Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-12
mind that men folks round the house

concerted by this unfiattering view of
his sex. II wasn't speaking Of hired
help, Dolly. Materially you would get
tired with that; it's worryin' to a wOm-
an. But If you was to have COM
panion. nOw-One that could give you
a good home. with wood and water I'M
der cover"
"Shoo. shOo!" cried Miss Dolly. fly
ing out after an inquirlng chicken on
the doorstep.
Mr.. Wiggin drew his red pocket
handkerchief from his hat to wipe his
glowing face. Certainly he hadn't felt
the heat so all through haying
Flows your health nowadays" ask
cd Miss Dolly. frlsking leI< with a
look OF resOlute unconscousness.
Very good; remarkably good.
Dolly, with tougher constitution than
I've got"
"Ah" Miss Dolly blushed like SUI
mac in October.
Yes. I'm WE'LL pursued Mr. Wig
gin. perseverlngly. land I'm tolerably
marrying again. provided | can see
woman to my mind"
There's the deacon's widow" sug
gested Miss Dolly. officiously; shes n
pious ecOnOmlcal-''
Shes left with means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter
rupted Mr.. Wiggln. quickly. Now I'd
| rather have Il wife to provide for-One
that needed home. In fact, Dolly.
have my eye on the little woman l
want this minute"
He had both eyes on her. for that
matter. and Miss Dolly was forced to
recognize the situation. whether she
| accepted 1t or not.
I've managed to sugar my tea so
far David. without calling upon my
neighbors," chirruped she. STOPPING to
lay straight the braided mat. land
might as we'll keep on. l don't feel
| 1t a tax as some folks would But
| there's Martha Dunning. she's having
| hard time to get along. Why don't
you take her. David? She'd appreciate
3.
ut would seem as II most women
might" said Mr.. Wiggin, in an injured
tone, "all finished Off complete, paint
ed outside and ill.,
Shed be delighted with 1t. ! am
sure Of 1t" broke in Miss Dolly, with
an air Of conviction. az she darted into
| the kitchen to lift the boiling kettle
| from the crane.
But you don't mean that you won't
marry me, Dolly" pleaded Mr.. Wig
gin, anxiously. following TO the door.
i've been lottin' on seem you at the
| head Of things at my house"
Martha is a grand manager" said
Miss Dolly. cooliy. david needn't
| think he can buy me with Il set Of new
buildings" added she. mentally. snap
ping down the lid Of the pug-nosed tea
pot. Il never did have the name Of be
ing croppng.'
Il tell you. Dolly, l won't have Mar
tha don't like her turn cried Mr..
| Wiggin, testify, balancing himself on
the Threshold yet not daring to step
| over 1t.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten-
ton to winging the hearth.
You know you was always the wo-
man Of my choice, Dolly" pursued Mr..
Wiggin. as tendcrly as he could con
sistently with the distance between.
And we were both young--'
"Pshaw.'' snapped Miss Dolly.
scorching her wing; that's beyond the
| memory of man.
Mr.. Virgins position was becoming
painful. He grasped a door-poSt in
| either hand. looking wrctched enough
to slay himself on the spot, after the
fashion Of Samson. Evidently he had
not touched the right chord as yet. Miss
Dolly was not to he won by the attrac-
tons Of wealth and position. nor even
by tender illusions to the past He
would appeal to her kindness of heart
Il used to believe you had some feel
| in, Dolly" said he. trcnuiously: but
you don't seem to have any for me.
Here | am left alone in the world.
children all paired off; 'i!Inuts Matilda,
and she'll go before the snow flies;
| house empty
Il suppose you can have home with
any one of your boys and welcome
put in Miss Dolly. family. still tiut-
tering about t..' chimney like IA swal-
low.
Yes, If we come TO worst. | sup
| pose | can aSsentcd Mr.. Wiggin,
mournfully. anything but consoled by
this reflection 1T would break me
down terribly. though, you may de-
pend, to give up my place that | set
so much by, and crowd myself on to
my children"
no response save ,he Gathering of
the tongs.
And it's dreadful melancholy bust
ness for man at my time Of life to
drag along without partner I'm get
ting to be old. Dolly" Mr.. Wiggin
brushes his sleeve across his eye as a
feruled school-boy might have done
Yes, I'm getting to be old Dolly" he
repeatedly brokenly; land it stands to
reason thai | haven't many years to
live; but | did hope we might go down
hill together. Dolly. you chirkin' me up
with that spry way Of yourn that al
uavs fool, 10 and | carryin' the heft