New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-01-30
" taxing silence Tor consent, proceed

ed:
''.Did you cook this dinncr?''
Still Jane was silent, but her mother
answered ..yes'' for her.
Joe smiled. .'Well, the Squire told
me you were good cook or 1 wouldn't
aave come out here. .
''Can you make good bread?''
A faint but rather indignant ..yes''
was heard from Jane, rs if he had ask
I'd if she could wash her face or comb
ner hair.
.'Can you milk and tend to milk,
outter, and cheese?'
Yes, a little louder.
''Can you run house and do all
kinds Of housework?"
The cat seemed to have gotten James
tongue again, and my mother, plying
her embarrassment, replied with an
exhaustive catalogue OF JAMES virtues
as housewife. Then suddenly check
ing herself as one who had said too
much or said it in wrong cause be-
came silent, but the questioning went
on.
''Can you sew, knit, spin, weave,
and are you strong and healthy?''
'.Yes.''
''As you've got to saying yes I'd
like to 60 right ON and ask you to have
me; but I'll 60 out and feed my horses,
and you can talk with your folks and
the Squire and his wife, and give me
the answer to the question when come
in.
II want to say first that if you agree
to marry me I'll try and do the fair
thing by you, and expect you to do the
same by me.
"You can always have what you can
make from the butter and eggs and
half the wool for your own spending.
It will be very lonesome, for there
won't be another white woman nearer
than five miles for a while yet. and the
work will be hard, but may be not hard
er than you're used to. If you 90 we'll
have to start day after tomorrow. The
roads are very rough, and it will take
two-maybe three-days to travel the
sixty odd miles"
1t took Joe y long time to feed his
team, and during his absence great
deal of talking was done. When he
returned Mr.. Holton stood by the table
AoOh1uS Vel ooOCI, iiuu lucEc we're
tears in the eyes Of all the women
when he said: "Joe. Jane has conclud-
ed she'll chance it with you. She's
been a good girl always, and we hope
you'll use her WELL
~ will, Mr.. Holton, so help me God,"
solemnly answered Joe, and he walked
over to where Jane stood and put his
arms around her and kissed her.
Then there was a general handshak-
ing, and arrangements were made for
the wedding next afternoon, after which
Joe and his wife were to come back as
far as our house and the following
morning start for home.
The wedding was an old-fashioned
country one, and not long after the
ceremony Joe's sleigh was packed
with cargo of feather beds, quilts,
blankets, and housekeeping goods of
various kinds, and nice COW (the
pick of the herd) tied behind, for Mr..
Holton would not let his daughter 20
empty-handed.
Every second year after that for
many years Jane came home for
visit. The intervening year she could
not come because ''the baby was too
little to bring" and the numerous lit
tie Tolons grew up in regular success
sion, Their heads mounting one above
another like the rounds of a ladder.
Father regularly asked Jane when
she made these visits if she had come
for her divorce.
Jane always replied: '.Not this time.
l don't see but Joe and l get along as
we'll as those who take more time for
their courting."
And Joe, who was always holding
the baby while Jane ''undid' the big
ger ones at the time this question was
asked, would say approvin ely: "That's
SO, Jane
''Dear me" said Jane, as, leaning
on DIR. Joe Tolon's arm, she threw
back her widows veil (she has worn
that nearly ten years now and wiped
her glasses before ''The Heart of the
Wilderness" in the art gallery last fall
-''dear me, Joe, that looks just like
the piece of woods opposite the door Of
the old house when your father brought
me home. I've seen the deer brows-
ing there many time. didn't think
then it would ever be q city, but your
father said it would, and now the cars
run over that very spot. It's been
long, long time, Joe, but tho last ten
years have been longer than all the
rest. f" E. NJ. A.