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

yesterday" remarked Joe, after he hae
passed the usual compliments, and seatec
himself near the young lady.
"Oh, yes, l did, assure YOU" was the
reply.
"Mr. Sparks should say is very en-
tertaining young man."
Joe didn't think any thing Of the kind
but quite the contrary.
"He is, indeed" responded Malinda.
Joe looked anything but pleased ct thi.
enconium OH his rival, and sat for come
moments ia utter silence. A. length he
turned to the young lady and spoke:
IL came here last evening"" he sa,d
with intention OF sreaking 10 you on g
particular subject, but found you 10 en-.
gagged that / determined to call again 10
night, and so-so"--
"Here you are" said Malinda, smiling
at his embarrassment
Eyes here am. And now that I'm
here, III tell you what l have come for
You know 1 love you. told you as much
more'n once, had pye Aattered myself
that | wern't Indifferent to you. But
now wish you to tell me if you really
make you my wife. Will you marry
mew
Joe having arrived ai this important
question, looked tenderly and appealing
into her face, and brcathlessly await.
cd her reply. She ;olored slightly and
bent her eyes to the ground.
"You are quito right" she said, "ir,
supposing that you were not indifferent
to me, for ! regard you very highly"
"Ihen ~ my fears have been ground
less" uttered Joe, exultingly.
"But," confined the lady, II cannot
very we'll grant your wish regarding
"What" cried Joe, | =, countenance
suddenly changing.
II cannot very we'll marry you"
"And why can't you? I'd like to know
what's to hinder your marrying me ifyou
think enough Of INC p
"There iY one reason in particular"
"What is that?"
"Im engaged to another"
Joe turned pale.
Sparks he cried-tel me, is it
SparksW
"Well, and if it is"
81 know it. Bla thin! know what
he Is after"
~ don't know that Mr.. Sparks has acted
in any way as he should not" remarked
the young lady, warmly.
Hes u cheatin' william" replied Joe,
Indignantly.
"You don't know him. He's nothing
Of the kind" .
SITS you that don't know him; but
you will, before long. I've been de-
ceived, and amt afraid to say so." con.
tinued he. snatchi' up his hat. "It's
the money he prett nos to have that's lost
me wifc; but wi n you want to touch
it, just as like as Il vt you won't be able"
He rushed from t.. house as he uttered
these words, and hurried homeward. He
found his mother still up, and was esger-
ly interrogated by her as to tie luck he
had met with. He told her all, and little
coincidence was she enabled 10 offer him
in return.
For two or three days following, Joe
Chickweed said very little and thought:
much. One morning, he met his mother
Will. o smiling face and sort Of triumph
in his;look. The old lady was somewhat
surprised at the sudden change in her
sons manner.
"Why. what on nirth's the matter now
Joe 2" said she; "hope you amt going
to 60 crazy"
mot by II long shot," he replied. II
amt quite as big fool us that
''Then, what ails you?
ooh I've got it all arranged at last
Pve got 'em nowr'
"Who? What7n
"Why, Malinda and that vagabon.
Reuben Sparks. Ha! ha! I'll surprise
him."
"Oh it's all right" said Joe, laughing.
r.l ut it the hewsows sneSseips eE5.'sF" dss Can't vo
speak out? What's got in the boy ?'
cried the old lady, dying with curiosity
to know what was hi6plEn. =
"Wcll, now, I will tell you all about
~. began Joe, assuming moro sober
fohe.j 1ss
well, just wish you would"
You tnow 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"
"Yes."
"In that case che wouldn't very will
ingly let her property go into his hands,"
But 'cording to the will Of old Mr..
Martin, the property amt to go out of
ler hands till she is dead"
AUST so-but Sparks would have all
he benefit. And now I'm coming to
he point. It's just there Pm going to
loor Reuben Sparks"
"Well. do let me hear"
"The widder Martin, herself, amt a
bad looking woman" Joe remarked, in q
ioft of mysterious voice, glancing up
into his mother's face.
mo; but what's that got TO do with
he mattery" replied the old lady, impa-
iently.
"And she ain't very old, neither" con-
inued he, with the same air.
"Why, ahe can't be more'n forty"
$50 l should think; and she has good
chance of living forty more"
"Well, what Of it?"
"Juat this" said Joe, leaning over to
,is mothers ear-"I'll marry the wild
ler."
Mira. Chickweedg Expected something
startling, but wasn't prepared for thie.
She uttered an exclamation nofunbounded
urprise, started upward from lher seat,
md then sank back and fixed her ewes
With vacant stare upon her SON g face.
"Well,"eaid Zoe, II hepe you don't seq
agin it." sAe
"Nc-no," stammered his mother re-
covering somewhat from the. shock.
he had received; "but are you really in
.irnest, Joe-wiii' You, marry. the'whi.
ler?,' 4rs =.
"To be sure 1 will. That's the whole
y itsf I'm going, uYlto see. her this very
lay. I'll marry her, if alie'll have me,
md beTeyengea on MaIindy for dropping
ne, rs she has for that blasted Sparks.