Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-04-24
AN UNCOMMON SENSE MATCH
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. |

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
At noon we were summoned to nm
excellent and bountiful farm dinner.
1t was quite evident by this time that
Jane had been informed Of our errand
for from perfect unconsciousncss she
became suddenly preoccupied, nerv-
o',s and blushing. Joe enjoyed his
dinner and did ample justice to il.
After wc were all done, suddenly
there came break and an awkward
pause in tho conversation. Joe cleared
his throat, but without other sign of
embarrassment began:
"Miss Holton, I see somebody has
already told you what I've como for,
and it's right'I should tell you some
thing about myself. The Squire here
will tell you something about my
folks.
II am 25 years old, have never been
sick in my life, I don't drink whisky,
or swear, or chew tobacco. I am n
member of the Baptist church when
I'm where there is one.
'I've been raised to work and can
hold up my end with any man. I
have hundred and sixty acres Of
land about half cleared. There's the
papers to show for it, and Squire
Black will tell you they're all right.
'I've a good log house, log stable,
and SO on. I own the horses I drove
down here and yoke Of oxen besides.
I don't owe any man cent. I shall
have cows and chickens when I've q
wife to take care Of 'em. Now, if you
think you can make up your mind to
marry me I'd like to ask you a few
questions"
Jane said nothing, and Joe, evi-
IDENTIFY taking silence for consent, pro-
ceeded:
"Did you cook this dinner'"
Still Jane was silent, but her
mother answered "yes" for her.
Joe smiled. "Well, the Squire told
me you were q good cook or 1 wouldn't
have come out here"
"Can you make good brcadw
A faint but rather indignant "yes''
was heard from Jane, us If he had
asked if she could wash her face OF
comb her hair.
"Cal you milk and to,.a to n;lA,
butter and cheesc"
eyes," a little louder.
''Can you run house and do all
kinds of houseworkT
The cat seemed to have gotten
James tongue again, and my mother,
plying her embarrassment, replied
with an exhaustive catalogue Of James
virtues as a housewife. Then suddenly
checking herself as one who had said
too much or said it in wrong cause
became silent, but the questioning
went on.
'Can you sew!'
Eyes"
"Can you knit
"Yes."
"Can you SPIN"
"Yes."
"Can you weave?"
"Yes.'
"As you've got to saying yes II
like to go right on and ask you to hav'
me; but I'll go out and feed IN!
horses, and you can talk with you
folks and tho Sqiare and his wife, ant
give mo the answer to that question
when I come in.
II want to say first that il you agre
to marry me I'll try and do the FIJI
thing by you, and expect you to d
the same by me.
"You can always have what yo
can make from the butter and egg
and half the wool for your own spend
ing. It will be very lonesome, fo
there won't be another white woma
nearer than five miles for while yet
and the work will be hard, but mayb
not harder than you're used to. ]
you go we'll have to go day after tc
morrow. The roads are very rougl
and it will take two-maybe three
days to travel the sixty odd miles"
It took Joe a long time to feed hi
team, and during his absence grea
deal of talking was done. When h
returned Mr.. Holton stood by tn
table looking very sober, and ther
were tears in the eyes of all the VIC
men when he said: "Joe, Jane ha
concluded she'll chance it with yo,
She's been a good girl always, an
we hope you'll use her we'll"
II will, Mr.. Hdton, SO help m
God" solemnly' answered Joe, and b
walked over to where Jane stood an
put his arm around her and kisse
her.
Then there was general hand
shaking, and arrangements were mad