Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-11-15
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
a SOLDIERS ROMANCE.
How Wisconsin Boy Won Good ana
Beautiful Bride.

This is how | won wife: | was dis
charged September 5, 1860, at the age
of TWENTY-FIVE. / wanted a wife, and
wanted her badly. l wanted to get
married and settle down, but ! was
very bashful and did not seem TO get
there like the rest of the boys. though
| had usually held my own pretty well
in other contests with them. But do
what ! might, seemed to have no luck
in capturing a fair damsel of the kind !
wished. ! tried all sorts OF devices.
got my clothes made to order, and
bought ''hand-me-down" suits. even
learned to sing bass and joined church
choir, but il would not work. AT last
| decided TO take the contract to build
forty miles of railroad fence at price
which made It seem pretty clear that !
would lose money. So did. While
engaged at the work l had TO have my
hand-saws filed. One of my neighbors
told me where there was an expert in
this line, and also that he was the pos
SCISSOR of as fine a daughter as one
wanted TO see.
took one of my best hand saws and
drew it across a big rock, 50 that 1t
would take the man long time TO file
il and would have a better opportun-
ity TO make an impression on his fair
daughter Somehow | felt that this
was my last chance and | approached
the house with careful tread, my
heart boun ding from one side to the
other. seeming to say, 60 back. 90
back; you're no good on earth, and
believed il was telling the truth. But |
summoned 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 up my
mind to gain victory right there or
die in the attempt.
lis your father at homer ! asked, in
the dulcet TO les | had cultivated in ne
gotiating with Southern women for /
buttermilk and chicken.
"IIe will be in in few minutes an
swered the divinity. "Please be
se1ted.
So far all was good. sat me down,
but my tongue froze in my mouth. ! /
could not even say 1T looks like rain. "
or, Were having pleasant weather
now At last, after a period of em-
barrassing silence, the father came.
"Can you fix my saw ! asked.
Eyes. can. he answered; "but it
will ta,e some time. you will wait
| viii go right at it. You can look at
my garden II you care to.
0fcourse that was just what wanted.
wanted to be alone once more, in order
10 take one long breath and recruit my
Sness, so that | might dare bear my
weight upon them again. After going
through frost-bitten bean-patch and
some melon vines that looked as If
herds of boys had run over them, the
father said: $50 into the parlor;
laughter will entertain you. The job
: about half done Let me have your
ard. please
Yes, sir. You viii find my full
lame on the handle OF my saw. That
5 all the card have with me-
"Aly daughter, Mr. Pixley,n said he.
A very modest bow on her part and
scrambled-egg position on mine. We
we're left to fight it out, shut up in that
,ozy parlor, all alone. Comrades. three
lays from the date of that introduction
was engaged to marry the choice of
ny heart and the belle OF the town But
IS Shakespeare or some other fellow
Who is expert at writing says. the course
u true love never did run smooth, and
big brother had the stupidity to inter-
ere and make trouble. He said NO
cry emphatically, and his mo" seemed
o have a great deal of weight in that
amily. But. after serving four years
5 soldier, did not propose to have
he fruits of my well-won victory
in this manner from me by a
outh with a downy beard
/ screwed up my courage and whis-
erred to my darling to fly with me. She
las ready, but there was no train due
Or some time told her that would
urnish transportation. | had learned
about that art, for / had
riven mule-team during my service.
she donned her light
rap, and with a farewell look at
he old home we started for the depot,
alf a mile distant. 1t was dark as
.gypt; no agent TO receive us. no wait ]
lg-room-every thing closed. But as
he clouds moved from their resting
lace the moon peeped through their {
ringing borders and shone a cordial
reeting upon us. She did what was of S
lore practical value in revealing to us
No. l hand-car standing on a siding
ear by. 1t was yet seventeen minutes !
efore the night express was due. and l i
cared if We waited for it the big ]
rother would come down upon us with
n overpowering force 10 capture the q
ad young man who was stealing away /
is darling sister. In a minute had 6
l. / II.