Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-06-08
Steve Conant's Courtship.

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request the old gentleman told me an
incident in his own love affairs, which
| give in his own words:
"Wall, seeing its you, | don't mind
telling about a scrape that happened
to me when | was courting Nancy,
here. That is something | never told
anybody. But ye shall have it.
"No don't Steve" broke in the old
woman. Il should think you would
be ashamed of yourself, telling your
love scrapes to every body"
IF you can't bear to hear it, you
may 90 out door-so here it goes
When | was nigh about twenty-one |
came up here all alone and built me a
cabin. | hadn't a single naber near
u 'i'e'-- G ,,,ilno, and yn see | didn't
quarrel much, but as it grew to be
near winter; 1 got kinder lonesome.
and began to think that | ought 10
have woman to keep me company !;
SO one morning | started down TO
Lenway to take a look at the girls, to
see if | could find one that would suit
me. When | got down to the settle
ment | asked young chap If he knew
OF a girl that wanted to get married,
and he told me he guessed that Nancy
Knox did, and if | wanted wife
had better try and hitch on with her !:
and he said that if it was agreeable, he
would 90 to Deacon knOX's and make
me acquainted with Nancy, and he
was as good as his word, and twasn [
an hour afore Nancy and | was on the
best Of terms. Afore night [ had
hired out with the Deacon for ten
months, half Of the pay to be taken in
produce, and the rest in clear cash, and
[ was to work all winter Wall, for
about two months / felt as neat as a
mouse in new cheese. | courted
Nancy every Sunday night, and | was
determined before another month 10
pop the question, and hadn't bit Of
doubt but that Nancy would be over
ioyed at becoming nay bosom compan-
ion Wall. about this time there came
d fellow from one Of the lower towns
to keep school, and he hadn't been
there mOrc'n a week alore | found he
had q natural hankering arter Nancy 4;
and worst ofaIl the old deacon, who
seemed mighty pleased vi h the
thoughts OF my courting his girl, be
gan to kinder ko0I of, o. if he would
like the school master better for d
son-in-Iaw. and it made me feel kinder
down in the lip. | can tell you. Wall,
one Sunday night, Bill Smith, for that
was the pesky critters name. came il
Jest al dusk and when the clock struck
nine didn't seem at all ready to go
old Mis-. Knox and the young ones all
went off to bed. and there were none
left bat the old deacon. Bill, Nancy
and |, and there we all sat by the
fire without speaking.
Always before the deacon had gone
off to bed and left the coast clear for
Nancy and !, and | kept 'specting ey-
cry minute he would show Bill to lev.
but he did no such thing; but just as
the clock struck ter he ris up and sez-
he:
Steve, lets 90 to bed, for we must
be up bright and airly to have them
logs to the river"
wasn't that a hint, Ell? Hooked
at Nancy and she turned away her
head, and at this I up and marched
out into the entry and up the ladder
to bed [ was boiling over mad at
all creation-Bill, Nancy and the dea-
con il Particular | got into bed, and
Ilivered myself up, bat I could not q
to sleep. Like as not the schooImas
ter was hugging and kissing Nancy
down in the kitchen, and | VOW,
couldn't shut my eyes for the life o
me-"
''WaII all at once it occurred to N,
that there were some big cracks in the
floor over the kitchen, and | cOulC
watch and see all that was going on be
low: so out Of bed | Got and crawleC
along close to the chimney on all fours
and finding big crack | locked thro'
Bill and Nancy were sitting about two
feet apart, though every now and thel
Bill would hitch his chair a little near
er to her. How could have chokeC
that man! | watched them about ;
quarter of an hour, and by that time
, was near about frOze, as it was an aw
ful cold night, and | hadn't a rag ol
but my two shirts. But ! wouldn'
90 to bed for | was bound to know
Nancy was true to me. By and by Bill
hitched his chair up little closer, ant
| could see he had made up his mine
and was just going to kiss her. HOY
; it riled me! But | was bound to Sc
it through, so | moved little to get
better view, and that moment the plan
: was on tipped up and down | wen
kerchunck, and landed between Bi
and Nancy. Bill thought for ono
, , that old Nick had come, and he streal
ed it out doors; and as for Name.
she gave one look, and then covered u
her face with her apron. | starte
out of the kitchen as quick as you ma
! say scoot, and as | was going up til
ladder heard old Mrs. Knox holler-
: "Nancy, scoot the cat down or She
: break every dish on that dresser !!
The next morning when she wer
: to milking, | popped the question
Nancy, and she sed she would hay
= me, for she didn't care cent for Bi
;. Smith, and we have been married fort
years next June"