Thomas County cat., 1889-09-05
LAFe TuRLEys woo,na
AonnE Hooslsr Popped the Quel
etOU to Hfa RA~A Girl


o" 1oaag Hoosler Popped the Ques-
tion to His Best Girl
Lafe Turley had been courting old
man Hite's daughter. Heppie. for a
long time; but somehow had never
mustered up the courage to ask her to
De mis- wife. One Sunday evening. how
ever. as he and Heppie were spooning
together out or the front porch. Lafe
90 far overcame his bashfulness as to
make an attempt to come to some sort
OF an understanding in this matter.
"Heppie." he began. ''it looks as
though We wuz goin' ter have a right
smart lot O. wheat arter all this year.
That bottom field O. mines ergoin' to
pan out fust-rate."
I'm glad O. that, Lafe." replied
Heppie, but pap says our'n alp" er-
goin' ter mount ter much"
My cons er lookin' bully, toe"
continued Lafe; don't b'lieve 1 ever
seed it a-doin' so we'll afore at this
time O. year."
well. Lafe." said Heppie as she
smiled winningly into his face. you're
mighty lucky, 'relse you're tip-top
good farmer. l dunno which,"
''Heppie." said Lafe. impulsively.
I'm both; I've allus been lucky. an
besides, know as much erbout crop
PIN an handlin' stock as ther next
feller. An that amt ALL" he con-
tinued. i've got forty acres of good
farmin' lam all paid fer. with a good
house on in, an wuz a-thinkin'-''
Here he stopped and began whip
ping the dust out of his trousers with
the riding whip which he still had in
his hand.
What wuz it you wuz er thinkin' Of
Lafe?" queried Heppie softly as she
stole mischievous, yet encouraging.
glance at her embarrassed lover.
Well" said Lafe, with considerable
effort. II wuz thinkin'. Heppie. that
considerin' rs am tollable lucky. an,
sides, amt no fool in farmin' matters.
at you wouldn't mind marryin' feller
like me, speshully when he loves you
SO well at he KANT find words to tell
you about it.
''Lafe," she answered softly. as she
nestled closer to him. 1--WE knowed a
long time that you thought more O.
me than you did any one else. Yes"
she continued. II love you. Lafe, an
I'll be as good er wife as can ter yer;
but you wuz er long time screwin' up
yer courage to the stickin' pint"
WELL" said Lafe; boldly and utter
ly regardless OF the lie he was about to
utter, II wuz sorter waitin' till l could
git things licked inter shape afore !
axed you. l don't belive in a feller
gittin' wife until he's got place ter
take her to. Besides. knowed yer
pap wouldn't er let us git married till
I'd got some kind of start. anyhow"
''Lafe Turley. don't believe you."
retorted Heppie. poutingly. You
wasn't certain I'd have yer, an you
wuz afeard ter ak me for fear I'd say
no."
''Oh, shucks!" said Lafe, as he
hugged her tighter to his bosom. Il
wasn't afeard ter ask yer. Heppie. but
ef you'd er said no. that would erbout
killed me. I'd err got outen old Inde-
yanny in mighty short order. I'm or
tellin' yer"
WELL" said Heppie. you'd orter
"a knowed l wouldn't "a let you come
here so long ef / hadn't "a keered a
little fer yer"
"Yes, know" rejoined Lafe. "but
gals is such queer critters you KANT
just tell much erbout 'em. nohow."
And so he told the truth at last; for
had he known what Heppie's answer
would have been. it would have saved
him many months OF torturing an xiety
and uncertainty. She was an enigma
to him. as are all girls to those whose
hearts they hold enthralled, and who.
like Lafe, are, as a rule, towards in
the presence of the woman they love.
Ed. r Pritchard, in Arkansas Trav-
eler.