Year: 1860

said Mr.. Wilder ~come, go up and take a
look at it.


Joseph was altogether unaccustomed to such
attentions from Mr.. Wilder, and he looked moi
little confused as he took his hat and follow.
ed him to the door.


They went up the road, and Mr. Wilder
took him all around tt field of growing corn,
and examined hill after hill, and looked into
the other fields, and found hundred things to
stop and look at, and talked more to Joseph
than he had before for six months. Joseph
suspected that his walk was undertaken by Mr..
Wilder for the purpose of leaving Miller and
Debby in the room together, but he bore it all
patiently, and answered all Mr.. Wilder's re-
marks about the weather, his crops, and his
eds, with apparent interest, for he knew too
well the state of Debby's feelings both towards
himself and towards Miller, to feel any uneasi-
ness. At length Mr.. Wilder concluded supper
must be nearly ready, aud they returned to the
house. On entering the parlor they found
Miller alone, reading newspaper.


Mr.. Wilder looked vexed.


what all alone, Mr. MilIer?' said VIII
der Il shouldn't haves staid so long, but





back


"MisS Debby had some engagement that re-
quired her attention. said Miller. ''and asked
to be excused but I have found myself quite
interested in the newspaper"


Wilder went out and met his wife in the
hall, and asked her how long it had been since
Debby left Mr.. Miller alone in the parlor.


She left in three minutes after you went
out" said Mrs. Wilder " and l couldn't per-
suade her to go back again. She said she
knew you went out on purpose to leave her
and Henry alone together, and she would not
stay. It's no use, William. these things al
ways have their own way. and its no use try
ing to prevent it,


The supper passed off rather silently and
rather awkwardly. Mr.. Wilder endeavored
to be sociabIe and polite to Miller, and Mrs
Wilder, as usual, was mild and complacent to
all But an air of embarrassment pervaded
the whole company, and when they rose from
table Henry Miller asked to be excused, and
said it was time for him to return homewards.
Mr.. Wilder endeavorcd to persuade him to
stop and spend the evening, but Henry was
decided and said he must go. After he was
gone, Debby and Joseph returned to the par
lor, where they were joined part of the even
ing by Mrs. Wilder; but " Wildcr, after walk
ing up and down the dining room for an hour
or two retired to bed, mot however to Sleep
His mind was too much en@rossed with the
destiny of Dolby to allow rcposc. He count
ed the hours as they were told by the clock till
il struck twelve. Mrs. W had been two hours
asleep. still he lad not heard Joseph go out
After while tie c!ock struck one, and in
few minutes he heard the outer door rather
softly opened aud closed, and then Heard Deb
by tripping lightly to her chamber.


Ai;.' thought Wilder to himself, q it is as
my wife says, these things will have their OWN
way. This thing of staying till one O'Clock,
looks like rather serious hisinrs-.'


The next Gay Dcbby had a hong private in
terview with her mother and after dinner Mrs.
Wilder wished TO have some private conversa-
tion with her husband in the par!or.


Well, my DEAR" said She, = Dolby and Jo-
seph are bent upon being married. 1t seems
that they made up their minds to it some
months ago, and now they have fixed upon the
time. They say they must be married week
after next. Now | think we had better fall
i'll with it i'll ;tS good felings as we can, and
make the best of it, Thee well knows / have
always said these things will have their own
way, and when young folks get their minds
made up, [ don't think it is good plan to in
tcrfere with them. As long US Joseph is re
spectacle and good to work. think we ought
TO feel contente'i about it. although he is poor.
1t seems to me that there are us many folks
that marry poor that make out as well i'll the
world as there are that marry rich


After little reflection upon the matter,
Wilder came to the conclusion that his wife
had nearly the right Of it, and tod her he
would make no farther opposition to the match;
they might get married as soon as they chose.


Well, my DEAR said Mrs. Wilder, Deb
by needs a little change to get some things
with this week, i'll order TO get married.


" How much will she want this week - said
Mr. Wilder.


" If thee can let her have fifteen or twenty
dollars said Mrs. Wilder, Il think it would
do for the present"


Well, now, I've no money by me- said
Mr.. Wilder, except a hundred dollar bill,
and its impossible to get that changed except
by sending TO the bank, distance of ten miles.
tried all over the neighborhood last week to
get it changed, but couldn't succeed. l shall
be too busy to go myself tomorrow, but if
Debby has mind to get on the old horse, in
the morning, and take the bill to the bank and
get it changed, she may have some OF the
money"


This proposition was soon reported to Deb
by. who said, " she would as leave take ride
as not" The matter being thus amicably ar
ranged with Mr.. Wilder, there was nothing to
hinder going forward with comfort and des-
patch in making preparations for the wedding.
Debby was in excellent spirits, and Mr.. VIII
, der was in the usual good humor towards Deb
by. Having brought his mind to assent to
the arrangement which he had so strongly op-
posed, his feelings were in state of reaction,
which caused him to regard Debby with un-
common tenderness.


The next morning the old grey horse was
standing at the door eating provender, full two
hours before Debby was ready to start; and
Mr. Wilder had been out half dozen times
to examine the saddle and bride, to see that
| everything was right, and had lifted up his
horses feet one after another, all around, to
see if any of the shoes were loose. And when
at last Debby was ready, he led the old grey
to the horse block, and held him till she was
seated in the saddle, and then he handed her
the bride, and shortened the stirrup leather
and buckled the girth little tighter to pre-
vent the saddles turning, and when ne had
seen that all was right, he stepped into the
house and brought out a small riding whip
and placed it in her hand, and giving her a
hundred charges to take care of herself, and be
careful that she did not get fall, he stepped
up on the horse block, and stood and watched
the hill till she was out of sight.


Debby trotted along leisurely over the long
road she had to travel but she was too full Of