Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-26
THE HERALD.
PLL WAIT FOR YOU.


suit Of his education, Luke Jordan
was q fns-looklng fellow, and not
easily moved from hisaelf-posssssion
but be colored and grew confused
beneath the sharp, sCrutinizing
look.
Yes, tir, | spoke to Miss Mary
last evening, and she-she referred
me to you
The old mans face softened.
MARY is good girl, very good
girl, he said, stroking his chin with
thoughtful air, and she deserves a
good husband. What can you do p
The young man locked rather
blank at this abrupt inquiry.
DO you refer to my ability to
support wife? l can assure you
Il know you ere a rich man, Luke
Jordan but | take it for granted
that you ask my girl to marry you,
not your property. What guarantee
can you give me, in case it should
be swept away-as in thousands of
instances-that you could provide
for her comfortable home? You
have hands and brains-do you
know bow to use them? Again l
ask you, what can you do p
This was style of catechism for
which Luke was quite unprepared,
and he stared blankly at the ques-
tons, without speaking.
Il believe you managed 20 get
through college-have you auy pro-
fession p
No, sir; thought
Have you any trade p
No, sir my father thought that
with the wealth l should inherit /
should not need any
Your father thought like a fool
then. Hs'd much batter given you
some honest occupation and cut you
off with shiling-it might have
been the making of you. As it is,
what Gra you fit for ? Here you are,
a strong, able bodied young man,
a years old, and never earned
pound in your life You ought to
be ashamed of yourself! And you
want to marry my daughter re-
sumsd the old man, after few Wig
orous puffa at his pipe. NOW, pVe
given Mary as good advantages for
learning as any girl in town, and
she hasn't thrown them away; but
if she didn't know how TO work
she'd be no daughter of mine, fl
chose, | could keep more shan one
servant, hut | don't; no moro than
| choose that my daughter should be
q pale, epiritlesa creature, fall of
dyspepsia and sll manner Of fine
lady ailments, instead of the smiling
byight-eyed, rosy.chaeksd lass she
il. | did say that she Ghould mar
ny no lad that had been cursed with
rich father; but she's taken q
foolish liking to you, and I'll tell you
what III &c; go to work aud prove
yourself to be man; perfect your.
self in some occupatlon--I don't
care what, so it be honest; and then
como to me, and If the girl be will
ing, she ia yours
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting
to see her lcvor down at the garden
gate, their usual trysting place.
The smiling light faded from her
eyes as she noticed HE sober dis.
oomfted look,
Father moans wsll, she said, sc
Luke told her the result Of tbs sp.
plica,ion. And l am not sure but
what ho is about right, she resumed
after q thoughtful pause, for it
seems to me that every man, be he
rich or poor, ought TO have some
occupation
Then, IS she noticed her lovers
grave look, she added, softly Mover
mind I'll wait for you, Luke
Luke Jordan suddenly disappeared
from his accustomed haunts, much
to the surprise of his gay associates
But, wherever he went, he carried
with him in his exile these words,
which were like a tower of strength
to his soul, Ill wait for you, Luke ?
One pleasant, sunshiny morning,
late in October, as farmer Binkins
was pFopping up the grape vino IN
his front garden, that threstensd to
break down with the weight of its
luxurious branches, q neat looking
cart drove up, from which Luke Jor-
dan sliGhted with a q1ick, elastic
spring, quite in contrast to his form
erly easy, leisurely movements.
Good morning Mr. Blifkins. un.
derstood that you wanted to buy
some cider barrels. think l have
some here that will just suit you
W hose mako are they? inquired
the old man, as, opening the gate, he
paused by the wagon.
Mine, replied Luke, with an air
of pardonable pride; 'and l challenge
any cooper to beat them
Mr.. Blitkins examined them oriti.
eally one by one.
They'll do ho said, coolly, as he
sat down the last Of the lot. 'What
will you take for them?'
What | asked you tor six months
ago to day-your daughter, sir
The roguish twinkle in the old
mans eyes broadened into smile.
You've the right metal in yoa,
after all, he cried CONS in, lad
come in. | shouldn't wonder if we
made trade, after ALL
Nothing 10th, Luke obsyed.
Mary tripped out into the entry.
Her round, white arms were bare
above the elbows, and bore traces of
the flour she had been sitting
Her dress was a neat bingham,
over which was tied blue checked
apron; but she looked as winning
and lovely as she always did when.
ever she was found.
She blashed and smiled as she saw
Luke, and then, turning her eyes
upon her father, waited dutifully to
hear what he had TO say.
Th old man regarded his daughter
tor a moment With peculiar look.
Msry, this young man-mayhap
you have seer him befora-has
brought no LOT Of tubs and barrels,
all of his own mske-a right good