South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-12-05
THEINTELLlGENcER
FRIDAY. DEcEMBER 5. 1890.
JoHN.s cHoIcE.

that light beforer
We've ali took ! for granted, eaid
Mrs. Jagge;t, pursuing her thin lips
aud knitting away very fast.
Does she think so. naoiher7'
What else can she think, John r
Il never asked her to marcy me.
mother
There's other ways Of proposing TO
girls, john, excep, askin' I'm to
marry you in so many Words said the
old lad,.
John Jsggsti gave bic thick brown
uousiache resentful tug.
Il sm blessed IL know what they
are. mother said he.
Every body has took il Tor granted,
John. repeated his mother, severely.
And Melinda Is Q capable house,
keepes-just the girl I'd like to see
In charge OF things here. now that I'm
getting old aid feeble
John Jnggett put his hand caress-
ingly on bis mo- hers shoulde. 8.
w hy, mother said he, don. talk
that way. So far as l can see W I're
as young and sprY az you ever were,
mo, amt, John, said sbe.-
When woman gets 10 be six'y-odd'
she bee ms TO fail in spits Of every.
thing~-and rheumatism always run in
my tide OF the family. If couIi
only zee you married and settled
before tue Lrfd sees it to ca me
away
John whistlcd.
Time enough. mother said he--
qut tipe enough
Il don't know about that, Johu.
You were thirty yesterday, urged Mrs.
Jaggett.
How the dear cd mother remem.
bers thingsl' said he, laughing.
Aud Melioda Butts is three aud
Thirty
A year or two don'i make 40 great
ODDS, John.'
We'll, perhaps i. don. :, he assent.
John, cried the woman, as her son
tn k mp his hat, where are you GO
ing =
Il Rm going to New Yo,k for day
or tw', te see alb jut the new hay cut.
ter, mother, before the grass gets Loo
h'gh. answered he.
10 day, John p
Yes, to -,lav. Why not P
Go over and zee Mef;l,d frss. john.
Get something settled pleaded Mrs.
Jaggett.
why, mother, what hurry you re-
In 20 get me married off ! be cried
Lightly
She tXpec.s T., John.
Couldn't you manage it for me,
m ther,' ] stingly demanded the
young men,
'John!'
We'll, really. don't seem able to
get mp my enthusiasm, ssid he ,shruR-
ging bis broad handsome shoulders.
Aud ma t st that hay cutter or.
dered. We shall have . thudery
summer, and the grass meadows must
b" looked after
John JaPgett went his way to the
CITY, end straightway forgot ell About
Miss Melinda Butts, who lived at the
re shingled farmhouse on the other
side of Skull Mountain.
She was plain AMI red haired. and
never seemed to have very much 10
say tor herself; and John Jageett
bad all msn's appreciation Of beaus
- AID sOftness in Womanly pres
ence. Why shoald he think about
Melinda Bults2
tie ordered The hay cutter, looked
In a. q sale of Stout farm horses.
made inquiries as TO q now cooking
sloVe for his mother and finally sion.
ped OF a little millinery store, kept bv
former Skull Mountain neiVhbor.
4 want 40 get mother q lace cap or
worsiOd shoulder cape, or come.
thing thought he.
But The store was full OF strange "a.
oes/ and q new nan cleaned. in
new-psinted letters on the 3 On above
the door.
'Hellor said Jssgett. Whats the
matter n
'Mrs. MiKsell was brried last
month said The incumbent, a stout
widow With row Of artificial short
cnrls which did ms In The least match
Der black hair. And poor Alice IL
crying her eyes out ia the back room.
Perhspa you know some other friends? !
lt don't stand To reason ss I can keep
her here, with three daughters OF /
my own. And you know
oh, mr. Jaggett,< uttered a soft. |
appealing voice from the stuffy, half !
lighted little apartment beyond, lie
that your Oh. poor, poor mother has
died and left me and 1 don't hnow 1
What to do
Alice Mixsell was a fair bai-ed 1
mountain d lev complexlone6 girl Of /
seventeen. Her blue eyes, drsnched \
IN tears, looked piteously up to John
Jaggett-her coral lips trembled
They we're old acquaintance. and be
had always admired her. Nay once
or twice, when be had been staying
ia The city, he had taken her to a the !
atre matinee or . picture gallery.
As be looked At her sweet, helpless
lovellnsss, a wave. Of protecting ten
deIness swept over bis whole nature.
Alice said he, my darling Sweet
Alice, dry your tears. Ilenceforwsrd
you shall be my cas-. Get your bon.
net and thingsl Wen 20 70 the lie.