The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-10-11
Joe ChickWeed's Courtship.

"I vow," said Joe Cbickweed, as he
stood before the parlor mirror, putting
the last touch to his we'll oiled hair, eff
let this night pass without finding out
Just how / stand with Melinda Martin,
then I'm cow. The critter has always
acted 40 pesky skittish that there's no
gettin' round her. like her, and she
knows it, and I'm inclined to think she
likes mo. But she likes more than one
string to her bow, and l amt surs but
she ship me any minute If she thought
she could make a better bargain.
Maybe I'm doin her an injustice, and
hope L am, but she acts sometimes
'tarnally like real coque,te, and don't
know what to make Of her. But, to-
night, he added, fitting an immensely
wide h:lmmcd bat upon his shining
head, to night I'll settle the matter
I'll cross the Rubicon, if I get my
boots f0r of water. Melinda amt bad
spec, ard ] might do worse most any
where else."
DO tell me if it's come to that |" ex-
claimed old Mrs. Chickweed, who had
entered the room unnoticed by her son
in time to hearthe last sentence; "well,
I've long had notion that you was
aiming in that direction"
Joe turned red from his eye winkcrs
to his ankles, and Looked very sheepish.
He worked very busily, too, for a few
seconds, with brushing some imaginary
dust from place between the shoulders
OF his coat, which he couldn't reach, but
he said nothing.
There amt nothing to be shamed
on, Joe, continued the loquacious old
lady, apparently pleased at making the
discovery she had, "and you spoke the
gospel truth when you said you might
do worse elsewhere. Melinda's a nice
gal"
"Well," said Joe, gaining courage
from his mothers manner, "I'm glad
you think 80, for I'm bound to make her
my wife it,
well, if anything's agin it."
-" You just do your duty, Joe, and
Melinda is yourn. Remember the
farm
&C 1t is fine farm, no mistake % said
Joe, earnestly.
No better farm of it's size in the
whole country than the Widder Mar
tins, said Mrs. Chickweed, in an en-
phatic tone.
mo; think not"
And then see how it is stocked two
yoke of the best steers in these parts,
besides her two horses, say nothing of
the rest of the critters. And, of course.
they'll all go with Melinda when tho
wldder's dead, and before, too, for you
will 60 hit on the farm as soon as You
get mar led, and take charge OF every
thing"
cts a good opinion, that's fact"
said Joe but put higher value on
Melinda than all the property"
And well you should, though the
farm aud fixin's amt to be desp sed."
Oh, amt one to despise EN-"
Joe laughed and left tho room, and
soon after he left the house, aud made
his way, as expeditiously as the gloom
OF the evening would permit, toward
the residence of the Widow Marti A
Light was burning in the front room, but
the window curtains were closely drawn
so that ho Guild not get view into the
apartments as he passed along the yard.
he Knocked ut tho door, and was ad-
mitted by the widow in person, who,
after inquiripg benevolently after his
neaith, ushered him into the parlcr.
IL was already occupied by two per-
sons-Melinda and Reuhen Sparks, tho
latter young man who had recently
returned to Spfingville from California,
who was looked upon with special dis
favor by the young farmer.
Joe was welcomed by the young lady,
but not rs cordially as formerly, and by
no means 80 cordially as Joe thought
his due. He was greeted by Mr.. Sparks
In sort of Joking, condescending way,
that raised his ire inwardly. However,
the conversation that followed was ap.
parently agreeable to all parties, and
the evening wore away till the widow
retired, when Mr.. Sparks intimated that