Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-25

un vigorously.
After a pause he began gain:
We'll, ma, Jane is not hound 10 mar
| ~ Joe unless she wants TO- But per-
haps she II never get another chance rs
good. You know yourself that any one
OF Aunt Anna's boys is bound 10 make a
good man and smart one.
| "Nonc too smart If he thinks to get a
wife this way snapped out mother
LET him try; ma, If he wants TO; let
him try. II won't hurt him to have the
conccit taken out of him."
No reply, but the mush was stirred as
never mushbefore. Another pause.
"You know, ma, Jane has been keep
ing company with that triiling Dan
Marcy"
"Why doesn't he marry n girl who
knows him ii he wants TO get marriedp
sourly inquired mother; but the pud.
ding stick relaxed its vigor slightly and
father vcnturcd little. nearer the
speaker
'lIe says the girls up there are all
squaws, and down by his mothers they
have too high notions
'Well, it's n hcathenlsh, Frenchiiied
way OF counting wife, replied mother,
"and ii he were to come about me that
way, II were Jane, I'd empty bucket
of water over him"
Maybe she will, maybe she will, -
chucklcd father, who probably would
have enjoyed that termination of the
affair rs we'll rs any.
"But, ma, you know Jane IS terribly
homcly, and
What further he would have said was
cut short by the entrance Of Joe bearing
jar and n package.
"Mother sent these TO you with her
compliments, Mrs. Black"
Mother, who knew the flavor of Aunt
Annals cheese aud honey of old, was
somewhat Modified by these presents,
but she remained rather sulky all even
ing; even when Joe filled her wood-boX,
piling the sticks rs evenly ms lath in n
bundle, filled the water-pails, cut the
lSindling, and did the milking, bringing
the pail in rs clean she condcscended to
tell him, as she would herself or-but
she checked herself and did not say 'or
Jane"
She would be no party to that iniquity.
He nearly won her when he repeated
his text promptly and correctly and
knelt revercntly ut prayers, and she told
father "he was a likely young man,
but''-hcr lips. shut close, and sho
shook her head when she thought of his
mission.
But before morning the sky cleared,
and things were hurried around for an
early start TO James.
During the ride it was arranged that
father was to introduce Joe's errand TO
the elders, and II they were willing Joe
might thereafter proceed a. no liked.
So upon our reaching the farm father
and Mr.. Holton left Joe and the boys to
put out the team, and they came to the
house and held conference with Mrs.
Holton while Jane was busy building
the fire in the best room.
The chest room" of an old-fashioned
farmhouse was dreary enough. This
one had bright yarn carpet, several
split-bottomed and wooden chairs with
patchwork cushions, II low-backed rock
ing-chair, wooden "scttce, table
with the Bible, Baxter's "Call to the
Unconvcrted, an almanac, and file of
the Christian Era. A few silhouettcs and
prints from magazines were on the
walls but, after all, its only ornaments
were the scrupulous cleanliness and its
big fireplace.
Jane hustled in and ont on household
and hoSpitable cares intent, being given
by general consent some opportunity for
acquaintance and chance tosce and be
seen before being told our orrand.
You already know what she saw.
What did Joe see?
Jane was, rs father had said, I'M
dcniably homely.
She was tall and angular. Her feet
and hands were large. Her hair was q
trille too red for auburn and not yellow
enough for gold. ''Carroty' is the
proper description.
Her light complexion was freckled,
| but her cheeks would have shamed tho
roses. Her eyes were gray; her nose had
grown very long, and then, as if wish.
ing to make amends for that mishap
had shaped itself into decided pug
Her mouth was large and always smil
ing, and smiling showed what was Jane:
only bcauty-a set of as regular anC
nice white teeth rs ever came from ;
dentists hands.
Her dress was of blue flannel, every
thread spun and woven by herself.
The hour or two until dinner wa
spent in viewing and discussing TN,
stock, in telling the scanty news, and ir
talking over "Uncle Toms Cabin, ,
which was then appearing as a seriel
in all of which Joe took his part sensibll
and modestly.
At noon we were summoned to an eX
cellent and bountiful farm dinner. l
was quite evident that by this time JAM
lhad been informed of our errand, TO
from perfect Inconsistencies she be
came suddenly preoccupied, nervous ant
blushing. Joe enjoyed his dinner ant
did ample justice to it.
After we were all done suddenly Their
came break and an awkward pause II
the conversation. Joe cleared his throat
but without other sign of embarrass
ment began:
"NIiss Holton, / see somebody has al
ready told you what I've come for, ant
it's right / should tell you somethin,
about myself. The Squire here vii
tell you about my folks.
II am twenty-five years old hav
never been sick in my life, l don't drinl
whisky, or swear, or chew tobacco
am member of the Baptist Churc
when I'm where there is one.
1--WE been raised to work and ca
hold up my end with any man. i hay
hundred and sixty acres of land abou
half cleared. There's the papers t
show for it, and Squire Black will tel
you they're all right.
"Ive a good log house, log stable
and so on. ] own the horses l drov
down here and yoke of oxen besides
don't owe any man n cent. sha
. have COWS and chickens when I've
wife to take,care of 'em. Now, fyou thin
: you can make up your mind TO MARI
me I'd like to ask you few questions.
, Jane said nothing, and Joe, evidentl
, taking silence for consent, proceeded
"Did you cook this dinnerP"
l Still Jane was silent, but her motho
answered "yes" for her.