The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-07-30

to stand hocketting making a great
noise] there; for she'd never take the
trouble to put on her best things and
go out in that powerin' rain jest to
marry me-"
why, Sim! this is rather bad be-
ginning for people about to marry.
isn't it? I'm afraid the gray mare will
be the best horse in your teamwork
she?" said the kindly old clerk, with
merry twinkle in his knowing brown
eyes. =" However, I'd better go and
tell Mr. Howard, or he will be putting
his surplice on for nothing. Shall | say
to him that perhaps the wedding will
come off tomorrow, if the weather is
finer. Mary will get up in timeP'
I" If she don't" vowed Sim, glaring
vengefully. ''she shall never hev another
chance. I'm fairly sick of her tricks.
We've been keeping company this
twenty year and more, and now she
don't know her own mind bit better
than a mawther Gyoung girl in her
teens. But won't stand it no longer.
She amt going to treat me like dog,
or mat for her to wipe her feet on.
There's Widow Biggs would lev me any
day, and glad; and a nice comfortable
woman she is, too! The wedding ring
shan't lie long in my pocket for want
of wearer. And there, Master West
ley" said poor Sim, almost in tears
over his frustrated plans and disap-
pointed hopes, "Fd meant this to hev
been a reg lar jolly day. I'd got in
barrel of beer, and a spare-rib OF
pork, and we wor going to hev pars-
ties and frawns [pan- cakes and mort
of good things besides, to make reg lar
spree of it; and now, it's all knocked on
the head, and everybody knows I'm
made a fool of into the bargain"
"Cheer up, Simr' said Master West
ley. /" 1t is aggravating. I'll own; but
Mary isn't bad sort. though she has
rather cruggy (crusty] temper. She
has been very true to- you. and it would
be pity for two such faithful lovers as
you've been to part over little tiff at
last. lbelieve Mary is jealous of the
little widow. You know people did say
once you were rather soft on her."
g 1t was a big story" burst out Sim.
" She tried to hook me, but l never gave
her 70 encouragement"
Didn't you walk with her from
church last Sunday? heard that you
did and carried little joey all the way
home; and kissed him when you put
him down at his mothers door,"
"Well, he axed me to give him kiss,
so l could't do no otherwise. There
was no harm in that, sewerly."
Certainly not. Only, you see, as
Mary lives just opposite, and saw it all.
she very likely thought you'd better be
engaged kissing her than hanging round
the widows door. Depend upon it, she's
jealous; and she's got highful spirit
of her own, and is acting like this to
make you think she doesn't care whether
she has you or no. If she thought there
was real danger of losing you. she'd
come round in minute, as tractable as
you like"
"But how can / make her think SOP"
swell. you won't be doing any work
to-day, and it's dull tiffiing [idling1
about doing nothing. Take and brush
yourself up smart, and 60 and have a
chat with Mrs. Biggs. Take some
oranges and sweets for Joey. Don't
look at Mary's house; and mind and
make a grand show of petting and kiss
ing the boy in front of the window,
where she can see it all. She'll be
more jealous than ever. But if she
doesn't marry you tomorrow I'll eat
my head"
s.Ah, Master Westerly, you're deep
one, you arer' said Simon, regarding
his astute adviser with admiration.
:" But it don't fare to be ezackerly Jon.
nick [straightforward] to dew so; and
l amt fond of smarmin' babies over
with kisses. Still, if you think it will
bring Mary up to the scratch, I'll en-
try it. If it don't, marry Sukey, s0in,
without any more shilly- shallying."
Master Westerly then started for the
rectory, and Sim paid his visit to the
widow. He remained in her snug little
house some time, and must have acted
his part uncommonly well, for he had
hardly reached home again when he was
visited by his old sweetheart. The &C.
centric spinster, ignoring her own way
ward conduct that day, attacked Sim with
a storm of reproaches, accusing him of
fickleness and falsehood in forsaking
her for "that sly, carneying. little wild
der; and after keeping company with
me for SO many years!" she plaintively
added.
"No." said Sim, stoutly at wor
no fault o. mine. l was ready to do
my part this morning. 1t was you as
run word. But I'll eat humble-pie no
longer. If you don't want to hev me,
l know one as does. I'll marry you
tomorrow, if you like. If you don't,
FL never ak you again.
Mary was "a tall, black-eyed, comedy
looking spinster of forty or more, re-
ported to have hot temper and a
shrewish tongue; but for once she kept
both in check. II was evident that