Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-31
and beat his brains out with bars Of Califor

NrS. CuiCkWeeu was InOSt uilAiouS H0AC
morning to learn from her son the result of
his mission to the widows, but Joe was silent
and pensive avoiding his mothers eye and
keeping away from the house as much as
possible. Late in the evening he carefully
dressed himself in his best suit, and with
look of determination stamped upon his fea-
lures. he once more set out to visit the hckle
Melinda.
He found her alone.
Hope you spent an agreeable evening
Yesterday remarked Joe, after he had pas
sed the usual compliments, and seated him
self near the young lady.
"Oh yes, did, | assure you," was the re-
ply.
" Mr. Sparks, I should say, is very enter
tanning young man.
Joe didn't think anything of the kind, but
quite the contrary.
T.! He i. deed" responded Melinda.
Joe looked anything but pleased at this
encomium on his rival, and sat for some mo-
ments in utter silence. At length he return
ed to the young lady and spoke :
.: came here last evening"" he said, "with
the intention Of speaking to you on partic-
ular subject, but found you so engaged that
| determined to call again tonight, and So
So"
''Here you are," Melinda smiling at his en-
barassment
Yes, here am. And now that I'm here
Ill tell you what l have come for. You
know | love you. I've told you as much
more'n once, and I've hattered myself that
weren't Indifferent to you. But now l wish
you tell me if you really love me in return,
and if may hope to make you my wife,
Will you marry me ?"
Joe, having arrived at this important ques-
ton. looked tenderly and appealingly into
her face, and breathlessy awaited her reply.
She colored slightly, and bent her eyes to
the ground.
You are quite right she said, Tin sup
posing that you are not Indifferent to me, for
| regard you very highly.
Then all my fears have been groundlessw
uttered Joe, exultingly.
But" continued the lady, "I cannot very
well grant your wish regarding"
"What !" cried Joe, his countenance sud-
denly changing.
II cannot very well marry YOU ~
"And why can't you ? I'd like to know
what's to hinder your marrying me if you
think enough of me-"
q There is one reason in particular"
What is it ?"
Pm engaged to another !"
Joe turned pale.
"Sparks p he cried" tell me is it
Sparks ?"
Well and if it is 2"
"I knew it Blast him, l knew what he
was after!
81 don't know that Mr.. Sparks has acted
in any way as he should not !" remarked the
young lady warmly.
He's cheatin' william !" replied Joe in
dignantly.
"You don't know him; he's nothing of the
kind "
It's you that don't know him but you
will before long. I've been deceived, and |
amt afraid to say so % continued he, snatch
ing up his hat 'it's the money he pretends
to have, that's lost me wife but when you
want to touch it, just as like as not you won't
be able.'
lie rushed from the house as he uttered
these words, and hurried homeward. lie
found his mother still up, and was eagerly in
terrogated by her as to the luck he had
met with. He told her all, and little con-
dolcncc was she enabled to offer him in re-
turn.
For two or three days following, Joe Chick
weed said very little, but he thought much.
One morning he met his mother with a
smiling face and sort of triumph in his
look The old lady was somewhat surprs-
ed at the sudden change in her sons man
ner.
Why, what on arth's the matter now,
Joe 2" said she "hope you amt goin' to 60
crazy"
"Not by long shot,' replied Joe 81
amt quite so big fool as that"
"Then what als you ?"
"Pve got it all arranged at last I've got
en- nOw."
"Who? What?"
"Why Melinda and that vagabond Reuben
Sparks-ha ha !-I'Il surprise him."
"Well, how you goin" to do it ?"
ooh, it's all right p said Joe, laughingly-
'I'll do it-darned if | don't. I'll fix the
sneaking critter y
''But how-how, Joe2 Can't you speak
out What's got in the boy ~ cried the old
lady, dying with curiosity to know what was
his plan.
"Wel, now, I'll tell you all about it," be-
gan Joe, assuming mOrcsober tone.
'Well, | just wish you would"
| ~ ou know the widder has always favored
my keeping company with Melinda ?"
" Well 2"
"And do believe she is desprate down
on that fellow, Sperks, coming into her fam.
ily."
"Yes.'
''In that case she wouldn't very willingly
let her property go into his hands,"
"But 'cording to the will of old Mr. Mar
tin the property amt to 60 out of her hands
till she is dead
'Just so-but Sparks would have all the
benefit. And now I'm comeng to the point
its just there Pm going to floor Reuben
Sparks"
"Well do let me hear y
''The widder Martin herself amt bad look
ing woman !" Joe remarked in sort of
mysterious tone of voice, glanclng up sudden
ly into his mothers face.
"Nc-but what's that got to do with the
matter p replied the old lady, ,impaticntIy
"And she amt very DID, NEITHER" continued
he, with the same air.
| "Why, she can't be MORN forty"
$50 should think and she has a good
chance of living forty more"
swell, and what of it ?"
"Just this said Joe, leaning over to
raach his mothers ear-"PU marry the uid-
| der ~
Mrs. Chickweed, expecting as she was,
something startling, wasn't prepared for 5ths
She uttered an exclamation of unbounded
surprise, started upward from her seat, and
then sank back and fixed her eyes with va
cant stare upon her sons face.
"Well, SAID Joe,"I hope you don't see any
thing again it p
Mono " stammered his mother, recover
ing somewhat from the shock she had re-
ceved ''but are you really in airnest, Joe
will you marry the widder ?"
ITO be sure will, and that's the whole
Of of it. I'm going up to see her this very day.
vcnged on Melinda for cutting me as she has
for that blasted Sparks. I'll teach 'em what's