Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-28


drive in the same shaky but respectable
winnicle. 1t looked good deal like a
dead race for Jennie's $4,000.
Now Jennie's aunt was dead down on
Jed Billings, because he was only
farmer, though even then, gentlemen,
he looked blame sight more likely to
make big farmer than either o. them
other fellers did to make big lawyer.
Anyhow, Jennie's aunt didn't care
much which of the lawyers got her as
long as Jed was KEEP out. But the
cunnin' old lady rather preferred Sam
Parker, because he was sure to hev his
fathers practice, while Charley might
hev to whistle good while for client.
Then, too, Sam had a way of fatterin'
her up in city style, an Charley was too
open and off-handed with he1.
It's most generally the rascals that
gets all the advantage; but not in the
,oag run, boys, not in the long run.
Well, Sam an the old lady got a
talkin' one day an fixed things up be-
tween 'em.
Jennie don't know her own mind"
said her aunty, "an' it's my opinion
that whichever gifts away with her first
will get the prize, an, Sam, you'd better
do it. She's giddy young thing, an III
stick by the one as goes for her the
heaviest. She's morantic, an won't
marry in church noway; them kind
never koes till arter they gets married
in wagon by moonlight"
You see, gentlemen, she didn't size
Jennie up jest right.
Things begun to thicken up pretty
good, an one day Sam Parker, the law
yer's son, thought 1t was about time to
put up his little job on Charley and Jed
arter his own style, as agreed on with
the aunt. The strickiy honorable didn't
run much in Sans family anyhow.
Sans plot was like this: He got
Charley aside one mornin' an told /. n
everythin' was fixed, an he was goin'LJ
marry the gal that night.
Now l know what you love me for, !"
said Sam, in his cool style; "but know
that for old friendships sake you'll give
in to me, so the gal can be happy with
the man she loves"
How do you know she loves youp"
asks Charley, as gloomy as dyin' mud.
turtle.
This day." says Honest Sam-which
they used to call him so because lie was
so tricky" this day she Civ me her
promise" an he perjuced lock of hair
an a ring with her name on. Now,
Charley" he continued, II tell you
this, first, on account of our old, sweet
friendship, an, second, because l want
you to help me by takin' care o Jed
Billings while git away with the gal.
He watches US like a weasel, an might
kick up fuss. If he tries TO foller ali
you've got to do is to pick muss with
him SOS to give us a chEnc
az don't see how that's a-goin' to pay
me-" said Charley.
If ] marry her tonight" said Sam,
solemnly, - shall take her to Boston to
i've, an you step inter my practice
here."
So Charley said agreed, and Sc forth,
but he knew Sam was deep, an KEEP
askin' himself why should Sam be afraid
to Jed if he was really engaged to Jen-
ME, as he said; an why should be run
away anyhow. So he KEEP on a puz-
zlin', but couldn't git it out.
Well, as soon as 1t got dark, Sam
hitched up an took Charley down near
Jed's farm to keep n watch on him, an
then turned round an took the back
road up to Jennie's.
The girl was considerably surprised
for Sam TO ask her out ridin' on a dark
night, an no party or dancin' to go TO ;
but she warn't afraid o. nothin', an was
allus full o. lively curiosity about fun.
So she made up her mind to see it out,
most pertickly as her cunnin' old aunt
made believe E'le didn't want her TO
go.
Then tie way Sam Parker put tha.
old plug o. his through TO Eatonville
was a caution. What was said on the
way amt known, but it's tolrable Ger
tain that marryin' warn't spoken of till
the two got 10 work eatin' supper. Then
Sam said how he loved her, an how
this wss an enlopement, an the parson
was ready an all that. Then he goes
down on his knees an pulls out the
ring. But, in pullin' out the ring, out
come long lock of hair, the same that
Sam had been playin' off on Charley for
hern.
"Ob, you dreadful. dread III fiirtf"
hollers Jennie. maxim b'leeve mad, and
then she busts out into just the tallest
laffin' that's been heard in the Adams
house for forty years.
Then Sam pitches in an gifts wild as
to what he'll do to her or say about her
If she don't marry him, an then the
door opens sudden, an who should
bounce in but Charley.
Won aaa CharIav had ~0t &;rna