The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-07
MR.. OUSENBERRrs COURTSHIp.
ny EnEN E. RExroRp.

Mr.. Job Dusenberry stepped on
board the train bound for Boston one
morning, feeling kind of queer sensa-
ton at the pit Of tho stomach. He
concluded, at the time he first became
aware Of it, that it was oocasioned by
eating too hearty a breakfast in too
short time. Later, he came to diff
ferent conclusion about it.
He was going 'down to Boston" to
visit his brother Joseph, and stay "till
after the Fourth
The car was pretty full, but he sue
ceeded in finding an unOccupied seat at
last, and sat down to leOk about him
He had hardly begun to look, however,
when another traveller entered the car
in search Of seat. She was an old
maid, Job knew, tho moment he saw
her. There were certain signs which
can never bo mistaken in the class Of
single damsels to which she belonged,
that class being the primly-perpendicu-
lar one, nearly all angles and very little
curves, and Job had seen too many of
them to be mistaken. He couldn't say
that he liked old maids, and yet, being
an old bachelor, he felt = sympathy for
their single condition which made his
heart tender for them.
She locked sharply about her in
search of seat. As it happened,
Jobs was the only ono in which there
were not two.
"Id like the privilege Of settin' with
you" said she, fixing her eagle eye on
Jobs in a way that seemed to dare him
to refuse.
q shall be delighted TO have you, y
answered Job, with alacrity, jumping
up that she might have the place next
to the window. "A beautiful day,
ma'am."
Lovely" answered his companion,
in voice that seemed to come from
down cellar, as she proceeded to ar
range her baskets and bundles about
her feet. " Yes, sir, Lopely day. 1
told Almiry-she's my brother Johns
wife-I told her it was goin' to DO jest
splendid day for trayelin'"
A light breke in upon Jobs mind.
John and Almiry, he felt sure. were
Mr.. and Mrs. Stebbins He had heard
that Mr.. Stebbins had a sister from
Vermont visiting him.
i" 1 conclude you're bir. Stebbins
sister, na'am," said Job, anxious to
lind out if he was right He had been
advised TO 60 over and see the lady, but
somehow he never could make up his
mind TO.
81 be-" she answered "my names
Susan Stebbins. What's you'rn, if ]
may be so inquisitive r
s Dusenberry-Joh Dusenberry," he
replied, with bow. He was naturally
very polite IN his instincts.
SIS that so 7" exclaimed Mrs. Steb
bins, casting a sido-long glance at Job
and trying her best to blush. "Al
miry's been hectorin' me about you evel
since I've been there"
al want to know p cried Job. HI
couldn't think of anything else to say
and it seemed as if she must exPec
him 70 say something.
"Yes, and John, too" went on Mis-
Stebbins "But, you know, folks sOil
joke, an they're allns q talkin' TO m'
about the men, but don't mind j
emmy. I'm glad to be acquainted Will
you, for 1 amt much used to tray'lin'
an l like to hev some one ! can look 4
fer perfection, if it's needed"
Job mentally concluded that she wa
more capable of protecting herself thai
he was of protecting her. But be sal
he should be happy to do what he coul
for her.
" Air you any relation to the Duser
berry family iVin' nigh Putney 2" aske
Miss Stebbins.
"No, / don't think I be-" answere
job "never heard I had any relation
there"
"Mr. Dusenberry's deacon in tn
, Baptist church, an real nice man,
alIus thought" went on Miss Stebbin
= Seems to nae he favors you in con
plexion some. He's a smartlookil
/. man, an l should ha' said he was
|. connexion. Air you goin' to Boston
= 81 be-" answed Job /; Thought /
go down an stay till after the Fourth
$50 be l." answered Miss Stebbin
"Tve got some tradin' to do, an it pa.
to do it where you can look about a
choose. Solomon Green keeps store I
to Putney, an he does charge the mo
onaecountable prices; now this alpacy
8. how much should you s'pose I'd oug
to have give yard for it, Mr.. Duse
berry2"
Jeb frankly acknowledged his ignC
n ance of such matters.
L "Wal, air." said Miss Stebbins, in
tone which seemed to imply that s
didn't suppose he'd believe her, but
N was true as gospel, nevertheless ; "wa
ose sir, he charged me forty-two cents an
y ha'f yard, an COUNT get it ce
less. He asked forty-fve, but I be
him down two cents an a ha'f, an III
Pringle-she's the minister's wife-s
, got one jest like it to Albany for thirt
seven cents If that amt outrageol
.. I'd like to know what is p
DO "It's scand'lous, ms'am," said j.
who began to admire her evident bu
ness tact 'simply scand'lous, ma'an
"You're right" said Miss Stebbi
, zen I told Almiry, bein's I'd never be
- to Boston, I was goin' down, an
N if solomon Green'd get rich out
cheatin' me"
But now Job was in love with hel
that is, he felt that she would make b
10 q good housskeeper, which stood for
same thing in his mind as wife, and
wondered if he couldn't manage to
IN cure her. He'd been wanting a v
for twenty years. He had had chan'
l.. IL. o. e..l.sL ... La .roc.