, 1884-01-24

by this time, you may ka6w, I was dead in
love with Myra-
/ couldn't remain away but a short time.
When I returned they were all glad to see ma.
Myra, it seemed to me, wanted to kiss me.
and / would have kissed her, but / didn't
have a good chance. She was more lovely
than ever, and when at night we walked out
under the stars, l felt that she loved me. l
dreamed OF her. Her growing acquaintance
with books pleased me, for / knew she studied
for my sake. The old man, too, seemed
changed toward me. He spoke, when we
were alone, of family affairs, and told me
how glad he was that / had come to visit
him l saw that he knew l was in love with
his daughter, and with thanlxfulness | noted
he encouraged my suit One night after
Myra had gone to her room, and while the
old man and | sat by the fire, the old fellow
removed his gaze from the glowing Goals, and
looking at me-, said:
"Myra is the best girl in the worl'.n
you needn't tell me that" said /, @for /
know it."
-Her husban' will be a happy man."
"a glorious man, NJ assented
a hope hat you'll not regret the day when
you came here"
Al know that I shall never do so. Myra
and | understand each other"
You do"
ayes sir"
Il am glad OF it. MyTa is slow to speak
out and am glad that you know. Speakin'
on the subject might shock her. Well, good
night" and he grasped my hand warmly.
That night l could not sleep. I knew that
the old man understood my great love for
his daughter, and with a thrill / saw that 1t
met with his approval.
The next morning l determined to ask him
for her, 50, after breakfast, when he invited
me to take a walk with him, / thought that
he had OWNED my intention. Myra, too,
seemed to know that something was likely TO
pass between US, for she shook her fist In a
charming way at me when we left the house.
looked back and saw her peeping at me, with
such deep fixed love in her chances, that
thought ought to go back and kiss her,
but l turned to the old man and talked to
him about his hogs and sheep. 1 decided TO
ask him for the girl, and although knew he
would willingly give his consent to our mar
riage. yet it was a difficult matter. @When
/ get to that tree ] unused, looking ahead,
II will ask him. Just as we came to the tree
he stopped and said:
you've knowed my darter for some time. "
ayes, sir"
mot such a long time, it's true, but so long
that we almos' look on you as one of the
family"
AuLA piOuuI W hnon H.
THANK you, sir. Well, now, I'll tell you.
My darter is goin' to be married next week,
anil want you to be with U.s."
~To whomT7 l gasped-
TO the ferryman down here. She's been
engaged to him for a long time"
l said nothing as we returned, but when l
found the girl alone l said:
Don't you know that 1 love you devot-
edlyf'
"Of course l never knew it, Judge"
But do, and l want you to be my wife,
Judge, L can't. 1 am going to marry Tom
Patrall, the ferry1nan. 1 know you are u
good man and L don't want you to think l
won't marry you just because you are a
judge. Position makes no difference to me,
and If l loved q man l would marry him,
even If he was a judge, just as soon as 1
would a ferryman, and l hope you will un-
derstand that position has not influenced this
case, for even though you are a judge, l
must say that you have ever conducted your
self as a perfect gentleman"
"Why didn't you tell her that you had
been a captain In the armyF' said one of the
listeners.
81 did" replied the judge, 'Tbut she said
hat the ferryman had been a teamster, and
that while she would just as lieve marry a
captain as a teamster, yet she was compelled
to turn to her ferryman lover, and now when
1 tell my wife Of the choice, she says, Yes.
the girl was right in taking the ferryman'"