Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-24
Which I'm?

acts III eXactly the same chahhels'-
One afternoon as l was approaching a
mountain hamlet called Herkimer's |
met a young man of about 20, who, as
l soon found, had been waiting my
coming. He was typical young
mountaineer, but he seemed so en-
barrassed and frustrated that almost
became suspicious of him. He final
ly asked me to sit down on rock by
the roadside, and when we were down
he said
Stranger, I reckon you is to stop
in town 2"
"Yes."
you'll 90 to Bailey's, in course.
They hain't nobody else got a spare
bed fur strangers.
Eyes, was to 60 to Bailey's."
"They'un is expecting you'un, and
you'un will be treated handsome"
eyes,"
He moved around nervously, got
up and sat down, and when / asked if
he had cramps or toothache, he blurt-
ed out:
stranger, want to ak plain
question. You'un won't be mad 7"
"Oh, no."
"Hev you'un cum courting !"
"Bless you, no What put such an
idea into your head ?"
"Dunno. Ever hear of Betty Bail
ey%
Never"
No! Why, | thought everybody
had. She's lasses. Nobody else can
compare"
"Ah, / see You love her and was
afraid I'd come to cut you out. Case
of jealously, eh ?"
stranger, be you'un married." he
solemnly asked.
Eyes, for the last hundred years.
Married and a grandfather. Even if
| fell in love with the fair Betty |
couldn't marry her."
"Serus ?"
"Serious as the grave, my boy
Don't worry over me. Indeed, if it
comes handy I'll put in a good word
for you."
"You'un will chitter (talk) for me?"
Certainly"
"Put it thar"
We shook, and then he stood up and
scratched his head, looked all around,
and finally lowered his voice and said:
"Jim Burton ar arter her too! Dog
gone him, but he lows to cut me out"
"Oh-hol Then you have rival ?
What sort of fellow is Jim p
"Got ten acres, cabin, gun, two
dogs, and he'un says he'll hev mule
this fall"
"And what have you got?"
"More'n he'un, but he's purity to
boot"
IL see. Well, you appear to be a
good-hearted young man, and if | can
give you lift Pm bound to do it
Don't count too much OH me, howev-
er. Women are strange creatures. |
may even hurt your case by trying to
help you"
We shook hands and separated, and
in due time reached Bailey's house
and was cordially welcomed. l found
Betty to be pretty good-looking girl
of 1S or 10, unusually talkative and
intelligent, but we had scarcely eaten
supper when n boy came in and said
that man wanted to see me over at
the store. At the gate | encountered
young man who introduced himself
as Jim Burton and added
stranger, would you'un mind foot
ing it a bit for rue p
"Oh, no. | wanted to smoke, any
how. Have cigar? You have
something Oh your mind you want to
speak about"
"1-I hev," he replied "Gwine to
stop long at Bailey'si" Z"
"Only day or two"
"Cum to see-see Bailey ?"
EYES,"
Didn't cum to-tO-W
"To see Bettyl Oh, no. Let's see.
You must be the young man who is
courting her 2"
"Crickyl But / am !" he exclaim-
ed, as he clicked his heels together.
rs anyone else loving her ?"
"One more, dog-gone his earlocks !
If that al Tom Wharton don't keep
hissef away I'll shute him !"
] promised him that | would speak
good word for him and went back
to the house, and hardly had Mrs.
Bailey and | got seated for a smoke
when she called
"You thar, Bet, cum yere y
"What is it, nam ?"
"Thar's been too much fussing.-
I'm going to ask the stranger which
'un, Will ye abide p
Betty blushed and fidgeted and the
mother continued -