Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-24
The Sturp Teller.
JOE CHlCKWEED'S C0URTSHIP.
BY LOUIS n. BURDITT.

81 VOW" said Joe Chickweed, as he stooC
before the parlor mirror, putting the las
touch to his well-oiled hair, eff [ let thi
night pass without finding out just how
stand with Malinda Martin, then I'm COW
The critters always acted so pesky sklttlst
there's been no getting around her. l like
her and she knows it, and I'm inclined tc
think she likes me but she likes more than
one string to her bow, and amt sure but
she'd ship me any minute if she could make
a better bargain. Maybe I'm doing her an
injustice, and 1 hope l am but she acts
sometimes 'tarnally like real coquette, and
I don't know what to make Of her. But
to night" he added, fitting an Immensely
high and immensely wide brimmed hat upon
his shining head, "to.night I'll settle the mat
ter. I'll cross the Rubicon, if I get my
boots full of water. Malinda amt got a bad
speck, and might do worse most anywhere
else"
"Do tell, if it's come to that ?" exclaimed
old Mrs. Chickweed who had entered the
room uunoticed by her son, in time to hear
his last sentence. "Well, I've all along had
notion that you was aimin' in that ere dl.
recton."
Joe turned red from his eye-winkers to
his ankles, and looked very sheepish. lie
worked very busily, too, for few seconds,
with brushing some imaginary dust from
place between the shoulders of his coat,
which he couldn't reach; but be said moth
ing.
There amt nothin' to be ashamed on,
Joe," continued the loquacious old lady, ap-
parently greatly pleased at making the dis
covery she had, "and you spoke Gospel truth
when you said you might do worse elsewhere.
Malinda's nice gal.''
"Well," said Joe, gaining some courage
from his mothers manner, "Im glad you
think so, for I'm bound to make her my wife,
if
"If what ?" asked the old lady.
"Well, if everything's favorable"
Don't you fear anything again it. You
just do your duty, Joe, and Malinda's yourn.
Remember the farm
"It's fine fariu, no mistake" said the
young man, earnestly.
"No better farm of its size in the whole
country, than the widow Martins" said Mrs.
Chickweed, in an emphatic tone.
"No. | think not"
"And then see how it is stocked. Two
yokes of the bes: steers in all these parts,
besides their two horses sayin nothin' of the
rest of the critters And of course they will
all 90 with Malinda when the widder's dead,
and before, too-for you'll 60 right on to the
farm as soon as you marry, and take charge
of every thing"
= "It's good opening, that's fact" said
Joe; "but put a higher value on Malinda
than all the property"
"And we'll you should though the farm
and 6xins amt to be despised.'
"Oh, aint one to despise them"
Joe laughed and left the room, and soon
after he left the, house and made his way as
expeditiously as the gloom would permit, to-
wards the residence of the widow Martin.
A light was burning in the front room, but
the window curtains were closely drawn, SO
that he could not get view into the apart
ment as he passed along the yard. He
knocked at the door, and was admitted by
the widow in person. who after enquiring
benevolently after his health, ushered him
into the parlor. 1t was already occupied by
two persons-Malinda and Reuben Sparks,
the latter young man who recently return
ed to Springfield from California, and was
looked upon with special distavor by the
young farmer.
Joe Was welcomed by the young lady not
so cordially as formerly, and by no means so
cordially as Joe thought his due. He was
greeted by Mr.. Sparks in sort of joking,
condescending way, that raised the ire in-
wardly. However, the conversation that
followed was apparently agreeable to all par
ties, anl the evening wore away till the
widow retired, when Mr.. Sparks intimated
that it was perhaps time for him to be re-
turning, as it was quite little walk to the
village. Malinda at once asserted that it
Was very early indeed, and he should not
think Of leaving so soon .whereupon Mr.
Sparks was induced to remain while longer,
and Mr.. Chickweed was secretly enraged that
Mainda should be so taken up with the COM
pany of young sprig.
California became the topic of converse
ton, and Reuben Sparks shone brilliantly in
his descriptive accounts Of the country, and
what he had done there.
Then you wern't in the diggins 2" enquired
Joe, in response to something his rival had
uttered.
"By no means" replied Sparks, loftily. 81
left digging to those that were used to it. |
hadn't taste that way
"Oh, then you stopped in town.
"Certainly."
Business, spose, first rate there?'
"Yes. A young man of talent will soon
engage himself in profitable employment"
Then | spec you must have done extra.
ordinary well" said Joe, in tone he intended
should be sarcastic.
"Oh," replied the other, laughing in a
meaning way, and winking an eye at the
young lady, who appeared to take" and
enjoy it accordingly, "as for that matter, |
can't complain. think | improved my
chances-I rather think did. No, don't
complain, by no means"
"'rhen why didn't you stay longer? You
warn't gone but short time. You should
have staid a year or two more and made
yourself independent"
"Perhaps am independent already. say
perhaps Of course can't tell you the ex
act amount l made-that, l think, is quite
unnecessary"
"Oh, quite.
"And perhaps too, there were attractions
in this part Of the world, as alluring as gold.
He looked knowingly at Malinda as he
spoke, and gave her another wink, which
that young lady seemed to relish, though she
blushed and appeared wonderfully embar
rAssed for moment. Joe noticed what oc
cured and didn't at all fancy the course
affairs seemed to be taking He knew tina
he should feel and appear peculiarly savag'
ho poS n