Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-11-20
Joe chickweei'S courtShir.

the last touch 70 his well oiled hair. IF
l let this night pass without 6ndiug cut
Just how | stand with Melinda Martin.
then In COW. The erittsr has always
acted 50 pesky skittish that there's no
gsttln' round her. I like her. and she
knows II. and I'm inclined 20 think she
likes ne But she likes more than one
string TO her bow, and amt sure but
she'd ship ne any minute If she thought
she could make a better bargain. Maybe
In dom her an injustice. and l hope l
an. but she acts sometimes 'tarnally ike
4 real eoqusste, and don't know what
TO make Of her. But. tonight" he add
sd- lifting an immensely wide brinued
hat upon his shining head. tonight IN
settle the m2,ter-I'u ervss the Rubi-
con. If get NY boots full Of water. Ne
linda amt ; bad spec, and l might do
worse most anywhere else
DO tell Ne if it's come to that - ex-
claimed cid Mrs Chickweed. Who had
entered the nom unnoticed By her son
IN tine 20 hear the last sentence: well.
I've long had a notion that you was
aiming IN that direction"
joe turned red f-Vu his eye winksrs
to his ankles. and looked very sheeplsh.
he worked very basily. too, for = few
seconds. With brushing some imaginary
dust from place between the shoulders
Of his csAt. which he couldn't reach, but
he said nothing.
There amt nothing TO be ashamed
On. Joe" continued the loquaeious 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 = nice
GAL
We'll" said Joe. gaining courage
frsu his mothers manner, sI-n glad
yO1 think 50, for I'm bound to make her
ny wife if"
If What p asked the old lady
We'll. if anythlng's agin It.
You Just do Jour duty. Joe. and Ne
linda Is yOurn- Remember the faru-"
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 Chiekweed. in An en-
phAtie tone
No. 1 think not"
And then see how It Is stacked: two
y0ke Of the best steers IN these parts.
besides her two horses. say nothing Of
the rest Of the critters And. Of course.
they'll al 90 with Melinda when the
~idder's dead. and before, toe. for you
vii 20 right on 20 the farm a. soon as you
get married. and take charge Of every.
thing"
~It's good OpinlOu. that's = fact. y
said joe; ..but I put higher value OF
Melinda than al the property"
And veil you should. though The
farm and 6xin's amt TO Be despised
oh l amt one to despise en-"
Joe laughed and left the rOou. an
son after he left the house, and mad,
his way. as expediti0usIy IS the gloon
of The svening would permit. toward n:
residence Of the Widoz Martin A Iigh
wzs Burning in the front roon- but tn
window curtains we're closely drawn :,
that lie eogld not get view into Ii
apartments as he passed along the yard
He knocked At the door. and vas admit
ted By tie widow IN persou- Who. afte
iD9uiring benev0lsutly after bis health
usbered him into the pzri0r-
Il vas already occupied By tEO PEI
; sons-Melinds and Reuben Sparks II
latter yOung nan Who had recently rs
turned 70 Suringville from CzIifornla
who vas Looked upon With special disfa
! y0r BY the y9ung farmer.
joe ~zs welcomed By the young lady
. but n0s As cordially zs formerly. aud B
: 10 means 2s cordially as Joe tk0Ugt
his due He vas greeted BY Mr. Spzrk
| IN ss-t Of joking, eoudeseendiug va
j that raised his ire inEzrdly- H0Eeye
: the conversation thar followed vas Al
p4rsntly agreeable 70 al parties. Al
: TIE evening wore away ill the wido
: retired. vben Mr. Sparks minated Ths
: perhaps II vas tine for hin % Be retl
7 Ing. zs II E4s quite little yak 10 Il
i, village Melinda ~ 0nes asserted ths
: It zzs very early indeed and he sho1l
! not think of leaving - soon Ehereupa
1 Nj Sparks vas induced 70 stop 2whI
longer. and Mr. ChIckseed Ezs seerstl
snrzgsd that Melinda should be - "a
: en up With the yOzng sPng-
Il California became the toPie Ct eoEFe
Z szsi0u- and Reuben Sparks shSDe on
: IiautIy IN lis descriptive accounts Of 4
! country and What he had dO8e vhi
> there
II Then y0a weren't II he digzin's
= inquired ice. in re-Poose 70 sO@ethiE
= his rival lad uttered
By Do Eszns." replied Sparks. lOfi
: ". Il EFF TIE dlgZing 70 tbose ~
we're used 70 Il; lad 70 taste In Il
a. direction