Year: 1869

A great many years since, when bright
eyed and fair-haired lasses were not so
plenty as they now are, there dwell in the
town OF P, pretty village distant
some twenty five miles from the market
town, peculiarly ugly and cross grained
but wealthy farmer.
Minnie was Danforth's only child report
said truly that she would be his sole lega-
tee. The old man was sturdy farmer,
and was estimated to be worth fully twenty
thousand dollars; at that period very
handsome fortune to be sure


The sparkling eyes and winning manners
of Minnie Danfortb had stirred up the finer
feelings of the whole male portion of the
village, but her father Was peculiar and
none succeeded in making headway With
| him and her.


lu the meantime, Minnie had true and
loyal lover in secret Who would have
supposed for one moment that such fel.
low would dare to look on beauty and COM
parative refinemet? His name was Walk
er, or as he was generally called, Joe
Walker, and was simply farmer employed
by old Danforth, who had entrusted Joe
with the management Of his place two or
three years.


But very excellent farmer and right
good manager was Joe Walker He was
young too-only twenty three; and he
actually fell in love with this beautiful,
pleasant, joyous Minnie Danforth,' his EN-
ployer's daughter But the strangest part
of the occurrence was, that Minnie return
ed his love, earnestly, truly and frankly,
and promised to wed him at favorable
time.


Things went on merrly for time, but
old Danforth discovered certain gances
and attentions between them, which ex-
cited his envy and suspicious Very soon
afterwards Joe learned the old mans mind
directly in regard to the future disposal of
Minnies hand and he quickly saw his
case was hopeless one unless he resorted
to strategem so he set his wits at once
to work. By agreement, an apparently set
tied dislike and coldness was observed by
the lovers towards each other for five or six
months: and the father saw as he believed :;
with satisfaction that his previous fears had
been Premature Then by agreement also
between them, Joe absented himself from
home at evening, and night after night tor
full three months longer did Joe disappear
as soon as his work was finished, to return
home only at late bed time. This was un-
usual, and old Danforth determined to
know the cause Of it.


Joe frankly confessed that he was in
love with man's daughter, who resided
less than three mites distant, after faith
full attachment between them for several
months, the old man, had utterly refused
his application for the young girls hand.


This was capital-just what the old man
desired. This satisfied him that he had
made mistake in regard to his own child,
and he would help Joe to get married, and
thus stop all further troubles or suspicion,
at home. So he said:


"Do you like her?''


" Yes, sir-yes. F"


" Then marry her"


"But | can't-her father objects"


"Poh let him do so, what need YOU
care? Run away with her"


"Elope ?"


eyes Off with her at once. IF the gal
will join, all right. Marry her; bring her
here you shall have the cottage at the foot
of the lane, I'll furnish it for you, your
wages shall be increased and the cid man
may like it or not"


But"


" But no butts, Joe. Do as l Did you
90 about it at once and"


" You will stand by me ?"


+" Yes to the last | know you Joe;
you're good fellow and a good work man,
and you'll make anybody good son or hus-
band"


"To-monow night then," said Joe.


"Yes."


"Pll hire horse and buggy"


=" No you shan't."


Why not?'


"Take my horse-the best one, young
Morgan; he'll take you off in fine style in
the new phaeton.'


"The old gentleman will be astonshed.'


Never mind 90 on. Well turn the
laugh on him. I'll take care of you and
your wife at any rate"


"I'll do it, said Joe.


You shall" said Danforth and they
parted in good spirits.


An hour after dark, on the following
evening, Joe made his appearance, dressed
in nice new black suit, and really looked
very comely. The old man hustled out to
the barn with him, helping to harness
young Morgan to his new phaeton.


A hundred rods distant from the house
he found Minnie, as by previous arrange
ment, and repairing to the village, the par
son very quickly made them one in the
holy bonds of wedlock Joe took his bride
and soon dashed back to the town of P,
and halted at old Danforth's house who
was really looking for him with open arms.


Is 1T done" cried the old gentleman.


Yes" answered Joe.