The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-30
Sitting up With Her.

She was expecting him Sunday night;
| the parlor curtains were down, the old
folks notified that it was healthy to 70
to bed at eight O'Clock, and Johnny was
bribed with cent TO permit himself to
be tucked away at sundown. He
sneaked up the path, one eve on the
dog and the other watching for the ''old
man." who didn't like him any too
well, gave faint knock at the door, and
it was opened and he was escorted into
the parlor. He said he couldn't stay
but minute, though he didn't mean 10
90 home for hours. She wanted to
know how his mother was; IL his father
had returned from York State; il
his brother Bil's rheumatism was any
better; and he went over and sat on the
sofa so as not to strain his voice. Then
conversation tagged, and he played
with his hat, and she nibbled at the
sofa tidy. He finally said it was q
/ beautiful evening, and she replied that
/ her father predicted a snow storm, He
said he guessed it wouldn't snow, as the
moon wasn't crooked enough to hang a
powder.horn on the end; she said she
didn't believe il would, either. This
mutual understanding seemed to give
each other courage, and he wanted to
know II she had seen Bill Jones lately.
She hadn't, she said, and she didn't
want TO. Then she went to talking
about the donation visit which was to
be given Elder Berry, and he carelessly
dropped his hand on hers-his right
hand, while his left sneaked along the
sofa TO get behind her shoulders. She
pretended not to notice il, and he looked
down at his boots, and wanted to know
II she thought mutton tallow rotted out
boots faster than lard and lampblack.
She couldn't say, but she had an idea
that il did. He had just commenced to
lock fingers with her, when she discov-
cred that something allied the lamp.
She rose up, turned the light down a
half, making the room look dim. 1t
took him five minutes to get hold of her
fingers again, and she pretended to want
10 draw her hand away all the time.
After long pause, he lowered his
voice TO whisper, and he said he didn't
see what made folks love each other.
She bit her handkerchief, and admitted
her ignorance. He said he could name
a dozen young men who were going to
get married right away, and his left
arm fell down aud gave her a hug.
Then she went over and looked out of
the window to make sure that It was or
was not going to snow, and coming
back, he turned the light down little
more, and then sat down and wanted to
know if she didn't want to rest herself
by leaning her head on his shoulder.
All, mel we have all been there, and
who Of US cared a cent when the old
clock struck twelve, and we five miles
away from home? The old man was
fast asleep, the Watchdog gone a visit
ing, and the handsomest girl In the
country didn't see why we need be in
hurry.
Perhaps l wouldn't have written Of
this, but as l was going by Saunders
the other day thinking how heard him
whisper in her ear at spelling school,
that he'd love her very shadow Us long
as he lived, he raised the window and
called to her, as she was picking up
chips i'm the road:
"Sue Saunders, come I'm here and find
the bars grease for my sore heel, or I'll
break every bone in your body!