Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-03-22
< ~
| The Hermit
\, A Story Of the Wilderness
~ By CHARLES CLARK MUM
Author OF Pocket Island. Uncle Terry"
ard Rockhaven.'
CHAPTER acknowledgements
<CupsriSht. lsej, by Loo anu Sheparu.)

CHAPTER XXXVIlI.-CoNr1NuEp.
The climax Of the fun came in the
evening. however, for Angie. always
thoughtful, had invited a little party of
her oldest pupils to help entertain Mar
tins nieces and nephew, and the house
was turned almost topsy-turvy by
"Blindman'S Buff" ''Puss in the Cor
ner." "Groceries" and finally a game
Of Button" in which even Aunt COM
fort and Aunt l-Orey had to join. The
limit of rollickins fun was reached
in this. when the latter was called
upon to pay 4 forfeit by kneeling in
the middle OF the parlor floor and
measuring six yards Of tape with
Meier. This performance produced
shouts of laughter OH all sides, but 1t
IS doubtful if Meier enjoyed it.
There was one slightly ludicrous in
cident however, for Martins mother,
who was somewhat deaf and had some
how understood that her son and An
gle were engaged went to her at the
close OF the evening and offered con-
sratulationS in an unnecessarily loud
tone. Her intent was kindness itself,
but it brought blush and almost
tears to Angie. and no one informed
the old lady to the contrary. Neithe:
did any one consider it needful to do
so, or that the outcome was anything
but fOregone conclusion
And so it was. for there are some ad-
justments in life SO absolutely COM
patible and so evidently in harmony
with the law and sequence of events,
that no will can stem the current.
Happiness and union with the man
Angles heart had never once swerved
from. were forcing themselves uDon
her. and with her will or against her
will, no alternative was possible. It
may be called divine law or the law
OF natural selection-no matter; it is
one and the same. and a power that
has covered this dear old world, this
queer old world" with countless happy
homes, and filled its isles and fields
and groves with JOY supreme and the
sweet ripping laughter of children
Love was hers by that same divine
right, happiness for others meant her
own. and what was hers she could not
escape, even if she willed. More than
that. the self-sacrificing impulses of a
nature few men can either understand
or appreciate controlled her and forced
alteration.
Something Of this was voiced by
Aunt Comfort that night when the
guests had been packed away and she
and Angie were alone.
Il hair't spoken on t afore," OBJ
served Aunt Comfort, but hope you
an Martin won't put off gettin' mar
ried too long. Thar amt no need on
t now, and yer both old 'nough. n
I'd like ter see ye happy, ez I b'lieye
We will be, an then thar's property
reasons. Ye mustn't expect DR.. Soils
goln' ter look arter them matters now
that yer nat'ral pertecter's come back. -
why, We are not even engaged
yet answered Angie, with emphasis,
land ] told him wouldn't be so long
as you need me, as know you do"
why, Angie, I'm s'prised," came the
somewhat severe answer. II don't
need ye half so much as We do him,
and we've both on We waited long
enough. II yc want to make me hap
py, We must consider my wishes in
this matter, an I won't be happy till
the day is sot n I've seen We two
made one. I amt alters goin' to stay
round here, n then thar's yer father
How do We callate to take keer O. him
alone in the world n 'thout a man."
Il am not anxious to be married.
she said firmly, after duly weighing
what Aunt Comfort had said. 1T is
serious step, and if Martin cares fol
me, it won't hurt him to wait few
years. I have grown well used to q
single life, and am quite content with
out him. AS for property, why, the
mills and Nizzy lands won't run away
and you and I have got along very
well so far. Besides, there's my father
as you say, only your idea of my duty
and his need is different from mine
Martin is going to take you and me
to him in the spring, he says"
Then Aunt Comfort laughed, for this
naive admission of woman's depend
ence on man was ludicrous.
why, you goose she said, eff you
n Martin was married, thar wouldn',
be no need O. my goin', n ez fer m;
settin' foot in one O. them topply ca.
noes they tell bout, I wouldn't do II
fer farm"