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

"Do tell if its come to that Z" exclaimed
old Mrs. Chickweed, who had entered
the room unnoticed by her son, in time
to hear his last sentence. "Well, I've
all along had a notion that you was
amin in that ere direction"
Joe turned red from his eye.winkers to
his ankles, and looked very sheepish.
He worked very busily, too, for a few sec
onds, with brushing some imaginary dust
from place between the shoulders OF
his coat, which he Couldn't reach ; but
he said nothing. s5
"There amt nothing to be shamed on,
Joe," continued the loquacious old lady
apparently greatly pleased at making the
discovery she had, "and you spoke Gospel
truth when you said you might.d do worse
elsewhere. Malinda'sa nice GAL" s:i
"Well," said Joe, gaining some courage
from his mothers manner, "I'm glad you
think so, tor I'm bound to make her5my
wife, iF'- =
eff wbat3" asked the old lady.
ssWell, if everything's favorable"
"Don't you fear anything again it.
You just do your duty, Joe, and Malin.
da's yourn. Remember the farm"
sIt's fine farm, no mistake" said the
young man earnestly.
"No better farm of its size in the whole
country, than the widow Martin's," said
Mrs. Chickweed, in an emphatic tone.
No. I think not" go
""And then see how it is stocked. Two
yokes of the best steers in all these parts,
besides their two horses; sayin' nothin
ofthe rest of the critters. Aud of course
they will all go with Malinda when the
widders dead, and before, too-for you'll
go right on to the farm as soon as you
marry, and take charge Of everything"
cts good opening, that's fact"
said Joe; 'but I put a. higher value on
Malinda than all the property
"And well You should; Though the
farm and fixins amt to be despised."i
"Oh, I 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 towards 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
geta view into the apartment as he passed
along the yard. He Knocked at the door
and was admitted by the widow in person
who after inquiring benevolently after
his health, ushered him ineo the parlor.
1t was already occupied by two persons
Malinda and Reuben Sparks, theilatter a
young man who recently returped to
Springfield from California, and was
looked upon with special disfayor 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
a sort of joking, condescending way, that
raised the ire inwardly. However, the
conversation that followed was apparent
ly agreeable to all parties, and the even
ing wore away till the widow retired,
when Mr.. Sparks intimated that: it was
perhaps time for him to be returning. as
It was quite little walk to the village.
Malinda at once asserted thatit was very
early indeed, and he should not think of
leaving so soon; whereupon Mr.. Sparks
was induced to remain a while longer,
and Mr.. Chickweed was secretly enraged
that Malinda should be so taken up with
the company of q young sprig.
California became the topic ofthe con-
versation, and Reuben Sparks. shone
brilliantly iu his descriptive accounts of
the country, and what he had done there.
"Then you wern't in the diggins" en-
quired 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 a taste that way"
"oh, then you stopped in town-Y
certainly"
Business, spose, first rate there?"
eyes. A young man of talent will soon
engage himself in profitable employ
ment."
"Then ] spec you must have done ex-
traordinary WE'LL" 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. 1 think I improved
my chances-I rather think I did. No,
don't complain, by no means"
"Then why didn't you stay longer?
You warn't gone buta short time. You
should have staid year or two more and
made yourself independent"
'.Perhaps. Of course I can't tell you
the exact amount T made-that, I think
is quite unnecessary"
"Oh, quite"
"And perhaps, too, there were attrac.
tions, in this part of the world, as allur-
ing 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 Won
derfully embarrassed for moment. Joe
noticed what occurred, and didn't at all
fancy the course the affair seemed to be
taking. He knew that he should feel
and appear peculiarly savage if he re.
NAMED much longer, and so he hinted
that it was about time for him to be
going; and what served to enrage him
mOEc tuau Ill else, Mdiiuua 1'PPeaieu "
be of the same mind, for she offered no
objection. So be took his hat and depart
ed, with frmness in his step and bitter
ness in his heart.
"I don't like the looks of things at ALL"
he muttered to himself as he walked on
through the dark. "She's altogether too
tender with that chap, to be agreeable
to me. Ifhe has not turned her head,
then there's a mistake somewhere. I
don't believe he has brought money
enough from California to buy rope to
hang him. He's after the widder's farm
now, to make it up, I'll bet my hat. Yes,
sir, he means to catch Malinda, and Ive
been fool enough to wait all this time
before coming to final point. But
perhaps it amt too late yet, he added,
after few moments reflection. "Maybe
she'll consent to have me yet, if lose no
time in asking her. I'll try it, I vow I will.
I'll go over again tomorrow. and have
the thing settled"
And having come to this conclusion,
he hurried forward. and soon after was