The Van Buren press., 1878-05-21
Earning a Wife.
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| Il know that you are rich man, Luke
Jordon, but l take it for granted tina
you ask my girl to marry you and no
your property. What guarantee car
you give in case it should be swept away
and as it is in thousands of instances
that you can provide for comfortable
home? You have hands ana brains-do
you know how to use them Again l ask
what can you do?
This was style of catechism for which
Luke was quite unprepared, and he star.
ed blankly at the question without speak
ing.
1 believe you managed to get through
college-have you any profession p
No, sir; thought
Have you any trade?'
No, sir; my father thought that with
the wealth should inherit, l should OF
need any.
Your father thought like fool then.
He'd much better have given you some
occupation and cut you off with shil.
ling--it might have been the making of
you. As it is what are you fit for
Here you are, strong, able bodied
young man, twenty-four years old, and
never earned dollar in your life! You
ought to be ashamed of YOURSELF
And you want to marry my daughter,
resumed the old man. after few vigor-
GUS puffs at his pipe. Now l have Civ
en- just Molly as good advantages for
learning as any girl in town, and she has
not thrown them away either, but is she
didn't know how to work, she'd be no
daughter of mine. If choose could
keep more than one servant: but
don't, no more than choose that my
daughter should be pale, spiritless
creature, full of dyspepsia and all man.
ner of fine lady like ailments, instead of
the smiling brighted eyed rosy checked
lass she is. l did say that she should
marry no lad that had been cursed with
feEich- "a aA-y Il, ia I~-'s. "a. ,~--zc--'-
do: 60 to work and prove yourself to
be man; perfect yourself in some &C.
cupation, don't care what, so it be hon
est; then come to me and if the girl is
willing she is yours
As the old man said this, he deliberate
ly knocked the ashes out of his pipe
against one of the pillars of the porch
where we was sitting, tucked it into
his vest pockst and went into the
house.
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting to
see her lover down at the garden gate
their usual trusting place The smil
ing light faded from her eyes as she no.
ticed mis- sober, discounted look.
"Father means well, she said as
Luke told her the result of his applica-
ton.
And ! am not sure but what he is
about right she resumed after thught-
full pause, 'for it seems to me man, be
he rich or poor, ought to have some oc-
cupation.'
Then as she noticed her lovers grave
look, she added softly:
"Never mind; III wait for you
Luke
Luke Jordon suddenly disappeared
from his accustomed haunts, much to the
surprise of his associates. But where
ever he went, he carried with him in his
exile these words, which were like tow
er of strength to his soul I'll wait for
you Luke
One pleasant, sunshiny morning, late
in October, as farmer Blifkins was brop-
ing up grape vine in his front yard.
that threatened to break with the weight
of its luscious burden, neat looking
cart drove up, from which Luke Jordon
alighted with quick elastic spring, quite
a contrast TO his formerly easy, leisure
movements.
Good morning Mr. Blfkins l under
stand that you want to buy some but
teri tubs and cider barrels. think
that | have some here that will suit
you --a--
Whose make are they?' inquire the
old gentleman as opening the gate he
paused by the wagon.
Mine, replied Luke, with an mir of
pardonable pride; land challenge
any cooper in the State to beat them.
Mr.. Blifkins examined them critically
one by one.
'They'l do he said cody, as he set
down the last of the lot. What will you
take for them?'
What l asked you for six months ago
to-day-your daughter, sir.
The roguish twinkle in the old mans
eyes broadened into smile.
You've got the right kind of metal in
you,' he cried, Come in lad--come in.
l shouldn't wonder if we made trade
after ALL
Nothing 10th, Luke obeyed.
Molly! bawled Mr.. Blitkins, thrust
ing his head into the kitchen door,
Molly tripped out into the en-
try.
The round white arms were barred
above the elbows, and bore traces of
-four she had been sitting. Her dress
was neat Bingham, over which was tied
a blue checked apron; but she looked as
winning and lovely as she always did
wherever she was found
She blushcd and smiled as she saw
Luke, and then, turning her eyes upon
her father, waited, dutifully, to hear " hat
he had to say.
The old man regarded his daugh-
ter for o moment with quizzed