Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-05-02

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that he enjoyed his calls best when
Lizzie 8 ], was present, and fell into 2
habit Of asking her what evenings she
would be there Sometimes wheK It
was snowy he called for her with his
team. =*= E. e s.s:.s#: III.
So, in the natural course Of human
events, it was not long before a rumor
came to Miss Maria's ears that Dea-
con Goodyear was paying Lizzie
marked attention. The story filed her.
with deep concern, particularly since
her aroused observation could but con.
firm It. y - .s.s .; :s ri. d.:
I'm afraid Lucretia's right, and a
widow isn't the proper person for q
chaperon," sighed Miss Maria to her:
self. But there, ii he's really in ear.
nest, Lizzie'll make him a nice little
wife, and If Lucretia's satisfied I'm
sure I am And seeing no way by
which her Intervention might better
matters. Miss Maria wisely decided
to let them > take their course.
~ The crocuses had begun to prick
through the brown earth, and nothing
was left of the snow: save dingy patches
in the hollows, when ., Miss ~ Maria
stepped into her yard one morning, no,
ticing with a breath Of delight that
winter had gone. A voice from the
cemetery fence greeted her. Deacon
Goodyear had; come around to see how
his lot was looking. His smanner this
morning was not depressed. He had
never missed 'Czarina as he did this
spring. Seemed as if he couldn't wait
for the snow to go of so he could get
to her grave. Yet within ten minutes,
having from Czarina led skillfully up
to the point, he was Offering Miss Ma.
ria position as Mrs. Solomon Good.
year.
Miss Maria was astonished and in.
dignant. With much dignity but in
few words, she declined the honor and
walked back to the house, leaving the
deacon more depressed than before,
poking his cane about among the dead
leaves on Czarina's grave. Miss Maria
said nothing to her sister. She felt
crushed and Inundated, someway. It
seemed to her as it Deacon Goodyear
had trffled with them all as family
She would have talk with Lizzie and
find out how the poor girl took it.
She walked into the chjolroom after
the children were gone, with distressed
face, at sight of which I.lzzie's smile
dimmed little.
ooh, Aunt Maria" she sid; II hope
you're not Disappointed"
AT what?'' asked Miss Asaria.
Because + refused Deacon Goodyear.
Did. he tell you? L was 80 surprised,
for 1 had thought he was good to me
on account of being family friend.
But last night hes came around so SOL
emn, and asked me to marry him in
such a mournful manner! I'm afraid
you'll think me wicked, Aunt Maria,
but actually laughed AFTER I was
alone to think what good Joke Arthur
would have thought It, And then
cried, thinking that In Heaven we
might not care for jokes. But to-day
l have been thinking how much you
asked us, there together, and was so
afraid you wanted something of the
kind"
II never thought of such a thing"
declared Miss Maria, with perfect
truth. She pondered on the deacon's
strange behavior as she went, slowly
homeward. What would Lucrctia say?
A sound of voices reached her from
the sitting-room. Deacon Goodyear,
no longer depressed or mournful, sat
beside her sister. Miss Lucretia's
cheeks were a soft pink.
"Oh, Maria!" she said.
Miss Maria turned inquiringly to.
ward the deacon, who colored, but met
her gaze unflinchingly:.
:Lucretia's promised to marry me-"
he said, firmly.
Miss Maria gave him a whitening
look.
"Allow mo to congratulate you." she
said. She put away her bonnet and
went straight to the kitchen, putting
her head back through the door to in
quire: Twill your young man stay to
tea, Lucretia?"
Deacon Goodyear followed her out,
carefully closing both doors behind
him.
Look here, now he said, in a low
but determined voice; ''you probably
think this is terribly funny, and maybe
it does look queer. Lucretia's the one
I wanted all the time. But I kept
a-hearing reports about how was
counting Of Lizzie, and I kind of
thought maybe my attentions did re-
quire an offer. But Lizzie didn't want
me. Then kind of thought
that maybe your turn come
next. But neither did you want
me. Then, having fulfilled my duty
to the best Of my knowledge, there
didn't seem to be any reason why Il
shouldn't follow my inclination and
ask Lucretia. Twas her wanted all
the time
He paused. Miss Maria poked the
fire vigorously.
"Czarina was good wife to me- -
said the deacon, rehectively. "She
stood by me through thick and thin.
and we ;bore*t the burden and heat of
the day together: But / wanted Lu-
cretia 30 years ago."
Miss Maria. hung the poker back
with a jerk.
+. "Well,'' she said, *'Lucretia's Of age
and some considerably over. II she
wants. to marry. she can
Underground River Connects Lakes.
News of the discovery of a big un-
fao,ee,.oa1xad ri1zor NIolloa