The Washington critic., 1889-03-06
WHICH IMP

tainecr, but he seemed so embarrassed and
illustrated that almost became suspicious
Of him. He finally asked me to sit down on
rock by the roadside, and when we were
down he said:
"stranger, reckon you 'un Is to stop in
town"
eyes
"You'll go to Bailey's, in course. They
hain't nobody else got spar bed fur
strangers"
eyes, was told to go to Bailey's."
'They 'un is expectin' you 'un, and you
'un win be treated handsome.
eyes"
He moved around nervously, got up and
sat down, and when / asked II he had
cramps or toothache, he blurted out:
stranger, want to ak a plain question.
You ,un won't be mad pn
"Oh, no.n
"Ifev you 'un cum courtin' ~
"Bless you, no whatput such an idea
into your head ?"
"Dunno. Ever hear of Bette Baileyg''
Never
"Nol Why, thought everybody had.
She's 'lasses. Nobody else can com
pare"
"Ahi I see You love her and was
afraid I'd come to cut you out. Case OF
jealousy, eh Sn
"Strsnger, be you 'un mar'd ~ he sol
cmnly asked.
ayes, for the last hundred years. Mar
ried and a grandfather. Even II fell In
love with the fair Betty couldn't marry
her."
''seruss', ....a.
''serious as the grave, my boy. Don't
handy I'll put in good word for you"
"You 'un will chitter talk for mes'
.Certainly." ,t
"Put It thar.r'
We shook, and then he stood up, 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-ho! Then you have rivalY What
sort Of a fellow is Jim?n
''Got ten acres, cabin, gun, two dogs,
and he 'un says he'll hev mule this fall"
"And what have you gotr'
"More'n he 'un, but he's purity TO boot"
~ see. Well, you appear to be good
hearted young man, and II can give you a
lift I'm bound to do II. Don't count too
much on me, however. 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. found Betty to be
pretty good-looking girl of is or 10, un-
usually talkative and intelligent, but VIC
had scarcely eaten supper when o boy came
in and said that man wanted to see me
over at the store. AT the gate encoun-
tered a young man who introduced himself
as Jim Burton and added:
"Stranger, would you run mind footing
it bit for me
"Oh, no. l wanted to smoke, anyhow.
Have a cigar? You have something on
your mind you want to speak about"
T-I hev,n he replied. "Gwine to stop
long at Bailey'sT'
'0nly day or two"
Scum to see-see Bailey ~
uYes.f
"Didn't cum to-to--"
"To see Bettyg Oh, no. Let's see.
You must be the young man who is court
ing herS"
"Cricky! But L am |" he exclaimed, as
he clicked his heels together.
"Well, she's nice, tidy girl, and will
make you good wife. How soon does the
marriage come off w
"Crickyl But wish il was to-morrerl''
SIS any one else loving hery''
"One more-doggone his earlocks! II
that ar Tom Wharton don't keep hisself
away, I'll shute him!''
promised TO speak good word for him
and went back to the house, and hardly
had Mrs. Bailey md got seated for q
/ smoke, when she called
"You thar, Bet? Cum yere!"
"What Is 1t, mamg''
"Thar's bin too much fussing. I'm
goin' TO ask the stranger which 'un. win
ye nbide'"
Betty blushed and fldgeted aud the
mother continued:
~ don't believe in fussing. When was
axed If would marry pop said yes right
of, and thar wasn't no fussipg. Bet has. to
serious somebody. What dye think,
stranger9'
SIS she loved by two young men?'
"She are. Kept up fussing here fur a
hull year and hain't said yes to either
of 'em.n
''But how do know" protested the girl.
"How do you know that oxen hev hornss
Is one as good as tothergn
's'Pears so.'
stranger, advise her. Bets good girl
and will make some man a good wife, but
thar's too much fussing. | can't just put
up with 1t no mo-. Bet, will ye abideS'
''Mebbe."
"You'll hev to. He knows. He's cum
all the way from the Moth, and of course
he knows. WHAT'S he'un here fur IL he
| don't knowS'
"Well, pll abide"
was trying TO avoid the issue when a
rap came at the door, and in walked a
man Of about 35. He was fair-looliing
man, and lived about ten miles away.
Bailey came In just then, and was called
out doors by the new arrival for con-
sultation lasting about ten minutes. Then
| the mother was called out, and upon her
return she took Betty into another room,
Then the men came in, and pretty soon
Bailey, his wife and myself had the
kitchen, while Betty and the stranger had
the parlor.
''He's widower from the next cove,''
explained Mrs. Bailey, wants to be
hitched again, Wants our Bet, Whatd'ye
I q