
Der retorted Miss Dolly saucly. re-
covering herself, and going on gather
ing catnip. She was 80 years old now.
and hoped she had her wits about her.
You used to say | kept good time.
only too much Of it," pursued Mr.. Wig
gin. with a sudden inspiration: but
tell you what, Dolly. time never drag
ged with ME then as 1t does these
| days"
1T Is a dull sea SON." said Miss Dol
ly. with exasperating simplicity. Il
suppose the era sshoppers have eaten
most of your wheat, haven't they, so
it'll hardly pay for rcaping:
Just So" assented Mr.. Wiggln. dis
romfited. He had not Travelled five
miles I'm the heat to discuss the state OF
the crops.
walk in and sit down. wont YOU"
said Miss Dolly. with reluctant hospi-
| tai.y. Her apron was crammed Mt last
TO its utmost capacity. She dcvontly
wished it had been larger.
well, yes. | don't care If do" an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, utter a hypocritical
| show of hesitation. Il had little bust
| ness further on, at the blacksmithS
No hurry. though. as | know Of" and
he turned to let down the bars for Miss
Dolly who meanwhile nimbly slipped
| through the fence. catnIp and all.
Bless my heart. | don't see but
what you're rs spry "a ever You was"
said he, admiringly. as he puffed along
in her wake. Still you must be get
ting into years, Doly. as we'll as L
no offense. | hOpe-and | was wonder
ing whether or no it wasn't lonesome
for you living alone here: woman.
so:'
"Oh, never was one of the lone
some kind" responded Miss Dolly,
briskly. seating her guest in the patch
work cushioned rocking chair; land. for
that matter, hardly day passes with
out some of James folks running in"
Yes, know; but II you was to
change your situation, wouldn't you ell
JOY life better, Think"
k-~II 4 80