Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-04-12

know.
You see we've got boarders. They're
coming up Monday" said Josiah,
twirling his straw hat. land mother
thinks Hannah beats every girl she
knows. She considers her worth more
than twelve dollars month; but. at
the same time. | was to make her that
offer. and she'll consider it favor if
She II accept it,
Hannah is worth all that said Mrs.
know how I'll do without her myself
Still, hadn't orter stand in her way, |
know: and Melissa has made all the gin
gerbread and spOnge-cake for two or
three months, and Samuel can milk the
cows
"Why, yes. I MIXED four at Sans
age said Josiah.
Il want to know said Mrs. Bar
ker. Then she added, calmly: Il don't
know when | was more surprised than
by that offer YOU jest spoke OF making
to Hannah | hadn't the least idea it
was thought of. not for minute; but
girls are so sly nowadays they don't
tell anything to their poor mothers.
''Oh. it hasn't been mentioned be-
FORE said Josiah. Hannah didn't
know. Can l say it's settled?''
For all me you may said Mrs.
Barker; '.and her poor pa don't inter-
fere often, and ! don't see why he
should now: but if Hannah don't know
yet, it seems curious you should speak
to me. You'd oughter ask her first, you
know amt Turk. Their poormas
do sell them unbeknown, I'm told; but
it ant my way
"Where is Hannah. Mrs. Barker?'
added Josiah. "Tll 90 and ask her now.'
''She's down to New York, shop
ping said Mrs. Barker. ''and she may
stay all day; most likely acIl. But to-
morrow is Sunday, and I'll have the
lamp lit in the parlor, and you can talk
it over with her. I'll tell her you're
coming, and why, and all. IcOuldn't
keep it to myself But faint heart new
er won fair lady, Josiah, and nobody
couldn't expect a girls poor ma to ito
their counting for UNI, you know, unless
it was them Turk ladies the minister
spoke of, poor dears. l should think
she'd say yes. It's her first offer, only
lTOlu Olu DcdCOl EllIlhlHo. AHOuSH
Morris Power is calling sort of irregu-
lar-and Hannah is twenty-one. You
make your offer yourself, Josiah.
That's the way to get wife, If you
want One.'
Then Mrs. Barker arose and went into
the house without further ceremony, and
Josiah, who had come to a sudden COM
prehensiOn of her mistake, stood staring
after her, quite dazed and giddy. What
should he do? Run after her and eX-
plain? That would be dreadful thing
to do. Perhaps his mother could help
him out of the pickle; and with this
faint hope he hurried home, and arrived
red in the face and utterly breathless.
''Well, Betsy Barker has put on the
cap sheaf now,' said Mrs. Conner.
''But, Josiah, wish you didn't feel so
about it. l wish you liked Hannah.
She's girl after my own heart. p"
Il do like her, said Josiah, sheep
ishly "She's splendid girl. I've
often thought that if was man that
had need to marry, I'd choose her"
''Then it's all right" said Mrs. Con-
ner.
''Why, mother. grOwled Josiah,
bashfully, Il wonder at you. Think of
me having the impudence to 60 over
and offer myself without bit of court
ing! l wouldn't have that thought of
me for any money"
anyhow, you'd better 90 over and
have the talk with Hannah. said Mrs.
Conner. ''She's got good sense, if her
mother HASN'T
Poor Josiah suffered all sorts of men
tai torture that day and all the long
Sunday, but when, in the evening,
light was seen to shine in the Bankers
parlor, he nerved himself for a great
effort. He was utterly without vanity
The idea that Hannah could be pleased
never occurred to him. 1t was to apollo
gize for a seeming bit of impudence.
not to get out of an unattended offer.