The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-08-24

wanting a wife for twenty years. He had
had chances, but, like the foolish man he
was, he had let them all slip. Now he con-
sidered that the curious feeling he had ex-
perienced that morning was presentiment
of-he didn't exactly know what, but it evi-
IDENTIFY had something to do with Miss steb-
bins.
He got out at small station and bought
some fried chicken and apple pie, and
brought them in as votive offering, senti-
mentally speaking, to the lady of his bosoms
affection. She accepted them with a smile
that made him happy for week after, every
time he remembered. Once he dreamed
about that smile, and thought it sunrise, and
got up and dressed himself before he fairly
walked up. When he did come to his senses
he found it was haf-past l, and went back
to bed wondering if all men feel as he did
when they're in love.
The train started, and, just as Miss Steb-
bins was trying to swallow small chicken
bone, and making very wry face over it,
the cars gave an awful leap, and then-none
of them knew very much about what hap
pened for the next few minutes. When Job
came to himself he was sitting in shallow
puddle Of water, and the first thought which
came to him was that he had turned into a
big bull frog. But, looking about him, in a
bewildered way, for a solution of the mys-
terry, he saw Miss Stebbins sitting on float
ing portion OF wrecked car farther out in the
pond, dripping like Undine, if not as agree
able to look at.
Be you hurt, Mr.. Dusenberry?" she ask
ed, as she discovered him.
"No, don't think be-" answered Job.
"Had smash up, hain't WEI"
"Seems So" answered Miss Stebbins, al
guess there han't nobody killed, an that's
lucky. Pm glad you amt hurt. was
afeard you was"
Her solicitude touched Jobs heart as
nothing else ever had.
"You amt damaged any, be you9" he
asked anxiously.
"Not any to speak Of" answered Miss
stebbins, "but my cloes is jest c'mpletly
split. There's my bonnit sailin' about over
there. l wish you'd git it fer me-"
Job secured a pole, and after angling un-
successfully for while, got bite and land
ed this new kind of fish on the bank, where
it lay in a very limp and detected condition,
having but little resemblance to the snowy
bonnet Miss Stebbins had worn.
" Pm comm ashore" announced Miss
stebbins.
Let me come an git you" proposed Job,
not without some trepidation, it must be
confessed
"No, l can git along 'thout putin you to
any trouble" answered Miss Stebbins.
"What a seIf-reliant woman she is," Job
thought admiringly. "she'd take care of a
man, now."
She gathered the ruined "alpacy" about
her, stepped off the extemporized raft, and
waded ashore without screaming snakes OF
anything of the kind. Job concluded that
she was one woman in hundred. So she
was.
"You're all mud an scum" said she, after
inspecting Job closely. an git stick an
some grass an kinder clean you up" And
for the next ten minutes Job experienced
new and novel bliss in being CLEANED up
by this energetic woman, who had now OBJ
tanned complete possession of his heart
"She's a manager" concluded Job. "If she
had charge of my place. now, she'd make
things fetch in suthin.' wish she had"
The conductor announced that it would
be two or three hours before they could pro-
ceed.
"Don't you feel as ef you'd like suthin' to
eat?" asked Job. al guess you didn't finish
that chicken"
al ,oould like somethin," answered Miss
stebbins, and Job proposed that they should
visit farmhouse near by and procure some
"I'll set out here on this stone in the sun
an dry myself, till it's ready" said Miss
stebbins, and took position on rock by
the roadside. Job sat down by her.
"Pm thankful we amt killed." said she
GLOW lucky got acquainted with you, amt
it? Friends is always so pleasant in sich
times" The glance which accompanied
this sentiment finished Job.
"Oh, Miss Stebbins, le'me be your friend
for life!" cried he, with with an awful palor
on his face, the effort he made in saying il
was so intense. 81 know it's sudden, but
thenv"-and there he stuck fast.
Do you mean-marrlage? ?" asked Miss
Stebbns, with such a warmth at heart that
her clothes dried rapidly from the dilfused
heat.
"Yes, do" answered Job; 81 do"
al don't know what John an Almiry'd
say, but hain't no objections, to speak on ="
answered Miss Stebbins, with downcast eyes,
and beaming face.
"Then it's a bargain!" exclaimed job.
"Gloryl This is bettern the Fourth! I'm
goin to kiss you, Miss Stebbins."
You may you want to, an call me
Susan" she said.
The boy who was looking out of tho win
dow reported TO his mother, busy over the
dinner, that the man was kissin' the wo-
man, an' he should think he'd be 'shamed
of himself
But job never thought of such a thing |
! Wasn't he augagad Ia he Fnarripd9 A nj