Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-01-18

I
beean at his face.
Joshua was so amazed at this double
breasted surprise, that he drew in his leg
with sudden jerk that upset his chaii
and rising from the floor with thoughts
unutterable, he went off to bed, to escape
their laughter and train his thoughts to
some reasonable bearing
"Wonders of Jerusalem and a sick
boss to lett Did they mean that? I don't
believe it. Can't be. They are afraid
to tell the truth. I ought to have gone
at EN- single. Lucky / didn't say I loved
them, or they'd been pulling hair afore
this. I'll bet bushel of beans to a bar
rel of apples, that neither of them girls
will sleep wink tonight, for thinking
of me, and how nigh I came to the pint.
It must be very aggravating to their feel
ings. But so much the better. They'll
be getting more jealous, and all they want
is to catch me alone"
What Joshua was not able to do for
himself, the two sisters now did for him,
as they went on with their beans and ap-
pies. Self-esteem was wounded, and each
wished to escape ridicule from the 9th
er.
"The awkward fooll" said Lena, "to
think that I cared for him p
"You love him quite as we'll as I do. j"
Il don't"
"You do, and better. POh p
"You needn't poh at me, or at him
either; for he's good enough for you, if
he is awkward"
"He's too good for you. And you
need.nOt sneer at him, for he isn't half
as awkward as you are"
F" That shows you love him. But he
wouldn't have you, at any rate"
He wouldn't take up with you, and I
could have him if I said the word" Z
"You couldn't"
4" I could. Tn four years younger
than you, and you're too old"
Don't you call me old, you jadol I'll
pull your hair! You're dying to get
married y
The arrival of their parents, just then,
put an end to the Threatening aspect of
things; but the sisters slept apart that
night, and each resolved the next day she
should do all she could to get Joshua to
pop the question, just to spite her sister.
And accordingly they detected each 9TH
er in such affectiOnate conversation with
Joshua In the course of the day that
fierce quarrel ensued, and Joshua finally
stood up straight and declarhd if they
didn't let him alone he couldn't weed his
onions.
"All I wanted to say is, that you'll
never be happy with her"
GAS happy as he would be with you,
I'll be bound"
Josh now had happy thought,
"I'll tell you what I'll do with you
two girls. To stop the quarrel, I'll turn
up cent-heads for Lena, tails for Fat
ty. Best two in three. Will that salts
fy%
"Well-yes."
He tossed, and Lena won the prize.
"I don't beEeve she would agree to
It, said the disappointed Fatima.
Yes, she would, too"
You know she wouldn't! He is too
az know she would, said the confident
Lena, "that I'll agree to what she says,
md go this minute"
And both ran to the house to ask ma, /
eaving Joshua in a state of great excite +
nent. {
" I'm in doubt if this is right, he (
nused aloud. "Suppose ma makes Y
hoice. [ might be dissatisfied. Idon't /
want to be compe4ed. The cent says
lena. Suppose ma says Fatty. That's :
,uIling both ways. The cent might be !
n the right; but the cent would have no
.oice. Suppose ma agrees with the cent, il
ven 1 might be on the wrong scent, for t
lena might not be the right one for me h
0 have, though it would look as if it was P
rdered. I am in very great doubt !
Jow suppose the cent
" You needn't suppose any more, Josh, c
ere," said Farmer Daisy, who had just !
topped from behind barn and over 6
card his agitated sOliloquy. You can't
ave either of my darters for at present b
Ou'ro so young you're as shifty as c.
You'll have to wait spell if
f years fust, that's sartin. p
This was a view of the case which the u
mortified Joshua had never included in Il
is list of doubts, and it gave him no re- h
ef when the two girls come running to
i'm to say that though ma wouldn't have G
er daughters tossed up for, she didn't u
are which he married.
Makes no odds now," said Joshua, !
loomily, "since the old man says I can't 81
ave either. But one thing I'm in no c
oubt about. I leave off work here this le