The National tribune., 1888-10-04

luck in capturing fair
damsel OF the kind I wished. / tried all sorts
of devices. ] got my clothes made 10 order.
and bought hsnd-me-dOwn" suits. even
learned TO sing bass and Joined church choir,
but it would not work. st last ! decided to
sake the contract 20 build 20 miles Of railroad
sence at a price which made il seem pretty
clear that / would lose money. So / did.
While engaged at the work / had 10 have my
hsndsaEs fied. One Of my neighBoTs told me
where there was an expert in this line, aRd
also that he was the possessor Of as fnea daugh-
Ter as one wanted 10 see.
took one Of my best hands2ws and drew it
across big rock. 50 that it would take the man
long time 70 Gle il and would have . better
opportunity to make an impression on his fair
daughter. somehow / felt that this was EIy
last chance and / approached the house with
careful tread, my heart bounding from one side
20 the other, seeming 10 say, Go back, 90
back; you're DO good on EARTH" and ] be-
lieved il Was telling the truth. Bat I sum
nODed up my courage and raped at the front
door. The most perfect form, features, etc,
that ever saw, met me at the door and made
mp my mind 10 gain Tictsry right there or
die ia the attc.spt.
Is your father at homer" ! asked, in the
oHlcst tones / had cultivated IN negotiating
with Southern women for bntterm1k and
chickens.
the divinity. Please le seated
30 far all WIS good. I sat me down, but my
tOngusfroze IN my mouth. ] could not even
say Is looks like rain" or We re having
pleasant weather now" At last, after period
Of embarrassing silence, the father came.
Can you tx my saw, ! asked.
Yes can" he answered; but IL will take
some time- If you viii wait ] viii gs right
81 i. You csn look al my garden if yos care
to-
OF course that was just what I wanted ]
wanted 10 be alone once more in order 10 take
one long breath and recruit my knees, so that
might dare bear gny weight upon them again
After going through frOst-bitten bean-patch
Enc some melon-yines that looked as If herds
Of boys had run over them, the father said
go into the psrior; daughter VIII entertaiI
ycu. The job is about half done. Let me hay,
your card, please"
Yes sir. You viii fnd my fulI name o.
she handle Of my saw. That is all the card
have with me"
Ny daughter, Mr.. Pixley," said he.
very modest bow on her part and a seram
olsd-egg position on mine. We we're left {,
6gbt it outl shut up in that cosy ParloF al
alone. Comrades, ia three days from the dat
Of that introduction / was engaged to Inzry-
the choice Of my heart and the belle OF th
town- Bat as Shakspere or some other fello,
whe is expert at writing says, the eesTse @
l4AE lyhE +fehGA 0aa run Smooth, ana 3 Bl
brother had the stupidity 70 interfere an
make trouble. de said No very emphatic
ally. and his Mo- seemed to have area
deal Of weight in that family. Bat, after seFs
ing four years as q soldier did not propose
have the fruits Of my well-Won vietory snatch
Cd 10 this manner from me by youth With
cOwny beard.
screwed up my courage and whispered
my darling 10 Fly with me. She was ready. bU
there was no train due for some time. i tel
her that would furnish transportation ba
learned something about that art for / ba
driven mnie-team during my service. Owe
persuaded, she donDed light wrap, and wit
farewell look at the old home we started /,
the depot half mile dis ant it was dark ;
Egypt; no agent to receive as no waitin,
roon--eFerything closed. Bat as the cloud
moved from their resting place the moon peeps
through their Iinging borders and shone
cordial greeting upon US. She did What W
OF more practical value in revealing to Us
No. hand-car standing on a siding near by.
was yet = minutes before the night exDre
was due, and j feared that ii we waited Tor
the big brother would come down upon MS wi
an oyerpO1eriIg force 20 capture the lad youI
man Wh0 was stealing away his darling sists
In a minute i had that hand-car on the ma
track, and IN another had my sweetheart wi
me. All tie muscle that / had acsHnufat
1cr y years was now concentrated on the "a
of prOpeliug that hand-car in the direction
the town Of Green Bay, which was seven mi
distant. As ] had less than II minutes start
the express ] hardly expected 10 reach there
advance Of the locomotive, bat was doing I
best. There we're reverse curves, cuts and RIlg
contend with. and no oil for the axlcs but I,
app2rition Of the big brother and his ere
behind ne stimulated me 70 make eve
effort.
got up steam on the down grades and Ill
my boiler FOR the next hill. On on We we
hat not As fast as my wishes sped. At last /
Eweetbeart whispered, " Listen 10 the thnnde
knew II was not thunder; the clouds wt
not that kind. / knew too well what ID "
and locking over my shoulder could see
Children CW fc