Year: 1871

sky, and of the flowers and trees which |
eclipse anything of the North. To Nut
meg, she praised New England, and she
had some favorite topic to discuss with
each of us.


"Of course we were all in love with her,
but none dare boast of having received
any sign of preference from the lady. We
had all proposed to her once, and some of
us had a dozen times. She just made light
Of it; said we were crazy, and did not
know what we were about, but she came to
believe, after while, that we did


"There was open war. We all acted like
mailman, except the Judge; he would not
answer any of our taunts but was most
pleasant to all. Yet he grew to look real
carewon, and every time he met any Of us
alone he would say he hoped Will would
come soon. He talked to us about keeping
the peace, and appealed to our honor as
men, and our love for our old comrade.-
She herself had quiet talk with each one.
don't know how she managed it, but she
left the impression upon us all that we
were likely to be accepted if we behaved
ourselves and kept quiet; but it was no go
we couldn't.


Gone evening she refused to sit down
with us at the table, and so little was eaten
She walked up and down the room a few
times and then she said emphatically, "I
am going off. don't know where, but
| OF thic 10 ,t,ha orol,1
/ cannot meet one of you but what / am
importuned to marry you. Don't you
know gentlemen, cannot marry you all,
and if | choose TO show one bit of pleasure
in the society of any one, the rest are all
angry. Now I ask you what l shall do /;
Will doesn't come, and l am all alone. I
do wish you'd drop this nonsense and be-
have yourselves. Why won't you.


"She looked from one to another, and
finally asked of Jack, 'Come, you own to
being wicked, and you've been one awful
tease; won't you reform, and then all the
rest will ?''


"Aunt Betty said-'If you care for any
of us make it known, and then the rest
shall behave, or--there will be row."


"'That is just it /; you will fight any
way you ere getting so savage. In being
lovers am afraid you have forgotten to
be gentlemen


wasn't that stinger for us? But we
didn't feel it then as we have since. We
all promised we would not say word after
her decision was made known to us. And
each may have felt little elated, thinking
he was likely to be chosen.


She sat down and put her face on her
arm, but it was only for minute. Then
she said, Il shall ask for two days to think
of it. Next Sunday there will be a we'd
ding here, and supper afterward, which
we will all help to prepare. If any one
speaks to me on the subject between this
and that time his doom is sealed for GER
tain.


"There was an oldish man over the next
, cabin who had seemed to have kind Vi
fatherly care over Kate. And l might as
, well say here that all of the thirty who
were not married had offered themselves to
her and been preremtorily refused.


"Well, Kate, and the old man, Howe
had long talk together, and then he went


off and did not get back until Sunday, ant
: he brought minister with him. There
: was some kind of service in the afternoon


out under the trees, but none of us paid
, much attention. Our eyes were all fol
q Kate, and she was crying softly all the
: time. When it was over she took thu
a preachers arm and talked with him som'


time. They went into the cabin and We
v all followed. Mean, wasn't it But W.
q didn't see it in that light then.


0 "The man took a Bible from his pocket
+ and said This lady informs me that yor
/ have all promised to abide quietly by hel
. decision, and to dwell in peace and harmo
no together. For her sake you cannot Oh
o ject to come here, one by one and take an
a oath which shall dictate. 1t is that yor
!, each reiterate your promise with a hand OF
G this sacred book ...-....
"We advanced and received ii as sol
d emnly as though it was to be the last o
J. our lives. Then he told us that Mis-
a Browning was very much attached to vi
4 all, but OF course could not marry but one
and we must bear our disappointment lik'
h men. I uirf
a "She went and stood beside him.
It thought she would faint, but she did not
It We all arose, when the minister said, Le
It us pray When he was part through, the


L.