San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-05-01
IN A DILEMMA.

Mark Ramsey and Job Trotter were
often seen ut the house of old Squire Fill
pot. These visits were not due to any
regard Mark and Job may have had for
the squire, but were cle;.rly traceable to
the love which they bore his daughter
Judy. The two young men were so
much alike physically that they might
have been taken for twins. They were
tall, strong and we'll built; they were
black eyed and long haired, sunburned
and hardened by exposure to all sorts OF
hartships. The resemblance even ex-
tended to mental peculiarities. Mark
did not know long division from short
comings; neither did Job. Mark, given
the frecst exercise Of his arm, could not
with charred chunk have written his
name on the gable end Of tho barn;
neither could Job. Being so much alike
both physically and mentally, it was
small wonder that they loved Judy, who,
by the way, was the handsomest girl in
the neighborhood.
She was moro than merely handsome
she was bright, quick to learn, and. fiat
tering gossip declared, could knit pair
of yarn socks or snatch the feathers off
chicken rs quickly and as cffectualiy as
any girl in the community, regardless
of educational advantages. Judy loved
Mark and Job, but she could not decide
which one she preferred. This inability
gave her great concern, and often al
night, while patching her fathers brown
Jeans, or at evening when crouched in tht
slowly darkening gold of dying day
milking the muly COW, she would shu
her eyes, bring up the faces of her two
lovers, and attempt to force herself into
a decision, but in vain, for when the golt
of evening had darkened into the char
coal Of night, when old muly stood pa
tiently with one foot in the pail Of milk
Judy's love remained in equal division.
Old Filpot liked the boys, but, to hav'
saved his life, he could not have tol'
which one was his favorite. He wa
willing she should marry one of them,
made no difference which, and he sc
crctly wished that one of them, still n
matter which, would die, so that the re
naming one could make his daughte
happy
Neither one Of the young men was eve
able to see the girl alone, for they KEEP
so close watch upon each others move
ments that one making disappearance a
the squire's house, was sure to be followe'
Immediately by the other.
One morning, just as the squire AM
Judy had arisen from the breakfast table
voices in the sitting room announced t.
well accustomed ears the arrival of tn
lovers. The old man and his daughte
went in, and, following long and worl
habit, cordially shook hands with the visi
tors and bade them feel perfectly at home
1--WE have come," said Mark, ''to see i
wecan'tsorter make some arrangements.
"That's what we have" Job put in.
81 want Judy" Mark added.
$50 do l." said Job.
Il love her powerful" Mark observed
81 love her just about the same" Jo'
declared.
"Gentlemen," said the squire, perplex
edly stroking his whiskcrs, II don't Sc
how we are going to manage this affair
Judy, don't you, arter all, love one jus
q little better than you do the other"
Il believe do, pap" she answered.
THAR, we are 'gittin' at 1t. Now
which one is itT'
'.That's what KANT tell, pap"
"Thar it goes again, an we are just O
fur of as ever. Mark. amt you go
nothin' to sugScsty'
Don't believe have. Job mout have.
"No, hain't. lessen it is that she mar
ry me an be done with it"
"Yas, and l reckon can mako sich
suggestion in favor of myself" Mark re
piled, and then half musingly added
al do wish this thing was over with, flu
I am behind with my crap an my farm
runnin' down, for | have to watch 10
50 close that
''Jest the same with me-" Job broke In
"Wall, now" said the old squire
"suthin has got to be did, and did a
once, fur I'm tired of this here feverisl
condition, rs the fcllcr says. i hav
hcarn my gran'daddy talk about case
like this that took place in the old times
and they never failed to git at a settle
ment somehow ruther. 1t mout hav
been by a match Of some sort-foOt race
rasslin', or shootin'. don't know ex
actly how, but near as / can ricollecl
the way daddy told 1t they allu
left it 10 be decided by some's periorit
that one hel' over the other"
I'm MORN willin'," Job declared.
"what do you say, JudyT
"Suits me- the girl answered.
"All right" said the old man. CIV
ken now begin 10 Sc our way c'lar; shal
| il be rasslinT
They agreed that it should be wrestling
and going out into the yard, gave them
selves up 10 the contest. but the fata
similarity again asserted itself, for th
Young men were Of equal strength an
ABILITY. Then they tined foot racing
they were Of equal speed; rife shooting
they we're q equal skilL
sswAn, this do beai. and beat IL Peart
too, anything ever Sod the old squir
declared span yOG fling up chi
we9 or dryY
.Do1t believe Ike that idea. fur
only shows lDck without s'perioriiy,
MaTk answered How Is 70 pulls
. bszfin' on that p INT, JO'bs-
/ s-Bsatin' Iov 65rn in the shsde, fur