The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-10-11

SarolnS -
"What," cried Joe, his countenance
suddenly changing.
sc! can't very we'll marry you -
"And why can't you2 I'd like to
know what is to hinder your marrying
me if you think enough of me-"
"There is one reason in particular.
"What is it2
"I'E engaged to another"
Joe turned pale.
"Sparks," he cried; tell me-tell
me, is it Sparksl"
"Well-and if it Isl 2"
"I knew it !! Blast him, knew what
he was after"
"I don't know that Mr.. Sparks has
acted in any way as he should not" re-
marked the young lady, warmly.
"He's a cheating villain = replied
Joe, indignantly.
You don't know him he's nothing
of the kind"
"It's you that don't know him but
you will before long. I've been de-
ceived, and ] amt afraid to say so |! It's
the money that he pretends to have
that's lost me wife but when you
want to touch it, just as like as not you
won't be able"
He rushed from the house as he ut
tered these words, and hurried home
ward. He found his mother still up,
and was eagerly interrogated by her as
to the luck be had met with. He told
her all, and little coincidence was che
enabled to offer in return.
For two or three Gays following Joe
Chickweed said very little, but he
thought much. One morning he met his
mother with smiling face and sort of
triumph in his look. The old lady was
somewhat surprised ut this sudden
change in her sons manner.
"Why, what On earth's the matter
now, Joe r. said she; Sc hope you amt
goin' crazy"
:" Not by long shot," replied Joe;
"I ain't quite SO big fool rs that"
"Thcn what ails your"
"Oh, I've got it all arranged at last
I've got him now"
"Who2 What?
Why, Melinda Martin and that
vagabond, Reuben Sparks-ha ha J.
I'll surprise him -
Well, how gre you going to do it I"
"Oh, it's al right" said Joe, laughing
slyly. "Irl do it, darned if I don't; III
fix the sneaking critter."
I" But how-how, Joo? Can't you
speak out9 What's got into the boy ?"
cried the old lady, dying with curiosity
to know what was his plan.
Well, I'll tell you all about it,
began Joe. assum ing more sober tone.
" Well, wish you would"
" You know the widder has always
favored my keeping company with Me-
linda"
"WeIla" E"
And I do believe she's desp'rate
down un that feller, Reuben Sparks,
coming into the family"
eyes"
In that case she wouldn't very
willingly let her property go iuto his
"But according to the will of old Mr..
Martin the property aint to go ont of
her hands till she's dead"
" Just SO, and now I'm coming to the
point; it's just right there I'm going to
floor Reuben Sparks"
Well, let NE hear"
GO The widder Martin herself amt q
bad looking woman |" Joe remarked,
in sort of mysterious tone of voice,
glancing up suddenly into his mother 3
face.
"No. But what has that got to do
with the matter7" replied the old lady,
impatiently.
continued he, with the same air.
"Why, she can't be more'n forty"
&C So think she has good chance Of
living forty more"
"Well, and what of it2"
"Just this" said Joe; "Ill marry
the widder!'
Mrs. Chickwe ell, expecting, as she
wa, something awful, wasn't prepared
| for this. She uttered an exclamation
of surprise, started upward from her
seat, then sunk back and fixed her eyes
with vacant stare upon her sons face.
"Well," said Joe, 81 h pc you
don't say anything that's agin it.
"No-no!" stammered his mother,
recovering somewhat from the shock
she had received; "but are you really
In earnest--will you marry the wild
der7"
"To be sure 1 will and that's not
the whole of tim going to see her
this very day. I'll marry her if she'll
have me, and be revenged on Melinda,
for cutting me as she has for that blast
ed Sparks. I'll teach 'em what's
what I"
Joe was as good as his word. He
sought the widow and made his propo-
sal. She was more astonished than she
knew how to express, but she was more
graflfied than she was astonished.
Fresh md fair as she was, considering
her years, she had never given up the
idea OF winning another husband; but
1t had never entered her head that she
could possibly secure so young and es 8.
timable prize as Joe Chickweed.
Joe made it a special proviso in his
proposal that they should be married
pr vately the day before the marriage
of Sparks with the widows daughter,
and that it should be kept a secret till