The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-12-05
THE PARSON GOT JUDY.
AN UNEXPECTED SETTLEMENT OF
OLD SQUIRE FILPOT'S DILLMMA.

judy Didn't Care winch Sn6 Marr16Q-
But the Parson Took the Girl Himself
TOpie p Reed in the n. Y. World <.
Mark Ramsey and Job Trotter
were often seen at the house OF old
Squire Pilpot. These visits were not
due to any regard which Mark and
Job may have had for the Squire, but
were clearly traceable to the love
which they bore his daughter Judy
The two young men were so much
alike, physically, that they might
have been taken for twins. They
were tall, strong and we'll built; they
were black eyed and long-haired, sun
burned and hardened by exposure to
all sorts of hardships
The resem blance even extended to
mental peculiarites. Mark did not
know long division from short com
ings, neither did Job. Mark, given
the freest exercise of his arm, could
not, with charred chunk, have writ
ten his name on the gable end of the
barn; neither could Job. Being 80
much alike, both physically and men,
tally, it was small wonder that they
loved Judy, who, by the way, was the
hapdsomest girl in the neighborhood.
She was more than merely hand
some; she was bright, quick to learn,
and, fattering gossip declared, could
knit pair of yarn socks or snatch the
feathers off chicken as quickly and
as effectually as any girl in the com
munity, regardless of educational adj
vantages. Judy loved Mark and Job,
but she could not decide which one
she preferred. This inability gave her
great concern, and often at night,
while patching her fathers brown
jeans. or at evening, when crouched in
the slowly darkening gold of a dying
day, milking the muly COW, she would
shut her eyes, bring up the faces Of
her two lovers and attempt to force
herself into decision, but in vain, for
when the gold of evening had darken-
ed into the charcoal of night; when
old muly stood patiently with one foot
in the pail of milk, Judy's love re-
m aimed in equal division.
Old Pilpot liked the boys, but to
have saved his life he could not have
told which one was his favorite. He
was willing that she should marry one
of them, it made no difference which,
and he secretly wished that one OF
them, still no matter which, would die,
so that the remaining one could make
his daughter happy. &
Neither one OF the young men
was ever able to see the girl alone, for
they kept so close watch upon each
others movements that one, making
his appearance at the Squire's house,
was sure to be followed Immediately
by the other. b,
One morning just as the Squire and
Judy had arisen from the breakfast
table, voices in the sitting room an
nounced, to we'll accustomed ears, the
arrival of the lovers. The old man
and his daughter went in, and, follow
ing a long and worn-habit, cordially
shook hands with the visitors and bade
them feel perfectly at home.
eve have come,' said Mark, "to
see if we can't sorter make some ar.
rangements."
"That's what we have" Job put in
81 want judy" Mark added.
$50 do l." said Job.
81 love her powerful" Mark OBJ.
served.
81 love her just about the same,
Job declared. 1850
Gentlemen" said the Squire, per
plexedly stroking his whiskers, 81
| don't see how we are goin' to manage
this affair. July, don't you, arter ali
love one just little better than you
do the other?"
Il believe I do, pap" she answered
"Thar, we are gittin' at it. Nov
which one is it ?"
"That's what kain't tell, pap"
Thar it goes agin, an we. al ies
as fur off as ever. Mark, amt you
got nothin' to suggest p
"Don't believe have. Job mout have
"No, l hain't, lessen it is that sh,
marry me an be done with it,
"Yas, and 1 reckon I can maxi
sich suggestion in favor Of myself
Mark replied, and then, half mnsing
Iy added: II do wish this thing wa
over with, fur / am behind with M
crap an my farms runnin' down, fol
I have to watch Job so close thai" -
"Jestthe same withme, Job broke in
"Wall, now," said the old Squire
"anythin' has got to be did, and did a
once, fur I'm tired of this here fever
ish condition, as the feller says. 81
have hearn my gran daddy talk abou
cases like this that took place in ia,
old times, and they never failed 70 "a
at settlement somehow ruther. ]
mout have been by a match of SOM
snrt-foot race, rasslin' or shootin.
don't know exactly how, but as .nea
as | can ricolleck the way gran dadd,
told it they allus left it to be decide,
by some superiority that one hiP I'VE
the other" 80,
| They agreed that it should be.wrest
ling, and, going cut into the yard
gave themselves up 60 the contest, bu
the fatal similarity again asserted it
self, for the two young men were q
equal strength and agility Then sbe
tried f,ot racing; they we're of equs
speed; rifle shooting, they were q
equal skill II
avail, this do beat, and beat
peart, too, anything ] ever seed" tn
old Squire declared. i.Ig
"Wali." said the old man, ..let,s 2
in the house and set down might q
] well be restin'' while we're tbinkip' u
- T RS