Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-03-27
How He Earned a wife.
BY MARY GRACE fiAfpIN.

"And so you want to marry my daugh-
ter. young man ?" said farmer Blifkins,
removing the. pipe from his mouth and
looking atithe young fellow sharply, from
head to toe. IIaelt a
Despite his rather indolent, effeminate
air, which was mainly the result of his
education, Luke Jordan was q fne-looE-
ing fellows and not easily nfoyed' from his
selfpussession, but he colored and grew
confused beneath that sharp, scrutinizing
look. ,.
Yes, sir Ispoke to Miss Mary lest
evening, and she-she referred; me to
YOU"
| The old mans face softened.
"Molly isa good girl-a very good
girl" he said, stroking his chin, with q
thoughtful air.. and she deserves good
husbands What can tyou do ?"
The youngman looked rather blank at
this abrupt inquiry.
"Ifyou refer to my ability to support
WlIe, can assure yuu-
81 know that you are rich man, Luke
Jordan, but l take it for granted that
you osk my girl to marry yohd,, not your
property. What guarantee can you give
ME, in case it should be, swept awny-as
it is in thousands of instances-that YOU
could provide for her comfortable home |?
You have hands and brains-do you
know how to use them? Again 1 ask
what can you do?" :
This was style of catechism for which
Luke was quite unprcpared, and he star
ed bIankly at the questioner without
speaking. q
Il believe you managed toget through
college-have you any profession p 81
"No, sir; my father thought that, with
the wealth. 1 should inherit: shoulA not
need any, <
''"Your father thought like a fool, then.
He'd much better have given you some
occupation and cut you off with n shil-
ling-it might have been the making of
you. AS it is, what are you fit for p
Here you are, strong, able bodied man,
t&ehtyfour years old, and never earned
dollar in your life! You ought. to be
ashamed of yourself"
"Now, I've given Molly as good ad-
vantages 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 of mine. fl choose; I could
keep more than one servant; hut don't,
no more than l choose that my daughter
should be pale, spiritless creature, full
of dyspepsia, and all manner of fine lady
ailments, instead of the smiling, bright
eyed, osy-chceked lass she is: did say
that she should mhrty no lad that had
been cursed with a rich father; but she's
taken foolish liking to ye. and, I'll tell
ye what I'll do; go to work, prove your
self to be man perfect yourselfin some
occupation-I don't care what, 30 it be
honest, then como to mo, and, if the girl
is wiling, she is yours.".
| AS the old man said this, he deliber-
ately knocked the ashes out of his pipe
against one of the pillars fthe porch
where he was sitting, tucked it into his
vest pocket and went into the house.
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting to
see her lover. down at the garden gate,
their usual trysting place. The smiling
light faded, from her eyes as she noticed
his sober, discomftted look.
Father means WE'LL" she said, as Luke
told her the result. Of his application.-
"And I'm not sure but what he is about
right" she resumed, after a thoughtful
pause, "for it seems TO mo that every
man, be he rich or poor, ought to have
some occupation"
Then, as she noted her lovers grave
look, she added, softly: t
"Never mind, I'll wait for you. Lux" /"
Luke Jordan suddenly disappeared
from his accustomed haunts, much to the
surprise of his gay associates But
wherever he went he carried with him, in
his exile, these words, and which were