Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-10-01
HOW BIZ EARNED AWIFE
BY MARY GRACE nALpINE.

! toe.
Despite his rather indolent efren
mate air, which was mainly the rc
suit Of his education, Luke Jorda
was n fine looking fellow, and no
easily moved from his self-posses
sion; but he colored and grew con
fused beneath that sharp, scrutini7
ing look.
Eyes, sir. l spoke to Miss Ma
ry last evening, and she-she refer
red me to you"
The old mans face softened.
"Molly is a good girl, a very
good girl" lie SAID, stroking iii
chin with a thoughtful air, "and sh,
4 deserves good husband. Wha
can you do ?"
The yOunk man looked rathel
blank at this abrupt inquiry.
"Ifyou refer to my ability tc
supper wife, / can assure -"
II know that you are a rich man
Luke Jordan, but l take it fo
granted that you ask my girl tC
marry goH, not your property
What guarantee can you give me
in case it should be swept away-as
it is in thousands Of instances-that
You could provide for her a com
Portable home? You have hands
and brains-do you know how to
use them? Again l ask, what can
you do?
This was a style of catechism for
which Luke was quite unprepared,
and he stared blankly at the ques-
tioner without speaking.
IL believe you managed to get
through college-have you any pro
fessiOn p
mo, sir; thought -"
"Have you any trade ?"
No, sir; my father thought that.
with the wealth / should inherit,
should not need any"
"Your father thought like a fool,
then. He'd much better have given
you some honost occupation and
cut you off with a shilling-it
might have been the making of you
As it is, what are you fit for ? Here
you are strong, able bodied man,
twenty-four years old, and never
earned dollar in you~life! You
ought to be ashamed of your
self"
"And you want to marry my
daughter" resumed the old man,
after a few vigorous pufs at his
piper "Now I've given Molly as
good advantages for learning as
any girl in town, and she hasn't
thrown 'em away but if she didn't
know how to work, she'd be no
daughter ofmine. 5..
II ! chose, / could keep more
than one servant; but / don't, no
more than choose that my daugh-
ter should be a pale, spiritless crea-
ture, full of dyspepsia and all man
nerof fine,lady ailments, instead Of
the smiling, bright-eyed, rosy
checked lass she is. | did say that
she should marry no lad that had
been cursed with a rich father; but
she's taken a foolish liking to We,
and I'll tell ye what I'll do; 60 to
work, and prove yourself to be
man; perfect yourselfin some oc-
cupation-I don't care what, 50 it
be honest; then come to me and if
the girl is willing, she is yours"
AS the old man said this, he de-
liberately knocked the asher out of
his pipe against one of the pillars
of the porch where he was sitting,
tucked it into his vest pocket, and
went into the house. 1
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting
to see her lover down at the garden
gate, their usual trystring place.
The smiling light faded from her
eyes as she noticed his sober, dis
oomtitted look.
"Father means well'' she said, as
Luke told her the result of his ap-
plication. 4tr.
"And I'm not sure but what he is
right" she resumed, after a thought
ful pause, "for it seems to me that
every man, be he rich or poor,
ought to have some occupation"
Then, as she noticed her lovers
grave look, she added, softly"
"Neyer mind; Ill wait for you,
Luke"
Luke Jordan suddenly disappear
ed from his accustomed haunts,
much 10 the surprise of his gay as
sociates. But, wherever he went,
he carried with him in his exile
these words, and which were like a
tower of strength to his soul, "PHI
wait for you, Luke"
One pleasant, sunshiny morning,
late in October, as farmer Blifkins
was prOpping up the grapevine in
his front yard, that threatened to I
break down with the weight of It's
burden, neat looking
cart drove up, from which Luke
Jordan aliehted with a quick, elias
tic spring, quite in contrast with
his former easy, leisurely move
ments.
&" Good morning, Mr.. Blifkins
understood that you wanted to
buy some butter tubs and cider bar
rels. Think l have some here that
will suit you" |
"Whose make are they ?" inquir- |
ed the old man, as, opening the
gate, he paused by the wagon.
"Mine," !" replied Luke, with an
lir of pardonablc pride; land Il