Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-05-26

ground.
ssYOu are quite right" she said, ssin sup
posing that you are not Indifferent to me,
for | regard you very highly
s'Then all my fears have been groundless ~
uttered Joe, exultingly.
s'But," continued the lady, ssI cannot very
! well grant your wish regardng-''
ssWhat!'' cried Joe, his countenance sud
denly changing.
| 81 cannot very well marry you!''
| ''And why can't your I'd like to know
what's to hinder you marrying me if you
think enough of me.''
sSThere is one reason in PARTICULAR
ssWhat is it ?''
ssI'm engaged to another -
Joe turned pale.
s.Sparks ~ he cried-atellme, is it Sparksa''
s'Woll! and if it is.''
'eI knew 1t! Blast him, knew what he
was after -
s'I don't know that Mr.. Sparks has acted
in any way as he should not - remarked the
young lady, warmly.
sHe's'a cheatin' vilian!' replied Joe, in
dignantly.
s'You don't know him. he's nothing of the
kind 20
''It's you that don't know him; but you
will before long. I've been deceived, and
amt afraid to say 20 continued he snatch
ing up his hat; sits 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. He
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 cond olence
was she enabled to offer him in return.
For two or three days following, Joe Chick
weed said very little, but he thought much.
One morning he met his mother with smiling
| face and sort of triumph in his look. The
old lady was somewhat surprised at this sud
den change in her sons manner.
'Why what on airth's the matter now, Joe ?'
said she; sshope you amt goin' to go crazy"
s'Not by long shot, replied Joe; 81 amt
quite so big fool as that.''
''Then what ails you 20
s'Oh, I've got it all arranged at last-I'ye
got 'em now.''
"Who2 What ?''
ssWhy, Melinda and that vagabond Reuben
Sparks-ha, hal-I'll surprise him.
ssWell, how are you goin' to do it 2"
COB, it's all right!'' said Joe, laughing sly
| ly-ssI'll do it, darn'd if don't. fix the
sneGkin' critterl -
ssBut how-ho,r, Joe Can't you speak ont?
What's got into the boy ?'' cried the old lady,
dying with curiosity to know what was his
| plan.
s.Well now, I'll tell you all about it, be-
gan Joe. assuming more sober tone.
s.Well, 1 just wish you would.''
ssYou know the wdder has always favored
my keeping company with Melinda
ssWcll.''
EsAnd do believe she's desp'rate down on
that fcler, Sparks, coming into her family
ssYesi''
ssIn that case she wouldn't very willingly
let her property go into his hands,
sBut, 'cording to the will of old Mr.. Martin,
the property amt to go out of her hands till
she's dead.''
ssJust so-but Sparks would have all the
benefit. And now I'm coming to the pint
it's just there I'm going to floor Reub Sparks!"
>sWell, do let me hear!''
s.The widder Martin herself amt bad look
ing woman !" Joe remarked, in a sort of a
mysterious tone of voice, glancing up sudden
| II into his mothers face.
ssNo-but what's that got to do with the
matter a'' replied the old lady, impatientIy.
'sAnd she amt very old, neither,'' continued
he, with the same air.
ssWhy, she can't be more'n forty.''
$50 should think; and she has good
chance of living forty more.''
ssWcll, and what of it ~
s'Just this,'' said Joe, leaning over to reach
his mothers ear-ssPH marry The spidder 20
Mrs. Chickweed, expecting, as she was,
something startling, wasn't prepared for this.
She uttered an exclamation of unbounded sur
prise, started upward from her seat, and then
sank back and fixed her eyes with vacant
stare upon her sons face.
ssWell,'' said Joe, sI hope you don't see
anything that's agin it,
ssNo-no 20 stammered his mother, recover
ing somewhat from the shock she had receiv-
ed; ssbut are you really in airnest, Joe-will
you marry the widder? 20
$50 be sure will, and that's the whole OF
it. I'm going up to see her this very day.
I'll marry her if she'll have me, and lie re-
venged on Melinda for cutting me as she has
for that blasted Sparks. I'll teach 'em what's
what 20
Joe was as good as his word. He sought
the widow and made his proposal. She was
more astonished than she knew how to express,
| but she was more gratifed than she was aston