Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-19
WILL ICE BURN?

WILL ICE BURNl
"Oh, dear! there's that old tor
ment come again" groaned Nancy.
"'Tisn't worth while for you to go
to calm him names now, Nancy
said her mother. "Silas Gladden's
a rich man, an a good, stiddy man,
too. And he's made you an offe,
that you ought to be proud on, in
stead Of making fun on him, as ye
do"
''Let him take his offers to anoth-
er market!' said Nancy, tossing hel
pretty head. "I'll none of him!-
When marry, it won't be my
grandfather"
"Oh, yes; l know what you're
thinkin' on, Nancy Bemis. Your
minds sot on that good-for-nothin'
Tom Springer. Nothin' but poor
blacksmith prentice, 'thout cent
in the bank, and doubtful whether
he's got two whole shirts to his
back. It's my opinion, Nancy, and
Pm yer mother, and ought to know
what's fur yer good, that a judg-
ment'll come on ye yet if yc refuse
Sllas GLADDEN. and take up with a
poor shote like Tom"
"You've no need to worry, moth
er," replied Nancy, entirely unper-
turbed. 81 don't expect to get
married next week. And as for
Tom, he's twenty-one next month,
and when his times out, Pm not
afraid but he can earn his living,
Strong hands and a willing heart'll
do wonders, and Toms got both,
reckon"
"And so yc're sot on refusing Si'
las a second timer" asked the anX
ious mother.
81 certainly shall, mother, if he's
fool enough to ask me"
"How can ye have the heart to dc
it, and yer poor mother a lone wild
der, and has to work for her livin'
and might be peryided for hansome
in her old age, if yc'd only marry
him?"
"Marry him yourself, mother, il
you're so anxious" said Nancy
quite out of patience. "You're jus,
about the right age for HIM"
"What foolishness!'' said the old
lady, looking, nevertheless, in the
glass, and arranging her cap strings
aye know well enough he'd never
ask me; it's young wife that he
wants."
"Well, then, a young wife ht
won't get, if Pm to be the oneH'
said Nancy, decisivcly. $50 let's
drop the subject"
"Well, Nancy" said the old lady
fearing she had gone too far an(
seeking to mend matters by ccncili
alton, eye must dos ye please,
s'pose. | don't want to force ye.-
l don't believe in forcing gals
But l don't want ye to go and maxi
an enemy of Silas. He's alters bee,
good friend O. mine, and l don
want TO O1end MN.
ooh, you needn't be afraid of N.
not treating him well, mother
poor old wretch! Pm sure he's ncv
er failed to have liniment to rul
his back when he's rheumatic; ant
he has always had his bed warmed
nicely for him every night"
} eyes, yer a good, handy girl
Nancy, and that's why Silas has ia
ken a shine to ye, ! reckon. Don
forget to warm his bed tonight
, it's bitter cold weather and til
sheets hasn't been slept in sine
they were washed"
"I'll attend to it, mother, ncvc
fear. You go into the keeping
room and entertain Mr.. Gladden;-
take your knitting work along. Yo
needn't come into the kitchen t
bother about tea. I'll get it," An
: cunning Nancy hied to the kitchel
where, before the roaring hickor
fire, stood young man of stalwa1
proportions, who, without the cer'
mony of leave-asking, put his arI
: around Nancy's slender waist an
gave her hearty kiss.
"It's comfort you've come, Tom,
said she, not the least bit offended
"I'm tormented to death! Just thin
of that old Sile GLADDEN. having IL
impudence to come here agai
snookin' after me!''
els he here again?" asked Tor
. with an annoyed frowp on his ham
some face. "What the deuce do
!, he suppose pretty girl like ye
wants of him? Old Squeeziks!
n n could choke him for his conceitp'
'e "Oh, mother encourages him, W
j know" said Nancy. "Mother
e Z. dreadful fond of money. But
fe must hurry and get tea now, so s
9t r down and make yourself at home.-
re We can talk while Pm working"
'e 81 wanted you to 60 to singh
al school with me tonight, Nancy"
"Oh! well, don't you fret-I'll g
e. er I've only got shortcake to max
and tea to steep and the table to S
- for tea; and then, after I've wash'