The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-14
JUDGEFILPOTS DILEMMA
Unable to Decide Between Two Equally
Attractive Suitors.

Mark Ramsay and Job Trotter were
often seen at the house of old Squire
Filpot. 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, physic
ally, that they might have been taken
for twins. They were tall, strong and
well built they were black eyed and
long haired, sunburned and hardened
by exposure to all sorts of hardships.
The resemblance even extended to
mental peculiarities. Mark did not
know long division from short comirgs
nither did Job. Mark, given the freest
exercise of his arm, could not, with a
charred chunk, have written his name
on the gable end of the barn neither
could Job. Being so much alike both
physically and mentally, it was small
wonder that they loved Judy, who by
the way, was the handsomest girl in the
neighborhood. She was more than
merely handsome she was bright, quick
to learn, and fattering gossip declared
could knit pair of yarn socks OF
snatch the feathers off a chicken as
quickly and as efectually as any girl ir
the community, regardless of educa-
tional advantages. Judy loved Mark
and Job, but she could not decide
which one she preferred. This lnabil
ity gave her great concern, and often
at night while patching her fathers
brown jeans or at evening when crouch
ed 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 ard attempt to force
herself into decision, but IN vain, fol-
when the gold of evening had darkened
into the charcoal of night, when old
muly stood patiently with one foot IN
the pail of milk, Judy's love remained
in equal division.
Old Filpot liked the boys, but tc
have saved his life he could not have
told which one was his favorite. He
was willing that she should marry one
of them, 1t made no difference which
and he secretly wished that one OIL
them, still no matter which, would ole
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 uron each others
movements that one, making his ap.
pearance at the 'squire's house, was
sure to lie followed Immediately by the
other.
One morning just as the squire and
Judy had arisen from the breakfast
table, voices in the sitting room an
nounced, to well accustomed ears, the
the 4rriva of the lovers. The old man
and his laughter went in, and, follow
ing long and worn habit, cordially
shook hands with the visitors and bade
them feel perfectly at home.
We have come, said Mark, to see il
we can't sorter make some arrange
ments.
That's what we have, Job put in.
want Judy, Mark added.
So do |, said Job.
love her powerful, Mark observed
love her just about the same. Job
declared.
Gentlemen, said the Squire, perplex-
edly stroking his whiskers, don't set
how we are goln' to mango this affair.
Judy, don't you, arter all, love one jest
a little better than you do ther other
believe l do, pap, she answered.
Thar, we are gittin' at it. Now,
which one is it?
That's what l KANT tell, pap.
Thar it goes again, an we are jest as
fur off as ever. Mark, amt you got
nothin' to suggest
Don't believe l have. Job mout
have.
No, hain't, lessen it is that she
marry me an be done with it.
Vas, and | reckon | can make sich a
suggestion in favor of myself, Mark re-
piled, and then half muslngly added
l do wish this thing was over with, lur
l am behind with my crap an my
farms runnin' down, for | have to
watch Job SO close that
Jest the same with me, Job broke
in.
Wall now, SAID the old squire, suthin
has got to be did, and did at once. fur
I'm tired of this here feverish condl
ton, as the feller says. l have hearn
my gran'd daddy talk about cases like
this that took place in the old times,
and they never failed to git at a settle
ment some how ruther. 1t mout have
been by a match of some sort-foot race,
rasslin' or shootin'. | don't know ex
actly how, but as near as can ricolleck
the way gran'daddy told it they allus
left it be decided by some 'sperlority
that one hilt over the other.
Pm wilin' to try it that way, said
Mark.
I'm morn wiliin', Job declared.
What do you say, Judy?
Suits me, the girl answered.
All right, said the old man. We ken
now begin to see our way cl'ar shall
it be rasSlin'2
They agreed that 1t should be wrest-
ling, and, going into the yard, gave
themselves up to the contest, but the