The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-19
HOW SHE DECIDED.

Old Ben Billings, Of Friar's Cove, is
the wealthiest man in Gum township,
blackberry county, Arkansaw. Aside
from being the fortunate possessor OF
yoke of bay steers, the envy of all the
neighbors, he owns neck Of creek bot
tom land and blacksmith shop with a
beech anvil-block and a sheepskin bel
lows. These advantages over less fortu-
nate acquaintance, naturally made old
Ben proud, and since the justice Of this
is admitted, the fact that Billings daugh-
ter Zildus, was somewhat aristocratic,
did not cause more than ordinary aston
ishment. To merely say that Zildus was
handsome, would be robbing her Of many
charms to say that she was beautiful,
would leave the half untold. Many
young men aspired to caper nimbly
in the sanctuary OF her affections, but with
,ha, cold and cutting kindess which love
can so cruelty assume, she would tell
them that she hoped to ever be their
friend Blu, that her hear, had never been
stirred up with the warm pointed wand
Of love. Billings, who favored not life
Of old maidish prudery," did not regard
lis daughters lofty disdain with degree
of any too much satisfaction. He had no
sons. and he sensibly reflected that
good size chunk of a son-in-law could be
ia 10 Ie ttuhf MT chance n
powin' in the course Of a season.
Zildus.n he said one day, suppose
your mother'd been SIGH gal as YOU
She never would have married YOU"
the young lady replied.
Come, none o your school-house di
alogue talk. am studyin' your own
good. an don't want you to toss your
head around me. II your mother had
been like you an throwed away every
offer she had she would have sunk down
into old maids unhappy grave
That's what say, pap. She wouldn't
have married you.'
oh, yes, see. Thought you was
hNA w pun utS w SOihC way. Nftdd
you understand me. Now. what | want
to stamp on your mind is the importance
OF marriage. A gals good looks should
never cause her to treat an offer Of mar
rage in careless manner an throw i,
away as though the woods was full Of EN-
TO more than man should throw away
n dei,, 81 t,fx, reptc '.ausa o,he, d~h,s al
collar or so are likely to come along in
the future. ritiable is the woman tina,
thinks herself above her surroundin's, foi
IN after life, no matter what road she
takes, she'll find many hot stretches OF
sand an many sharp flint rock
Marriage is the hope o woman. She
horse Ter that mater-but unless she
marries. it will never find full employ
meni Comm down to immediate busi-
ness, ! want you to get married. There
are plenty Of young fellers in this COM
munity that would give their ears for you,
and want you to stir yourself around
and see how good a cheice you can make
in the shortest possible time
= recognize the logic Of what you say
father, and wish that could obey you 10
the very letter of your advice. am no,
SO different from other girls. have no
ambitious longings. know tina: | am
never to be anything but simple coun-
Try woman with uncouth address and a
wide mouth for blackberry Jam. Aside
from being what you think, unable to
love anybody, belong to tina, large and
doubtless contented class Of women, who
can lore anyone who treats them we'll
for after all, the happest wife is she
whose smiles are aroused from facial
slumoer by pan OF flour, two tea
cups OF sugar, lard and suitable sprink.
ling of soda. Jack Meckley and Tom
Briley are now paying me their earnest
attentions. look with favor upon both
OF them, yet cannot marry blu, one a. a
time. Oh, how could giggle with either
as the poet said, If the other dear charmel
were in an adjoining township. The,
have pleaded with me to decide, yet
cannot
Can't you think O. some test" asked
the delighted old man, for they were both
known as excellent field hands.
II have pondered deeply when the
stars looked brightly down and when the
soreech owl made the dominicker hen
mutter in discomfort, yet my thoughts
have failed to suggest PLAN"
They are well matched" said the old
man, land the contest, no matte what