The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-04-04
ZOE CHICKWEED's COURTsHIP.
AND HOW HE WAS CUT CUT!
BY LOUIS n. BURDIcK.

before the parlor mirror, putting the last touc
to his we'll oiled hair ''if | let this night pas
without finding out Just how stand with Me
linda Martin then Pm a cow. The critter'
always acted so pesky skittsh there's been nj
getting around her. l like her. and she knows
it and I'm inclined to think she likes me; bu
she likes more than one string in her bow, and
I amt sure but she'd slip me any minute ifsht
could make better bargain. May be Pm do
ing her an injustice, and hope am, but she
acts sometimes 'tarnally like a real coquette
and don't know what to make of her. .-"But
to night" he added, fitting an immensely high
and immensely wide brimmed hat upon his
shining head, ''to- might I'll settle the matter
I'll cross the Rubcon if get my boots full OF
water.-Nelinda amt got bad speck, and l
might do worse more anywhere else"
ADO tell if its come to thatp' exclaimed old
Mrs. Checkweed, who had entered the room
unnoticed by her son, in time to hear his last
sentence-"weIl, I've all along had notion
that you was ainin' in that direction"
Joe turned red from his eye.winkers to his
ankles, and looked very sheepish. He worked
very busily, too for few seconds, with brush
ing some imaginary dust from place between
the shoulders of his coat, which he couldn't
reach, but he said nothing.
"There amt nothing to be ashamed Of Joe,"
continued the loquacious old lady, apparen-
tly greatly pleased at making the discovery she
had "and you spoke the gospel truth when you
said you might do worse elsewhere Menda's
nice GAL"
"Well said joe gaining some courage from
his mothers manner, Pm glad you think so
for Pm bound to make her my wife, if"
"If what?' asked the old lady.
"Well, if everything's favorable"
"Don't you fear anything's again it.-You
lust do your duty, joe and Melinda's yourn.
Remember the farm
alt is fine farm no mistake!" said the young
man, earnestly.
"No better farm of its size in the whole
country, than the Widder Martin's;' said Mrs.
Chckweed, in an emphatic tone.
"No, think not"
"Aud then see how it is stocked; twoof the
best yoke o:steers IN all these parts besides their
two horses; saying, nothing of the crit
ters And, of course they'll all go with Melin-
da when the Widder's dead, and before, too,
for you will 60 right on the farm as soon as
you marry, and take charge of everything.
'It's good opening that's fact,' said Joe;
"but put higher value on Melinda than all
the property"
"And we'll you should; though the farm and
fixngs amt to be despised."
"No, I amt one to despise them.'
Soc laughed and left the room, and soon af-
ter left the house, and made his way as expe
ditiousy as the gloom would permit, towards
the residence of the widow Martin. A light
was burning in the front room, but the window
curtains we're closely drawn, so that he could
not get view into the apartment as he passed
along the ward. He knocked at the door, and
was admitted by the widow in person who af
ter inquiring benevolently after his health, ush
cred him into the parlor. l. was already oc
cuped by two persons-Melinda and Reuben
Sparks, the latter q young man who recently
returned to Springfield from California, and who
was looked upon with special dislayor by the
young farmer.
Joe was welcomed by the young lady, not so
cordially as formerly and by no means so cor
dially as Joe thought his due. He was greeted
by Mr.. Sparks in sort ofjoking, concescend-
ing way that raised the ire inwardly. How
ever, the conversation that followed was appar
emily agreeable to all parties, anathe evening
wore away till the widow retired, when Mr..
Sparks intmated that it was perhaps time for
him to be returning, as it was quite little walk
to the village.-Melnda at once asserted that
was very early indeed, and he should not
think ofleaving so soon; whereupon Mr.. Sparks
was induced to remain while longer, and Mr..
Chickweed was secretly enraged that Melinda
should be SO taken up with the company OF
goung sprig.
California, becam, the topic of conversation,
and Reuben Sparks shone brilliantly in his des-
criotiye accounts Of the country, and what he
had done there.
"Then you wern't in the diggins?" inquired
Joe, in response to something his rival had ut
tered.
"By no means" replied Sparks, loftily. IL
left digging to those that were used to it.
hadn't taste that way"
30, then you stopped in town."
"Certalnly"
Business, spose, first-rate there?'
"Yes A young man of talent will soon en-
gage himself in profitable employment"
"Then + spect you must have done extraor-
dinary wellp' said Joe, in tone he intended
should be sarcastic. II
"Oh" replied the other, laughing in mean
ing way and winking an eye at the young lady
who appeared to "take' and enjoy it according
ly-"as for that matter Can't complain. |
think improved my chances,-I rather think
did. No, don't complain, by no means"
"Then why did't you stay longer?-You
weren't gone but short time; you should have
stayed year or two more, and made your
self independent"
"Perhaps | am independent already; say
perhaps. Ofcourse can't tell you the exact
amount made-that, thinl;, is quite unne
cessary."
"O,quite."
"And, perhaps, too there were attractions in
this part ofthe world as alluring as gold"