The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-08-01
LVDDY wAsaBURN's COURrsHIP,



An ola Time Fsurth-of-July story.
{" The prsttisst girl in Franklin Coun-
ty." That was what they called Lyddy
Washburn- Brown-haired. blue-eyed,
pink checked, red-lipped, of . tall and
slender figure and graceful and spirited
carriage, the youngest and only surviv-
ing daughter Of well-to-do farmer
what wonder that from far and near
suitors came for Lyddy Washburn's
hand? But "Law!" said that young
woman, many times over, "there ain
no hurry at al about my marryin' and
settlin' down''-which in those days
was rank heresy. Lyddy's mother hav-
ing been married at IA, and all Lyddy's
mates being settled in homes of their
own, leaving that Independent young
woman to the tender mercies of q
younger set Of companions by the time
she was % years old. But Lyddy toss
ed her head, looked in her glass, and
sang the more blithely over her wheel
and her churn.
snow, Lyddy," her mother said one
day, "why don't you marry lothian
Hunter? Hes likely young fellow -
ever lived, and sets consid'able store by
you"
"Jotham Hunter!n laughed Miss
Lyddy, claw, mother, he's got red
hair!"
.wa'al, his hearts right" pleaded
Mrs. Washburn.
" No use, mother" said her fractions
daughter. . You can't get rid Of me yet
awhile; and don't ever say lothian
Hunter to me again.
Wa'al, tell me one thing" said
Mrs. Washburn, her ill-concealed anx-
iety making her voice sound strained
and unnatural. You haint-nOw,
Lyddy, you haia't, be you-a-goin' to
take Tart Taylor?"
A bright flush swept over Miss Lyd-
dy's beautiful face.
Who said l was a-goin' to take
Tart T ylor, Mother Washburn?" she
said, little sternly. . Better wait till
get chance, think An If I was A.
goin' to take Tart Taylor I'd like to
know whats the reason he amt as good
as lothian Hunter?"
"Wa'al,r said the old lady, slowly
(she always began with "Wa'al"),
"they do say that Tart can't ksc.> from
LIQUOR; and though''-here Mrs. Wash
burn no doubt voiced the feeling Of ev-
cry b.dy in those days" though every
man must have his dram, yet there amt
no sense in gettin' drunk at every rails
in an trsinin' an cattle show, IS they
tell on Tart Taylor; an he's got his
mother to take care Of; an no daugh-
ter o. mine, Lyddy Washburn, shall ever
live with that cross grained ugly old
Aunt Betty Taylor!r and the old lady
for she v As well along in years, Lyddy
being the youngest Of Is children
stood up defiantly before her daughter,
her excitement giving her unwonted
courage.
I.vddv wasbbnrn,s temper was rous-
al and she GLANCED AZ her mother with
= consamntnous exnress;on- lie the
spo;jed chilli that she was
.You'd better be savin' your advice.
mother, she began. in 4 high clear
voice wben suddenly 4 long shsdow fen
scrnss ne room from the doo, vav. And
"Can,n Tart--fMr Tertins Tsvlor
vss railad .sCantsinr from the fact thst
~ 80 "a of5;cer ~ the mil;tial 5000
befor,s the,n. Vim his Raj II his hand.
Mr. Washburn tossed her head. And
turned aw.y with 4 stiff nod. while Lyd.
Az NTH i heichtened color and m.
snr,sd nervonsness of manner wei.
comed the stately newcomer. vhoss
,n;I;fa--v hea-;ng ana critical taste ~ ~
matter ~ III female companions ~
81 hslf the 0irls Is The county Wild ove1
him II Rad been easv ~ see for soms
weeks nov a. Cactsin Tart hsd mad
M hi mind 70 shave Lyddy Wash.
bnrn-r and that that captions dame,
was mora comnIs;sant toward him thar
Toward anv ~ her other suitors-
n w. nov the middle ~ Nav. tn
,;lacs vere budded Il the front door
--~ . 100