Sharp County record., 1878-04-19

England, where many o jacob serTeu
his time for Rachel, and crew up INTO a
patriarch with docks and herds Of his
own.
But neither Almira aor her lovers
knew yet who would succeed IN TINS
service. nor whether, indeed. some third
man might not step in and distance
them both. Henry had one powerful
allv in the well known fact that his
father had ''meaus,' - as I2nkeedom
phrases IL, and Mira had keen eyeIor
the goods and gauds Of this present
world. Good hard common sense Aned
that low square forehead, and the lrm
chin, almost too prominent Tor symme--
try, told its story OF reSoIute VIII anu
stern determination. She did not un-
derrate that big farmhouse OF Sol
Piae's. with its stretch Of level mead
ows Wing far to the south, sheltered by
great mills wooded to their SUBMITS, and
on their lower terrace bearing orchards
full Of pink and white promise and
golden performance. She liked J. snug
prospect for the future, garnlsned ana
well stored home but then Henry was
so stupid, such an utter Iout.-klnd-
hearted. dull-witted, with no re-
source and no energy; while sam was
intelligent, alert, guIck-witted, and IulI
1f cOurage-and so handsome. In her
secret soul Mira admired Sam nightly,
but he was only one OF seven children,
and bis widowed mothers sole posses
sion Law in a wild mountain farm, par
italy cleared as yet, and the other SIX
were girls.
If She married him the world lay be-
fore her, and only their four hands
wherewith 10 open the sturdy shell; out
then there were great possibilities, and
these are fascinating. A future with
Henry was determinate and secure;
there was only peace and plenty, and
Mira was ambitious.
But Sam also was determined. Ma
ture had not given him those keen dark
ewes and that strong Development OF
sinew and muscle for no purpose the
future did not daunt him, and his mind
was resolved on Mira and Congress,
and this was his own precious secret.
However, ike many another man, ms
plans came near to shipwreck for want
of a chart; yet what man ever lived who
knew the channels and the qulcAsandS
of q wOman's mind?
Sam set himself to work to make his
rival ridiculous; he demonstrated poor
Henrv's ignorance, and played on his
credulity: he ridicuied him to his face,
and carefully beguiled him into all kinds
of false positions; all Of which reused
Mira's innate feminine perversity and
kindness to take the side Of the weak
est, and she gave Henry so much en-
/ couragcment that even her parents were
-nuzzled-
ed, perhaps trembled, had she seen, her
self unseen, an interview between her
two lovers one morning. They were
both planting corn in the long lot-a bit
of meadow land at the extreme limit of
the farmland when their bags were
empty, and the drills leveled over their
golden sprinkling of seed, Henry was
turning his face homeward, when Sam
stopped him.
"Look here, Hen; hold on; I've got
sOmethin' to say to ye."
"Hay?" responded Henry, with an
air of idiOtic astOnishment, but turning
back on his tracks.
"Don't yawp so. I jest want ter say
that / know what you re snakin' around
this here humstead for; an you can't
come it, now I tell ye."
"What be yew a-talkin' about?" put
in the NATURAL astounded Henry.
"Why, I'm talkin' about Miry Calk-
ms. Maybe you think you're goin' to
git that gal but I tell ye you amt, not
by a long shot.n
Well! whose troop do you ride in?"
inquired the other, with fine sarcasm.
Not Your'n, anyhow, Hen Pine
and amt jokin', you kin swear. I'm
goin' to marry Almiry, eff any living
fnan 4oos; so you'd jest as good haw
Tout o. the road afore you're kicked
Tout"
| mighty Moses. how yew talk!''
'gasped the alarmed youth.
"Tain't all talk, sir. Be you goin'
to quit without haulin', or nOt?n
II do know" answered Henry, sui
lenly, his native obstinacy asserting it
self in place of courage I do knows
I'm going to be walked over this fash
ion. / guess I'm as good as you be, and
I've got a sight more chink."
"Darn your dollars who wants 'em?
Miry ain that sort; she'd ruther marry
a man than a pOcket-boOk."
"She amt nobody's fool, now I tell
We, Sam Peters. See if she wouldn't a
heap ruther settle down on our farm
than 60 a tin-peddlin' long o. you. Ho
| guess | shan't haw out o. your road
not much. No, sir"
"Look a-here,n calculated Sam,
growing savage. "You'd better hear
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