Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-08

After we were all done suddenly there
came a break and an awkward pause in
the conversation. Joe cleared his throat,
but without other sign of embarrass-
ment began:
s.Miss Holton, I see somebody has al
ready told you what I've come for, and
it's right 1 should tell you something
about myself. The Squire here will
tell you about my folks.
II am twenty-five years old, have.
never been sick in my life, Idon't drink
whisky, or swear, or chew tobaceo. I
am a member of the Baptist Church
when I'm where there is one
give been raised to work and can
hold up my end with any mar. 1 have
| a hundred and sixty acres of. land about
half cleared. There's the papers to
you they're all right.
"T've a good log house, log stable,
and so on. 1 own the horses l drove
down here and a yoke of oxen besides.
l don't owe any man q cent. l shall
have COWS and chickens when I've q
wife to take'.care of fem. Now, ifyout think
you can make up your mind to marry
me I'd like to ask you a few questions"
Jane said nothing, and Joe, evidently
taking silence for consent, proceeded:
'.Dfd you cook this dinner?"
Still Jane was silent, but her mother
answered eyes, for her.
Joe smiled. t'Wcll the Squire told.
me you were q good cook or l wouldn't
have come out here"
.sCan you make good bread?"
Afaint but rather indignant 'tyes'
was heard from Jane as if he had asked
if she could wash her face or comb her
hair.
''Can you milk and tend to milk,
butter and cheese?"
EYES," a little louder.
"Can you run a 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 eX-
hausted catalogue of James virtues as a
housewife. Then suddenly checking her
self as one who had said too much or said
it in a wrong cause, became silent, but
the questioning went on.
eyes"
"Cap you knit'"
eyes"
Can you spin?" =,
"Gan you weave''"
care you strong and healthy"
"Yes."
'"As you've got to saying 'yes,'Idl like
to go 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 tho
Squire and his wife, and give me the
answer to that question when 1 come in.
II want to say first that if you agree
to marry me I'll try to do the fair thing
by you. and expect you to do the same
by me-"
"You a always have what you can
make from the butter and eggs and half
the wool for your own spending. 1t will
be very lonesome, for there won't be
another white woman nearer than five
miles for awhile yet, and the work will
be hard, but maybe not harder than you
are used to. If you go we'll have to go
day after tomorrow. The roads are
very rough, and it will take two-may
be three-days to travel the sixty odd
miles"
1t took Joe a long time to feed his
team, and during his absence a great
deal of talking was done. When he
returned Mr.. Holton stood by the table
looking very sober, and there were tears
in tho A,,nS rf oil %hn xyN,,,,, 1,yhap ho
said: Joe, Jane has concluded she'll
chance it with you. She's been a good
girl always, and we hope you'll use her
WE'LL"
81 will, Mr.. Holton, so help me God"
solemnly answered Joe, and he walked
over to where Jane stood, and put his
arm around her and kissed her.
Then there was a general handshak-
ing, and arrangements were made for
the wedding next afternoons; after which
Joe and his wife were to come back as
far as IL house and the following morn
ing start for home.
The wedding was an old-fashioned
country one, and not long after the
ceremony Joe's sleigh was packed with
a cargo OF feather beds, quilts, blankets
and housekeeping goods of various
kinds, and a nice COW (the pick of the
herd) tied behind, for Mr.. Holton would
not let his daughter go empty-handed.
Every second year after that for many
years Jane came home for a visit. The
intervening year she could not come be-
cause ''the baby was too little to bring
and the numerous little Tolons grew up
in regular succession. their heads mount
ing n above the other 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.
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 tho
baby while Jane ''undid' the bigger
ones at the time this question was asked,
would say approvingly: ''That's so,
X Il
'.Dear me- said Jane, as. leaning on
DR.. Joe To!on's arm, she threw back