The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-04-24

We'll, the squire to,J me you were O
good cook or wouldn't have come ont
here. Can you make goo blead?'
A faint but rather indignant yes 81
was heard from Jane rs If he had asked
if she could wash her face and comb hci
hair.
| Can you milk and tend to the milk,
butter and cheese p
Yes" little louder.
Can you run house aud do all
kinds of housework?" 2"
| The cat seem TO have gotten Jane s
tongue again, and my mother, pitying
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 sewS"
90 Yes"
Gan you knit p
Yes f"
=" Can you spin and weave?
yes"
"As you've got used TO saying yes
I'd like to go right on and ask you to
have me but Ill go out and feed my
horses, and you can talk with your
folks and the squire and his wife, and
| give me the answer to that question
when ] come in. l want to say first
that if you agree to marry me I'll agree
| IN In ba orr l,x-xy
you to do the same by me. You can
always have what you can make from
the butter and eggs and half the wool
for your own spending. 1t will be very
lonesome, for there won't be another
white woman nearer than five miles for
a while yet, and the work will be hard
but maybe no harder than you're used to-
you go well have to go day after to-
morrow. The roads are rough and it
will take two, maybe three, days to
travel the sixty odd miles.
! 1t tool Joe long time to feed his team,
and during his absence great deal of
talking was done. When he returned
Mr.. Holton stood by the table, looking
very sober, and there were tears in the
eyes of all the women when he said =
Joe, Jane has concluded that she'll
chance it with you. She's been good
girl always, and we hope you'll use her
we'll"
II WILL Mr. Holton, so help me God!''
solemnly answered Joe, and he walked
over to where Jane stood and put his
arm around her and kissed her.
Then there was a general hand-shak-
ing, and arrangements were made for
the wedding next afternoon, after which
Joe and his wife were to come back as
far as our house, and the following
morning start for home
The wedding was an old-fashioned
country one, and not long after the
ceremony Joe's sleigh was packed with
a cargo of feather-beds, quilts, blankets
and housekeeping goods of various
kinds, for Mr.. Holton would not let his
daughter go empty handed.
Every second year after that for many
years Jane came home for n short visit
| The intervening year she could not come
because "the baby was too little to
| bring" and the numerous little Tolons
grew up in regular succession, their
heads mounting one above the other
like the rounds of ladder.
Father regularly asked Jane when she
made these visits if she had come for q
divorce. Jane always replied
"Not this time. 1 don't see but 10,
and L get along as well as those who
take more time for their courting."
And Joe would say approvingly-
That's so Jane"
..ss ...- 80. '-~ss
Dear me-" said Jane, as, leaning on
DIR. Joe Tolons arm, she threw back
her widows veil, which she had worn
ten years now and wiped her glasses
before 1.-THE Heart of Wilderness in
the art gallery, "that looks just like the
old piece of woods opposite the old
7