The Rock Island Argus., 1884-01-25

of Aunt Annals boys is bound to make a
good man and smart one.
None 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. 1t 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 triding Dan
Marcy"
why doesn't he marry a girl who
knows him if he wants to get married?''
sourly inquired mother; but. the pud-
ding stick relaxed its yigor Slightly and
father ventnred a little nearer the
speaker,
He says the girls up there are all
squaws, and down by his mothers they
have too high notions -
''Well, it's heathenish, Frenchified
way of courting wife, " replied mother,
land if he were 10 come about me that
way, if | were Jane, I'd empty bucket
of water over him
Maybe she will, maybe she will, "
chuckled father, who probably would
have enjoyed that termination of the
affair as well as any.
But, ma, you know Jane is terribly
homely, and
What further he would have said was
cut short by the entrance of Joe bearing
a jar and a package.
Mother sent these to you with her
compliments, Mrs Black"
Mother, who knew the flavor of Aunt
Annals cheese and honey of old, was
somewhat mollified by these presents,
but she remained rather sulky all even
ing; even when Joe filled her wood-boX,
piling the sticks as evenly as lath in a
bundle, filled the water-pails, cut the
kindling, and did the milking, bringing
the pail in as clean, she condescended 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 reverently at prayers, and she told
father ''he was a likely young man,
| but"-her lips, shut close, and she
| 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 Jee's errand tG
the elders. and if they were willing Joe
might thereafter proceed as he 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 a conference with Mrs.
Holton while Jane was busy building
the fire in the best room.
The '.best room of an old-fashiOned
farmhouse was dreary enough. This
one had bright yarn carpet, several
split -bottomed and wooden chairs with
patchwork cushions, q low-backed rock
ing-chair, a wooden ''settee,' a table
with the Bible, Baxter's Call to the
| Unconverted, an almanac. and file oi
the Christian Era. A few silhouettes and
prints from magazines were on the
walls; but, after all, its only ornament,
were the scrupulous cleanliness and it:
big fireplace.
Jane hustled in and out on household
and hospitable cares intent, being giver
by general consent some opportunity fol
acquaintance and a chance to see and b.
seen before being told our errand
You already know what she saw
What did Joe see?
: Jane was, as father had said, un
| deniably homely.
She was tall and angular. Her fee
and hands were large. Her hair was
t trife too red for auburn and not yellow
enough for gold. ''Carroty" is tn
: proper description.
l Her light complexion was frecklcd
but her cheeks would have shamed tn
: roses. Her ewes were gray; her nose har
grown very long. and then, as if wish
inc to make amends for that mishap
| had shaped itself into a decided PUG
5 Her mouth was large and always smil
ing. and smiling showed what was Jane
| only beautv-a set of as regular an
| nice white teeth as ever came from
/ dentist hands.
: Her dress was of blue flannel, ever
v thread spun and woven by herself.
4 The hour or two until dinner wa
spent in viewing and discussing th
/ stock, in telling the scanty news, and IL
n talking over Uncle Toms Cabin,
:, which was then appearing as seriei
n in all of which Joe took his part senSibl
| and modestly.
q At noon we Were summoned 10 an eN
a ceHent and bountiful farm dinner
e was quite evident that by this time Jan
It had been informed Of our GRAND, fo
5 from perfect uncnnsriouSHeSs she b.
Il came suddenly preoccupied, nervous an
a blushing, Joe enjoyed lis dinner An
h did simple Justice to it.
After We We're all done suddenly ther
came break and an awkward pause i
u the conversation Joe cleared his throat
y but without other sign Of embarra5:
>, meHt began:
Miss Holton, ! see somebody has q
= ready told you what I've come for, an
t. it's right should tell you somethin
e about myself. The Squire here wi
, tell you about my folks.
Il am twenty-five years Old, hav
y never been sick in my life, don drin
i whisky, or swear, or chew tobacco
. am member of the Baptist Churc
) when I'm where there is one,
y 'H've been raised to work and ca
u hold up my end with any man. hay
u u hundred and sixty acres of land aboI
u half cleared. There's the papers
> , show for it, and Squire Black will tie
= you they're all right.
- 1--we good log house, log stabl
u and SO on. | own the horses | droy
=, - down here and a yoke of oxen beside
le | don t owe any man a cent. l sha
10 have COWS and chickens when I've
ss wife to take'care of EN-. Now, you thin
~ you can make up your mind to mari
me I'd like to ask you few questions.
- Jane said nothing. and Joe, evident
/ taking silence for consent, proceeds
h Did you cook this dinner?"
r Still Jane was silent, but her moth'
answered ''yes'' for her
Joe smiled. well the Squire to
: me you were good cook or | wouldn
have come out herei
l. ..Can you make good bread?"
A e. 1nIi onf