The Jasper weekly courier., 1876-09-15

came Tor. 4 on know / love YOU, I've
told you As much more'n once, and I've
battered myself that / weren't inditier-
ent 20 you. But now | wish YOU TO tell
me II you really love me in return, and
il may hope 10 make you my wife.
VIII YOU marry me Ph
Joe, having arrived at this important
question, looking tender and appealing
ly into her face, and breathlesSly waited
her reply--she colored slightly and bent
her eyes to the door.
"lou are quite right in supposing
that you are not indifferent 10 me, for
regard YOU very highly" she said.
"Then all my fears have been ground
less" uttered Joe, exultingly.
"But them" continued the lady, "
can not very well grant your wishes re-
garding-n
What" cried Joe, hiS countenance
suddenly changing.
al can not very well marry youl"
"And why can't you? I'd like TO
know what i TO hinder your marrying
me if YOU think enough of me-"
"There is one reason in particular. ="
"What is it2n
aim engaged 10 another"
Joe turned pale,
"Sparks, he cried; " tell me-tell
me, is II Sparks?"
"Well-and il il is?"
~ knew IL. Blast him, knew what
he was after"
al don't know that Mr.. Sparks has
acted in any way as he should not, re-
marked the young lady, warmly.
"He's cheating villain!" replied
Joe, Indignantly.
"You don't know him; he's nothing
of the kind
AIS you that don't know him; but
you will before long. I've been deceiv-
ed, and | aiH't afraid 10 say so. It's
the money that he pretends TO have
that's lost me a wife; but when YOU
want 10 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 he had met with. He
told her all, and little coincidence was
she enabled 10 offer in return.
For two or three days following Joe
Chickweed said very little, but he
thought much. one morning he met
his mother with smiling face, and a
sort of triumph in his look. The old
lady was somewhat surprised az this sud-
den change in her sons manner.
"Why. what on earth's the matter
now, Joe?" said she; 81 hope YOU amt
goin' crazy"
"Not BY long shot replied Joe ;
as amt quite so big fool as that"
"Then what ails you?"
"Oh, I've got il all arranged AZ last
I've got him now"
"Who? What?''
"Why Melinda Martin and that
vagabond, Reuben Sparks-ha. hal
I'll surprise HIM
Well, how are YOU going 70 do Il -
"Oh, it, AL right" said Joe, laugh
Ing slyly. "l'll do il, darned If
don't: I'll fix the sneaking critter."
But how-how, joe? Can't you
speak out? What's got into the boy? ?'
cried the old lady, dying with curiosity
10 know what was his plan.
"Well, IL tell YOU all about IT," be-
can Joe, assuming a more sober tone.
"Well, wish YOU would"
"You know the widder has always
favored my keeping company with Me-
linda"
"Weu?"
"And | do believe she's desp'rate
down on that feller, Reuben Sparks,
...,,s.,r- .ba % ~,,T1r- ="
"Yes."
ain that case she wouldn't very will
lingly let her property 90 into his
hands
But according to the will of old
Mr.. Martin, the property amt 10 20
out 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, /, { me hear"
The widder Martin herself amt a
bad looking woman" Joe remarked,
in a sort of mysterious tone of voice,
glancing up suddenly into his mothers
face.
"No. But what has that got to do
with the NATTER" replied the old lady,
impatiently.
"And she amt very old, neither"
continued he with the same air.
"Why, she can't be more'n forty"
$50 think she has a good chance
of living forty more"
"Well, and what Of it?m
"Just this" said Joe, leaning over
TO reach his mothers ear, "I'H marry
the l0,dder -
Mrs. Chickweed, expecting, as she
was, something awful, wasn't prepared
for this. She uttered an exclamation
OF surprise, started upward from her
seat, then sank back and fixed her eyes
with 2 vacant stare upon her sons face.