Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-25
POLLY POPPED THE QUESTION.
Bad Boy Who Assisted in His Sisters Love
Affair
To be continued. I
Denver Tribune.


Denver Tribune
Poor bashful John Long, he had loved
Edle Snow ever since his boyhood. When
they were children it was easy enough to
take her on his sled and trudpe off
through the snow, and once he had given
ner red apple, and called her ''his little
Wife" But now, wasn't she young LADY,
with the prettiest face and loveliest WAYS
IN the world? And wasn't there a hand
some young cousin fresh from college,
and with citifed ways, always hanging
around? While he was an awkward
country lout, with nothing to offer her
but two strong arms and loving heart.
y! no. 1t never would do to ask her to
be his wife. 1t was selfish to think of it.
and she wouldn't have him, besides. And
the faithful fellow said ''Get up" to old
white race, and drove by Edie's house
without looking towards it if he had, he
would have seen Edie's face at the front
WINDOW, ready with smile and bow. and
ne might have seen, if he had only look
cd oehlnd, the sorrowfuI expression that
came into her eyes, and the little SIGH
could he have heard it, would have told
MIN she wasn't quite so cold towards him
as the foollsh fellow insisted on believing
But here was Cousin Ben ready for a
Joke Or Irritation. The little witch saw
she could make him serious Sunday
night boy at any time, so why not engage
herself to him? In her family, besides
brother Jack, a mischief-lOving rowing
boy OF II, was a remarkable parrot
Folly was the pride of the neighborhood
ana delivered her wise maxims to all the
family, and Jack said she knew as well as
any one eVerybOdy's business. Now. John
Long was great faYorite of Jack. and
cousin Ben he.called gas bag. He put
TWO and two together, and decided John
was IN love with Edie, and that Edie Iik-
cd MIN well enough, but John was so
Plaguey bashful and actually afraid of
that little chit that he never would sum-
mon sPunk enough to pop the question,
ana II ne didn't do it pretty soon that
hlnK-sop Ben would carry her off as easy
as winking.
so Jack concluded: shall have to pop
mySelf next time John comes around. but
hdle would be mad and father might in
terVleW me, SO that won't do.
Let me see! Polly shall do the bust
ness. Grand old bird! she will do this
up brown!"
So telling Edie that he was going 10
company, he carried her off. cage and all.
and spent his leisure time talking to her,
Ihey could just hear his voice in the
slttlng-room, and Ma Snow declared the
BOY must be teaching Poll his lessons
Sunday night came around. Cousin
ben had gone off to the city, and Jack
brought IN John Long to tea. Poor John
ne was both happy and wretched to see
hdle again. He was convinced she was
engaged to Cousin Ben, and this probab-
~ was the last time he should take tea
with her before she married. After tea
Jack astonlshed the family by declaring
ne wanted to go to church, and his father
and mother must go with him. To en-
courage such unusual goodness the old
people prepared to go. Jack ran up to his
room just before it was time to start, and
took down the cage
Now, Poll,' said he, remember your
lesson, and speak up like a man."
PoH's cage was hung up in the sitting
room, and she surveyed the couple before
her with all the gravity of Judge. Edie
SAT on one side of the stove inwardIy rag
ing at her bashful lover, and John sat on
the other. He was tongue-tied and red
TO the roots of his hair. Poll cooked her
nead on one side and commenced to
chuckle. Then broke out:
'Pretty Edie Snow. Won't YOU have q
Teller? Ea! Ha! Har'
You dreadful bird!" cried Edie. II
snail hang my shawl over your cage
The dark shawl was tucked around. but
smothered voice croaked out:
Eide Snow! Won't you have a fener?"
Then John Long burst out: ''Edie,
Polly has popped the question. I did not
dare to. But will you say yes?"
The answer must have been favorable.
Tor when Jack opened the door and saw
the happy faces he said: ''We've done it
tnlS time, old bird, sure as gun"