The Red Cloud chief., 1879-06-05
KETURAH KIDDLE's COURTSHIP.

Clump! clump, went Farmer LaZier's
boots along the brick walk leading to
Mrs. Selchow's dairy, and "Here ye
bel" be said in his sharp falsetto, q min
ute lattr.
"Yes," said Mrs. Selchow, looking
up from the milk she was skimming.
"Walk in, Brother Lazier."
Brother Lazier walked in. He was q
small, dry man, so stiff in the joints that
he progressed by a series OF jerks sug-
gestive of Mrs. farley. He had a dus-
ty complexion, a miniature desert OF
Sahara on the top of his head, sur
rounded by clumps of sandy hair, and
his very voice seemed to have dried up
and cracked.
He sat down upon q pile of empty
butter firkins, with a ~preoccupied sir,
but Immediately rising, crossed the
room, alternately taking a few steps
and then stopping short. like a robin At
last he remarked: uncommon dry
spell we are having"
Mrs. Selchow assented cordially; and
this subject being disposed Of, a silence
ensued, during which Mr.. Lazier and
his green cotton umbrella continued to
mount guard.
elbows your mother" inquired Mrs
Selchow, making a skirmish toward
conversation.
"Marm's considerable poorly, l ex-
pect," replied her son; "and that's
what | called ter speak about; that is, l
meant ter say" i.ere Brother Lazier
prasped his umbrella convulsively, and
paused. "She amt so young as she
once WERE" he resumed, "and it's
hard on her to take the heft of the
work" Another pause, during which
our brother wiped his brow with a pic
toral handkerchief illustrating scenes
in the life of the Prodigal Son.
EYES," said Mrs. Selchow, foresee-
ing what was coming, and anxious to
help her visitor out" Yes, you need
somebody there that can take right hold
and 90 ahead. Your mother is getting
on in years, as you say, and the place
needs a younger woman to see after It.. "
"That, now, was just what 1 was
a-coming to-" responded MIR. Lazier,
much gratified. "I've been a~-thinking.
this some time, whether or no Scripter
want about right, and I've come a-pur-
pose to ask you if so be you'd be SO
good as to pick out some likely girl for
me. You see, a young man like me
feels kinder diffodent round amongst
the girls" he added, stroking his hay
colored goatee, which was plentifully
streaked with gray. "Not hut what
there'd be a plenty of 'em that would
lump at the chance" he resumed. glib
ly-for, the bars once down, Mr. LaZier
felt perfectly at ease" but, you see,
there r SO many Ican't make up my
mind, and l want you to sorter tell 'em
over, soft l can chalk 'em off. You see,
sister Selchow, / want q amsterdam to
work. She must be able to hetchel
round; can't have no poor weakly crea-
ter. But then, you see, the smart kind
are apt to be topping. | can't have
that. She mustn't be a trying to usurp
authority nor nothing; I'm particular
about that. She must be obliging-be
willing I help about the chores, and
that'll save my keeping a boy. She mus,
be ekerpomical, and know how Z live
on plain vittle, and not be awaiting q
new caliker every little while. / want
she should be able to make fust-r rate
butter and cheese. Mother is falling of
n little on butter; l { didn't get as much
by 10 cents as I'd orter for that last box
And if she has a few hundreds in the
bank, it would come handy, for, you
know, our place has a mortgage. Now,
YOU see," he added, 81 amt particu.
lar; but these ere few things l do insis,
upon"
Him." said Mrs. Selchow, watch.
ing the milk as it dripped through the
skinner. "Perhaps Widow voss
would suit you"
~Number one" said the bachelor, ir
q business-like voice, producing a lump
Of chalk, with which he proceeded t6
make q mark on the dairy floor. ".Now
let's see" he went on, assuming q ju
dicial air, Wilder Voss is as spry a.
acricket-good-tempere too; but ther
never took much stock in widders
and I'm q little skittish of 'em. They're
always a throwin' of it in your face how
that you amt a-doin' so well BY 'em q:
their first husband did. I guess wei
crowd her OUT" and he stopped t.
draw q line across the mark which rep
resented the unfortunate widow.
miranda Brown" suggested tn,
mentor.
"Mirandy is a good girl; shed maxi
Illustrate of q wife; but there's he