The Russellville Democrat., 1888-09-13

| cap'n, an thinkin' what a ctiruS old | critter he was, an how his darter didn't look much like him; an then, as was nat'ral, he looked at Alice. an his eyes hadn't fairly lighted on her when the cap'n turned an caught him. It seemed ez eff that was what the old feller'd bin waitin for He rig right up in his seat, his eyes rollin' ih his head, an he took Alice by the arm, an he marched right down the aisle, out O meetin' an as he passed the Purdys' pew he glared so Stan thought he was goin' ter have fit, an didn't know but twas his dooty ter foller on arfter an tend ter him; but twas jest as well he didn't.
 "The cap'n made straight for home, usin' most awful language. He said he knowed now why Alice was allus so anxious ter go ter meetin' An 'twa'n't no use for her ter tell him-what was the Twin truth-that she didn't know Stan Purdy from Tom Nokes, an hadn't never sot eyes on him. He wouldn't b'lieve her.
 He had ter go ter the city that night lucky for her, for she was clear wore out; but ye couldn't blame her that next Sabbath she did look over ter the Purdy's pew, ter see who twas the cap'n made sich fuss bout; an Stan, rememberin' how the cap'n had acted the week afore. looked cross at her jest as she looked at him.
 "Well, I'm too old woman ter go inter all the particulars O hat part O the story. Young folks will be young folks ter the end O time; an we all know how twas with ourselves. But ef Alice had had hard time afore, she had wus one now; twas bad 'nough ter have hot an nasty old father, but when you come ter have a hot an nasty young lover ez well, things git complicated.
 Stan want 'fraid of the Cap'n; he didn't care a cent for his temper an his talk, an he loved Alice for all he was wuth He couldn't see no reason why he should be sacrificed ter the l cap'n's whims. There wa'nt the fust l litIil1 bOAib litlIi TUT DObOdN ttl pDItSt ter in son-in-law; he was studdy, an he had good connections, an there was money both sides O the house. He meant ter have Alice, an he knowed ef he didn't git her consent fore the capn got home, he wouldn't git it. tall; an tell you he did his best.
 But Alice, she was jest like that flower 1 told ye bout; it didn't make no difference what a rough, ugly old rock it was growth next ter, the wind might blow a perfect cyclone, 1t could make that flower tremble an shiver and bend an bow, but when it got | through, that flower was growth there jest the same An try his best, Stan couldn't git her ter listen ter him.
 ''So the time passed by, an Stan see in the paper the cap'n's steamer had rived, an he knowed he'd be home next day. Things looked pretty des- perate. but he wouldn't give in.
 "The cap'n's house an gardin spot was dreadful queer-lookin' place Alice didn't seem ter care, but it most distressed Mis- Willard-she hep' house 1 for 'em, you know-ter death. There was heejus great figger-head nailed | up over the front door-'nough ter scare ye outer yer senses-an' shells | layin' round everywhere ye could think, an a big red buoy out in the middle O the door-yard though Mis- Willard | trained mornin' -glories over hat tell it didn't show much; an there was q great rusty anchor an chain fastened ter the front gate ter keep swung to- gether. Oh, couldn't begin ter tell yer all the eap'n's contrivances. "Well, that night Alice was out in the gardin after supper, wanderin' round, thinkin' bout her father. an kinder wonderin' ef Stan would come, an hopin' he wouldn't, an knowin' down in her heart she'd be disappoint- ed ef he didn't, when all ter once she heard that chain clank, an her heart begun ter beat, an she couldn't help thinkin' it might be a good thing ef the cap'n had got anchor hitched ter her too!
 ''She didn't need ter take but one look at Stan ter know what he come for. He didn't waste no time bout it neither. There want no putin him of she'd got ter come ter the pint, an she did.
 ''She told him her fust dooty was ter her father; he hadn't got nobody but her, an she knowed 'twouldn't be right ter go of an leave him. Then Stan he told her she needn't leave him; he want home much O the time. an when he was he could be with her. iest's he allus had bin an he did think-though he didn't say so that ef he could put up with the cap'n, the cap'n might do as much for him.
 But Alice she told him her father didn't want her to marry nobody, an ef she did he wouldn't have nothin' more ter do with her an 'twasnt ez eff he was like other folks who had friends ter fall back on--ef she left him he wouldn't have nothin' then she looked at him straight, and she sez
 "'Ef l loved a man ever so much, wouldn't leave my father ter go off with him, cause he has fust claim, sez she and Stan he come step nearer, and he sez;
 '' Do you love me, AliceF
 ''She knowed she got ter answer that question, and she knowed 'twouldn't do ter have him come no closer, if she was goin' ter do her dooty by her fa- ther She'd never told lie in her life, but she looked at him, and she said 1t slow, like ez ef twas lesson