The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-21

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into her face, and breathlessly await
ed her reply. She ;olored slightly and
bent her eyes to the ground.
"You are quite right" she said, Sin
supposing' that you were not indifferent
to me, for regard you very highly"
"Then alhmy fears have been ground
less" uttered Joe, exultingly.
"But," confined the lady, II cannot
very we'll grant your wish regarding"
"Whatp cried Joe, his countenance
suddenly changing.
"I cannot very well marry you:''
"And why can't you? I'd like to know
what's to hinder your marrying me ifyou
think enough fmeW
"There is one reason in particular"
-,"What is that?"
"I'm engaged to another"
Joe turned pale.
"Sparkse he cried-tell me, is it
Sparks ?''7'- -
"Well, and ifit is''-
| .stI know it. Blast him! know what
he is after"
81 don't know that Mr.. Sparks has acted
in any way as he should not" remarked
the: young lady, warmly.
1"He's cheatin' william" replied Joe,
Indignantly.
"You don't-knov,him. Hes nothing
of the kind" "a - = p
| 4sTps YOU that don't know him; but
you will, before long. I've been de-
ceiyed, and I amt afraid to say so," con-
tinued be-, snatching up his hat. ".Its
the money he pretends to have that's lost
me q wife; but when you want to touch
it. Just as like as not you won't be able"
He rushed from the house as he uttered
these words, and hurried homeward. He
found his:mothef 5still:up, and was eager
ly interrogated :by her as to the luck he
had met with. He told her all, and little
was she enabled to offer him
in return.
For two or three days following, Joe
Chickweed said very little and thought
much. One morning, he met his mother
With q smiling face and q sort of triumph
G1-his,look.. The old lady was somewhat
surprised at the sudden change in her
sons manner.
"Why, what on airth's the matter now
Joe ?" said she; "hope you amt going
'fNot by long shot," he replied. ri
amt quite as big fool as that, :
"TheD, what ails you?"
"Oh! I've got it all arranged at last
I've got ''em now !"
.tfWho? Whatf''
"Why, Malinda and that vagabon,
Reuben Sparks. Ha !! ha! III surprise
"Oh itsall right" said Joe. laughing.
"I'll- Fix the e'saeaking4 4critter."
"But how-how, Joe? Can't you
speak out? What's got in the boy"
cried the old lady, dying with curiosity
to know what was mEplan. IL
swell, NOW, I will7tell you all about
itp: began; Joe, assuming a moro sober
"Well, / just wish you would"
"You know the widder has always
favored my keeping company With Ma
linda?'' -
"Well."
"And I do believe she is desperate
down on that feller, Sparks, coming into
her family"
eyes,"
"In that case che wouldn't very vii.
lingly let her property go into his hands."
"But 'cording to the will of old Mr..
Martin, the property amt to go out of
her hands till she is dead"
"Just so-but Sparks would have all
the benefit. And. now I'm coming to
the point It's just there I'm going to
floor Reuben Sparks" -
"Well, do let me hear"
s'The widder Martin, herself, amt
bad looking woman" Joe remarked, in
sort: of mysterious voice, glancing up
suddenly into his mothers face.
"No; but what's that got to do with
the matter?" replied the old lady, impa-
tiently.
"And she amt very old, NEITHER" con.
tinued he, with the same air.
"Why, she can't be more'n forty"
$50 should think; and she has good
chance of living forty more"
"Well, what of it ?''
"Just this" said Joe, leaning over to
his mothers ear-"I'll marry the Wild
der"
Mrs. Chickweedg Expected something
startling, but wasn't prepared for this.
She uttered en- exclamation nofunbounded
surprise, started upward from her seat,
and then sank back and fixed her eyes
with yacantss stare upon her sons face.
"Well,"said Joe, ~ hope you don't see
anything agin it."
Mono" stammered his mother re-
covering somewhat from the shock,
she had received; "but are you really in
airnest, Joe-will' you. marry the Wild
der?,' .&.
"To be sure will. That's the whole
oft I'm going up to see her this very
day. M merry her, if she'll have me,
and bereyenged on Malindy for dropping
me, as she has for that blasted Sparks.
TlHteach her what's what"
Joe was as good as his word. He
sought the widow and made his proposal.
She was more astonished than she knew
how to express, but she was more .gratihed
than astonished. Fresh and fair as. she
was considering her years, she had never
piyen over the idea Of winning another
QuSDauQ, Uutlt uoo uOS0A casSASN AVA
head that she could win so young and esti-
msble prize as joe Chickweed.
Joe made special proviso in his pro-
posal. that they should be married pri.
vately the day before the marriage Of
Sparks with the widows daughter, and
it should beakept secret till that wed
ding had taken place. To this the widow
readily agreed, although it was q hard
task for her to restrain the enjoyment
she experienced and prevent the secret
being discovered. =,
The evening before the nuptials Of
Sparks and Maiinda. at length arrived,
and all the preparations orthe ceremony
on the ensuing day were completed.
When the darkness had fairly set in,
while Malinda was so occupied with the
conversation of her soon-to-be husband
as to be completely oblivious to all else,
Mrs. Martin cautiously left the house,
and meeting Joe near at hand, she has
~ sc fhn