McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-01-31


hap, had shaped itself into decided
l pug. Her mouth was large and always
smiling, and smiling showed what was
James only beauty set of as regular
and white teeth as ever came from a
! dentists hands.
Her dress was of blue flannel, every
thread spun and woven by herself.
The hour or two until dinner was
spent in viewing and discussing the
stock, in telling the scanty news, and
in talking over "Uncle Toms Cabin, -
which was then appearing as a serial,
in all of which Joe took his part sensi-
} bly, and modestly.
At noon we were. summoned to an
excellent and bountifnl farm dinner.
1t was quite evident that by this time
Jane had been informed of our errand,
so from perfect Inconsistencies she be-
came suddenly preoccupied, nervous
and blushing. Joe enjoyed his dinner
and did ample justice to it.
After we were all done suddenly
there came break and an awkward
pause in the conversation. Joe cleared
his throat, but without other sign of
embarrassment began:
s'Miss Holton, I see somebody has
already told you what I've come for,
and it's right l should tell you some
thing about myself. The Squire here
will tell you about my folks.
81 am % years old, have never been
sick in my life, 1 don't drink whisky,
swear, or chew tobacco.
give been raised to work and can
hold up my end with any man. Ibave
100 acres of land about half cleared.
There's the papers to show for it, and
Squire Black will tell you that they're
all right.
GIVE good log house, log stable
and SO on. l own the horses / drove
down here and yoke of oxen besides.
don't owe any man cent. L shall
have COWS and chickens when I've a
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 q few
questions
Jane said nothing, and Joe, evil
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. swell, the Squire told
me you.were good cook or l wouldn't
have come out here.''
"Can you make good bread?"
A faint but rather indignant eyes"
was heard from Jane, as if he had |
asked her if she could wash her face or |
comb her hair.
"Can you milk and tend to milk, but
ter and cheeseP"
eyes," a little louder.
"Can you run house and do all
kinds of house work?''
cat seemed to have gotten JAMS
tongue again, and my mother, plying
her embarrassment, replied with. an ex-
haustive catalogue of James virtues as
housewife. Then suddenly checking
herself as one who had said too much
or said it in a wrong cause, became
silent, but the questioning went an:
. "Can you sewP"
"Can you knitP"
"Can you spin?" i
eyes,
.'Can you weavep'
eyes,
Gas you've got to saying, yes I'd
like to 60 right on and ask you to have {
me; but I'll go out and feed my horses,
and you can talk with your folks and {
the Squire and his wife, and give me Z
the answer to that question when I l
come in
81 want to say first that if you agree
TO marry me FL try and do the fair
thing by you, aud expect you to do the
same by me. G
s'Iou can always have what you can c
make from the butter and eggs and T
half the wool for your own spending g
1t will be very lonesome, for there s
won't be another white woman nearer C
han five miles for while yet, and the t
work will be hard, but maybe not b
harder than you're used to. If you 90 r
Ven have to go day after tomorrow. t
he roads are very rough, and it will d
AXE two-maybe three-days to travel t.
he sixty odd miles, t.
1t took Joe long time to feed his s.
cam, and during his absence a great b
leal of talking was DONE When he 81
eturned Mr.. Holton stood by the table u
ooking very sober, and there were W
ears in the eyes of all the women o.
vhen he said: "Joe, Jane has con- a
Iuded she'll chance it with you. She's OF
een good girl always, and we hope OF
QUILL use her we'll" e'
81 will, Mr.. Holton, so help me ia
iod," solemnly answered Joe, ana he al
'alked over to where Jane stood and 81
ut his arm around her and kissed her. m
Than fhnra q hon cha1
lg, and arrangements were made for 81
lie wedding next afternoon, after bt
bich Joe and his wife were to come tn
ack as far as our house and the follow sa
lg morning start for home. tn
The wedding was an old-fashioned W.
'untry one, and not long after the