Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-08-16
A DELAYED Permission.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press
came upon the sod house about dusk
one evening as | was travelling "cross
country" through Western Kansas. It
was rough, low, mean and dirty, but new
erthelcSs was the abode of a live family,
the Doddsworths. as found out later. |
could 90 no farther and SO stopped, asked
for lodgings, put out my horse and sat
down to talk with my host.
You may haf' ter sleep out ter the barn
part o the night, he volunteered
''Whyf" | asked.
"Wa'al. young Bemis is comm over
hyar pretty reg'lar to spark Mary, an"
"Oh. pa, how can you talk sor' chimed
in the buxom daughter of the family, i'm
mediately houncing out of the kitchen into
the best room.
$50 he is stuck on Mary" l suggested.
''You bet he is He's over here reg'lar.
He's nice fellow, Bemis is.
''What does he dor
'0h, he farms Squire Lewis land on
shares. III amt got much money, that's
the only thing; but | don't care. say
they're big enough to marry when they're
old enough an old enough when they're
big enough, money or no money
"Does Mary like himF'
Eyes. tolerable She says he's kinder
bashful-not near SO peart as the school
master that's shinin' up to Tilly Marks; but
I say she shall have Bemis as sure as my
names Doddsworth." "
well" put in, you had better let EN-
go and marry
That's what l say; but, you see, Sally
my wife, is dead agin it. She's awful
opinonated, Sally is, and don't use good
sense. Now, fer me, when | see I'm wrong
l always admit it and let it go; but she
won't. She just sticks and hangs and
won't gin up. You want to be careful of
getting in an argument with her"
| said | would and remembered the eau
ton when, after Doddsworth had gone out
to milk the cows, she approached me and
began to talk about Mary and Bemis.
remembered what he had said.
II amt got nothing against Bemis,' she
admitted "He's good enough boy;
rather bashful, of course, but Mary likes
him"
'Is your husband opposed to the match''
l suggested, to see what she would say.
"Of course, don't like to talk much
about it, but he is kinder offish about it.
He's awful set, Doddsworth is. Sometimes
! think he don't use good sense Now,
when ! see I'm wrong Pm willing to admit
it and drop the matter; but he won't. He
Jest sticks and hangs and won't give up.
He don't exactly like Bemis and he won't
give up that Mary can marry him."
Here, thought I, is grand chance to
bring two clashing natures together and
make them work for Mary's happiness.
Mary was already entertaining her lover in
the "best room," which was the only other
room in the house but the kitchen, in which
we sat, and concluded I'd please the pair
as we'll as surprise them, so when the hus-
band came in, l addressed him:
''I was just talking to your wife, Mr..
Doddsworth, and she seems perfectly will
ing to have young Bemis for son-in-law.
Now, you expressed the same opinion to
me q while ago, and as you are both very
liberal in your views, why not unite on this
questsonl'
"Is that so, Sally9" exclaimed the hus-
band. "Be you willin'f'
"Well, L" she began, when she caught
my eye and frankly admitted. eyes,
amt got nothin' against him, but You was
always so obstinate that"
''No, Sally, it was you that was set in
your
"See here" l put in, mo quarreling
now. You are agreed in this matter. Let's
break the news to the young folks"
They had no opportunity of demurring
before opened the door leading to the
"best ROOM There was a sudden shut
fling of chairs and feet as we entered, as
though the lass and lover had moved rapid
ly apart.
MARY" said I, for rather enjoyed the
theatrical aspect Of the case, ''your folks
are willing that you should marry this
young man if you want to. / hope you
will be happy and prosperous.
"Say, you city dude" drawled the young
man in question, "whose funeral is this,
anyhow Do you run this household now?
Mary and don't care fer yer blessing.
We was married by Squire Quinn last
night when the folks thought We was at
the dance"
"The folks" who had been standing in
the background, somewhat awed by my
officiousness, and myself, beat a precipi-
tate retreat Our kindness had come too
late.
rode on the next morning and have not
seen Bemis or the Doddsworths since.
DAc,orA fha Eros honlG nf