Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-15

'Twon't do-'twon't nigh do!
That thar feller's gittin' too num-
crows in these parts. an the first
thing l know that girl will be fer
margin, him. promised old Jerry
I'd keer fer 'er an I'll do it. "Tain't
fer her good to marry sech upstairs
as him, an she shan't doit."
Since the death of Beckett's wife
Betty had gone to live at Dan Bun
ker's, and accordingly, as soon as
the grist had all been ground out,
Beckett closed the old mill, and
dressing himself in his best suit,
walked over to Bunker's house.
Pretty soon after his arrival Dan
and his wife managed to retire,
leaving Beckett alone together in the
best room.
"Ruth." Dan said, when they were
outside, '.you know what Beckett's
come fer?"
"No, don't" Ruth replied.
oval, do"
"Then, what is it?"
"Why, he's come a-sparkin' Nv
Bet"
"The land sake, DAM do y on reckon
so?"
81 know it. Amt he got on a
billed shirt an his go-to-meetin' blue
jeans coat? An what else would he
have them on forif he wasn't flaur-
ing on akin her to have him?'
"Dan Bunker, do you know what |
think of old Beckett?''
"No, l don't, Ruth; but, for that
matter, | low it's not so much what
you think of him as what Bet thinks
of him that's of interest to old Beck
ett."
"Well, I think he's an old varmint,
and for that matter, low that Bet
won't think much different when she
finds out his business Tho idea of
the old thing marryin' a pretty
young gal like her-an' that, too,
when his other wife amt been dead
q weekl'
AS soon as Dan and Mrs. Bunker
were we'll out of the room old Sam
turned to Beth and remarked:
81 see you a-walking about good
bit OF late with that preacher Teller,
an don't approve of it. hope you
don't mean nothin'-like business"
81 don know that l understand
your meaning Mr.. Beckett" the
girl replied, but | must say thatI am
at q loss to know what objection you
can have to Mr.. Hackett."
oval I've got this much objection
to him or to anybody else; | don't
want you to marry anybody but me.
Pm your guardeen, an | know who'll
make you n good husband, an l
amt willin' to trust you with them
thar young upstairs. I've made up
my mind to marry you Bet. l done
that the day lilly was buried, an
I've come to ask you to iine me-
MARRY you'll" the girl exclaimed
in amazed wonder. "Why, | never
thought of such thing"
Don't need to be thought oil. All
you want to do is to say the word,
an I'll get Dan to go over an fetch
Squire Beeson, an we'll have it over
in less n hour. Don't need no think
in, Bet. You know me an know
you, an you know how much money
an land Eve got, an you know what
sort of home | kin offer you. Amt
that enough"
mo, it's not enough. You are a
| fool if you think | could be induced
to marry an old man like you simply
because you have little money, and
that, too, when your poor wife is
hardly cold in her grave. l won't
listen to you and either you or | will
leave the roomP'
"Do you mean WHAT you say, Betl
eyes, mean what | say-every
word of it. I'd die before I'd marry
you"
"Wall, amt used to bein' treated
in that way, gal, an you may be
sorry for it yet
"Neverl"
81 think you will; an as your law
full guardeen, now give you notice
that you shan't never marry that up
start of a preacher. Do you hear
that"
eyes, hear it,"
"Then see that you heed it.'
81 won't do it. I'm going to mar
~ nm, and you can prevent IL.
"Goin' to marry him?"
eyes, going to marry him."
Old Sam took two or three turns
across the room, then halted in front
of the girl, his face livid with rage
and his form shaking with anger, he
bent forward until his hot breath
scorched her cheeks, and Missed:
"You sha'nt do it. You're mine
an I'm goin' to have you, and before
you shall marry that fellow, Tll-Fl
-
He never finished the sentence, but
the look in his eyes and the awful
ness of his manner made his meaning
plain to the girl, and she shrank back
from him.
"You will not" she cried. You
dare not"
won't /? You'll see. And, girl
his blood will be on your head fol
you drive me to it. I've had five
wives and I've loved them all.
loved them as we'll as men usually
love their wives, but never loved
anybody as l love YOU"