All's Well That Ends Well

Mr. Perry was an M bachelor an Miss Brigga was an old maid. II' lived in the brick house on the liill ;uul she in the Cottage opposlte, .-uil fchey were mortal eaemles. He de apised tier because she kepi two cats .■nul n canary, and shc loathed hln tor his aiïection íor a huge mastii and an o!d bnock-kneed horse. "Wlhy an earth the man doa'1 trj i i ge) a d cení h irse is more I han can imagine!" she would say, a dded up to the (oor. "I belleve tfliat he is too mean and mlserly to buy onc." Miss BriggS WOUW have linruly telt pleased had she known that Mr. Perrj rode hack and lorward on lus out ,pdece oí horsetteeb for tin1 purpos of annoying her. Tliey aever spoike, luit yet they managed tu keep up a perfect warfare, iy disagreeable manners and wrathful glancee. 8he sat hour after hour beneatb })'f canary bird In ttoe window, with her cai perehed upon the Bill and her knittinii' in her hand, throwlng glances of scorn to t(he opposlte siiir, wheri he, wit h cigar and newspaper, receive and paid thcm back WitJl interest. Ilis detestable dog came over nnd ran through her garden, destroylng uil her beautlful tulipa and hyaclnths, and slie gave him a hot batli whlch sent him bowling to his mast er. and When said master remonstrated, eent word 1hat sli wonld ireat him worse next time. Her little red cow broke throush his endosare, and devoured lus turnlpe nnd eabbn.irvs, and lie led her home and informed Miss Brigss that a second offenee would give her a comfortnble pasture in the pound. For two years they lived and fouirht nnd no one could bring about peace iM'twcrn thrin. Ii was a pity, the netghfbors said, for Miss Brlggs was a dear little soul, and ttoere was not a. finer man in tlu country than Mr. Perry. "Julia, niy love," snid Mrs. IVrkins one afternoow, as shc cntci-cd tlie cosy parlar, "I am going to liavc a party, and I want yon to come down in I tie afternoon to tea and rematn durinp; the evening. Every om m i!l be there." "Will the old bacil over the Avay be there ?" "Mr. Perry ? oh. Yes! We could not gel along without him." Then that Bettles the mat ter, I slian't !?o." 'Xow, Julia, don't be so foolish! If y ou rematn at homo he will think you are afraid of him." Miss Brigga tliought the matter over. Well, it -would look a little llke that, and she would not have him think so for the world- the eoncelted wretch. Mts. l'crkins went hoine, and it was arranged tliat Miss Brigga was to spend tin' afternoon and remain for the party. She ivas a pretty little woman, and it was always a puzzle to every one why she never married. She had a round rosy face, ctear brown eyes, and beautiful hair, and if she was tliirty, i iiti' Avas not a Bmarter woman i:i town. she stood before the looklng-glaas in the chamber, and fastened her lace collar over the neck of hor dress witli a plain gold broocli and began to think that she looked very well. There was a UriR-iit healthy flush upon her Cheek, and her eyes were full of life and beauty. She walked intn Mrs. Perkins' sittinc; room and found lier awaitjng her wifch a smiling face. She thought áhe mus; be in very good Humor, bnt saiil nothing, allawing the good ady to smile as long and pleasantly is she wisiicd. Bhe understood it all when upper Ime carne and Mr. Perking entered, wllowed by Mr. Perry. Tliis was a weU-latd plan to make the two become frtends. Miss Brlgga bit her lips and lnwardy vowed that nothing should tempt ïer to "give that man" her liand in rtendship. She hated hini and al-ways would. He was placed directly opposite at the table, and many times torced to ass the biscuits or preserves, and Miss Brlgge aecepted them, although ehe declared to llrs. Terkins after Bupper that they nearly choked her. Before evening they were both persuaded to overlook tlie liorse -and cow difficulty and be civil, and Miss Briggs was frightened when she found licrself talking to him with ëaéy and ileasant famlliarlty. The party was a suecess, and althougli the sports werp generally moïopolized ty tlir youngcr portion, they onnd room for the old maid and her ■nemy, and sevcral times found themselvea doing most ridiculous tliings D tlie way oí paying forfcits. At the end of tlie evening Miss Rriggs vas at the door ready to depart, wheo ie called: "Miss Brlggg, I a.m going up your vay. WUl j'ou ride ?" Would slH' ride böhlnd that old ïorse, aiid beside that detestable man? (he was wondering whctlicr nlie would or not, when Mrs. l'ei-ki'iis eame and riuinpliantly led her out and packed ïer toto the carrlage. It was as dark as pltcb, and they iad to let tJe horse go his own way nd ïind it tlie txst he could. He did 0 very wrll until they rcaclied the Ofct&ge, and tlien he was bewildered. Jlr. Perry spoke, Jerfced the reins, rat to no purpose. He then took out In' whip. Whether his natural disike to tliiat article or the memory of he iudignities he had euffered from bhe ïands of the owner of the cottage overéame him, it is hard to decide, mu at all events he kicked up his heels, au ;i few yards and feil, overturning lic buggy .-iiid its precloue contente. Miss Brlgga was up in a moment, unharmed, but Mr. Perry was attent is tin' grave. Slie ran Bliouting i iinníí;i tile darkness untll Mr. Perry'a help with a lantern to lier assistance. Tlney founfl the man hall dead bei the carrlage, and white Dan was fit work, Miss Brigga ran h ime lor her servant. After muclh hard labor they Bucceeded in extrioatlng hlm trom the wreek, lut he waa senseless, and bore him home and sen1 for the doctor. Dpon examlnatloin bhey found hls leg :.i be broken, and tihus Miss Br enemy was at her inercy. Tüc days and b eeka i -a ■!( dreadful on but Miss Briggs never [i Day odghi 8he sbood beside Urn, ,-i.::d her pulmp hands adminisi t d He forgol bhe eow and hls turnlps. He torgot cal and the can lli' only saw a little patiënt woman, witii a pretty face, trim figure, and ■r hands- and would yon believe it -feil in lnvc w iïh her. How could he help it ? 8he had sat by him through the dreary days ol pain, sihe had brought him her preserves and nicc lavlgtorating cordials. She had, in all probablllty saved hls Ufe. Wiiat could he do? Nothing bul iall in lm e. "Miss Brigge," Il6 sai'i olie day xvlicn he was al;ii t,n s:t np. "Well, Mr. Perry ?" "Yon liave been very good to me, nnd 1 f6l as llwiuiii l owr jou a greal deal." ■'liKTc! noiv just Btop where you are. Yon Owe me nothing." "Bul would you ïnind if I ti-espassed ;i little furbher on your good nat nre ?" "Not at all." "Well, Miss Brlgga, will you vake me in charge for ihr rest of niy life ?" What ?" ■'Will you marry me '.'" Miss Brlgga blushed, and her answer came tlius: "I will marry you." There was a wedding In the church a few weeks later, and Mrs. Perkins prepared tlie wedding supper. Mr. and Mrs. Perry live in the brlck house, and the cottage is rented to .-( young man and lus wlfe, to whom Mrs. Perry bequeatihed her eats and t'.ie eanary. Tlie mastiff and the knock-kneed old b irse are tii trheir foretathteret liallou's Moinlily.