Year: 1860

"There's that Joe Nelson alongside Debby
again." said Mr.. Wilder to his wife, rather pet
tishly, as they came out Of church, one warm
summer afternoon, and commenced their walk
homeward. ~ wish he wouldn't make himself
quite so thick"


"well, now, my dear, think thee has little
too much feeling about it," returned Mrs. Wilder.
Is clever and respectable young man; nobody
ever says q word against him.


ayes, he's too clever to be worth anything" !"
said Wilder, "and he'll take II into his head, Il
he hasn't already, to coax Debby to marry hIm.
I've no idea Of her marrying . pauper; I've
worked too hard for what little property I've got
to be willing to see it going to feed . vagabond
who never earned anything and never will l
don't believe Joe will ever be worth hundred
dollars as long as he lives"


any dear, think thee is q little too hard
upon Joseph thee should remember that he is
but just out Of his time. His father has been
sick several years, and Joseph has almost en-.
tirely supported the whole family"


"Oh, don't deny but he's clever enough,
said Mr.. Wilder; "all is, do not like to see him
quite so thick along with Debby. How should
you feel to see him married to Debby, and not
worth decent suit Of clothesi"


IL should feel, said Mrs Wilder, Z" as though
they were starting in life as we did when we
were first married. We had decent clothes, and
each Of US a good pair Of hands, and that was all
we had to start with don't think we should
have got along any better, or been any happier,
u thee had been worth q hundred thousand
dollars when we were married"


This argument came with such force to Will
der's own bosom that he maie no attempt to an
swer Il, but walked on in silence till they reached
their dwelling. Debby and Joseph had arrived
there before them, and were already seated in
the ParlOr. Seeing Joseph as they passed the
window, Wilder chose not to go in, but continued
his walk up the road to the high ground that
overlook, d some Of his fields, where he stood
ruminating for hall an hour on the prospect Of
his crops, ard m ,re particularly upon the IN.
pleasant subject Of Debby and Joe Nelson.


The next day Debby had long private in
terview with her mother, and after dinner Mrs.
Wilder wished to lave some conversation with
her husband in the parlOr.


swell, my dear" said she, "Debby and Jo-
seph are bent upon being married. Il seems
that they made up their minds to 1t some months
ago, and now they have liked upon the tire.
They say they must he married week after next
NV, think we had better fall in with II in rs
good feelings as we can, and make the best Of
i. Thee well knows have always sRid these
things will have their own way, and wksa young
folks get their minds made up don't think il Is
good plan to interfere with them. As long IS
Joseph is respectable and good to work, think
we ought to feel contented about Il, although he
is poor. Il seems to me that there are as many
folks that marry poor that make out we'll in the
world as there are that marry rich"


After little reflection upon the matter, vii.
der came to the conclusion that his wife had
nearly the right of It, and told her he would
make no further opposition tn the match; they
might get married as soon as they chose.


"Wel, my dear" said Mrs. Wilder, Debby
needs little change to get some things with,
this week, in order to get married"


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


"If thee can let me have fifteen or twenty
dollars" said Mrs Wilder, III think It would do
for the present"


"well, now, I've no money by me," ssid Mr.
Wilder, except bundled dollar bin, and it1
impossible to get that changed except BY send
ing to the bank, . distance Of ten miles. tried
all over the neighborhood last week to get Il
changed, but couldn't succeed. l shall be too
busy myself to 90 tomorrow, but if Debby has
q mind TO get on the old horse IN the morning,
and take the bill to the bank and get itchanged
she may have some Of the money"


The proposition was soon reported 10 Debby,
who said she'd just as leave take the ride as not
Tho matter being thus amicably arranged with
Mr.. Wilder, there was nothing TO hinder going
forward with comfort and dispatch in making
preparations for the wedding. Debby was IL
excellent spirits, and Mr.. Wilder was IN unusual
good humor towards Debby. Having brought
his mind to assent to the arrangement which he
had so strongly opposed, his feelings were Ia &
state Of reactiOp, which caused him 10 regard
Dcbby with uncommon tenderness


The next morning the old gray 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 ex.
anime the saddle and bride, to see that every.
thing was all right.


Debby trotted along leisurely over the long
road she had TO travel; but she was too full o.
feel weary at the distance or lonely at the soil
tude. The road was but little travelled, and sh,
met but two persons 10 the whole distance-on,
as she was ascending hill about . mile frOu
houe, and tho ether in long valley Of wood
about midway on her journey. Had she beer
OF . timid disposition, she would have felt good
deal Of uneasiness when she saw this last per
son approaching her. His appearance was darl
and ruffianly, and they were two miles from any
house, in the midst Of deep and silent wilder
ness. But Dcbby's nerves were unmoved; she
returned his bow in passing, and kept on in heI
way In perfect compOsure.


She reached the end Of her journey in due
time-hitched her horse In the she'd at the vii.
lage hotel, and inquired Of the waiter at the
door tho way to the bank.


As he was pointing out to her It's location, she
observed o tall, dark-lOOking man, with dark
whskers and heavy eyebrows, looking steadily
at her. She, however, turned away without no
ticing him any further, and went direct to the
bank. When she reached the door she found Il
closed, and learned from some bystanders that
the bank, Tor some reason or other, was closed
that day. In her exceeding disappointment, she
stood silent for some time, uncertain what she
should do