The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-08-28
DELAYED PERMISSION


| came upon the sod-house about
dusk one evening as L was travelling
"cross country" through Western Kan
sas. IL was rough, low, mean and
dirty, but never the less was the abode
OF lively family, the Doddsworths, as
found out later. could go no fur
ther and SO stopped, asked Cor lodg-
ings, put out my horse and sa. down to
talk with my host.
"You may halter sleep out ter the
barn part o the night" he volun-
teered.
Why" i asked.
WAL, young Bemis is comm over
hyar pretty reglar to spark Mary
an"
"Oh, pa how can you talk sol"
chimed in the buxom daughter of the
family, Immediately flouncing out of
the kitchen into the best room.
so he is stuck on Mary?" sug-
gested
"You bet he is. He's over here reg
lar. He's nice fellow, Bemis is
What does he do 2"
"Oh. he farms Squire Lewis land
on shares. He amt got much money,
that's the only thing; but | don't care.
1 say they're big enough to marry when
they're old enough and old enough
when they're big enough, money or
no money"
Does Mary like him?"
"Yes, tolerable. She says he's kinder
bashful-not near so peart as the
schoolmaster that's shinin' up TO lilly
Marks; but l say she shall have Bemis
rs sure as my names Doddsworth.
well" 1 put in, "you had better let
'em go and marry"
That's what l say; but, YOU see,
Sally, my wife, is dead again it. She's
awful opinionated, Sally is, and don't
use good sense. Now, fer me, when l
see I'm wrong, always admit it and
let it go; but she won't. She just
sticks and hangs an won't gin up. You
want to be careful of Citing in an argy
ment with her"
l said L would and remembered the
caution when Doddsworth had gone
out to milk the cows, she approached
me and began to talk about Mary and
Bemis. l remembered what he had
said.
Il amt got nothin' against Bemis,"
she admitted Hes a good enough
hoy; rather bashful, of course, but
Mary likes him"
as your husband opposed to the
match?" L suggested, to see what she
would say.
"Of course, i don't like to talk much
about it, but he's kinder ofiish about
it. He's awful set, Doddsworth is Some
times / think he don't use good sense.
Now, when l see I'm wrong I'm will
ing to admit it and drop the matter;
but he won't. He just sticks an hangs
an won't give up. He don't exactly
like Bemis an he won't give up that
Mary can marry him"
Here, thought L. is a grand chance
to bring two clashing natures together
and make them work for Mary's hap
piness. Mary was already entertain
ing 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 well
as surprise them, so when the husband
came in, | addressed him:
Il was just talking to your wife, Mr..
Doddsworth. and she seemed perfectly
willing to have young Bemis for SON
in-law. Now, you expressed the same
opinion to me a while ago, and as you
are both very liberal in your views,
why not unite on this question ?"
us that so, Sally?" exclaimed the
husband. "Be you willin'?"
well, I" she began, when she
caught my eye and frankly admitted.
"Yes, amt got nothin' against him,
but you was always SO obstinate
that
No, Sally, it was you that was set
in your"
"See here" put in, "no quarreling
now. You are agreed in this matter.
Let's break the news to the young
folks"
They had no opportunity of demurr-
4 ing before 1 opened the door leading to
the "best room" There was a sudden
shutting of chairs and feet as we en-
tered, as though the lass and lover had
moved rapidly apart.
MARY" said l, for / rather enjoyed
the theatrical aspect of the case, your
folks are willing that you should marry
this young man if you want to. j 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 blessin'. 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 back ground, somewhat awed 10y
my officiousness, and myself, beat a
precipitate retreat. Our kindness had
come too late.
rode on the next morning and have
not seen Bemis or the Doddsworths
since.-C. NJ. Harger, IN Detroit Free
Press.
A Hint to Autograph Hunters.
On one occasion the Duke of We'll
lington received letter in the follow