The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-19

"Moss is goin' to git powerful
fine lady, Mr.. Dalch."
"He is, an nothin' shorter" the
old man answered.
81 wanted her myself nightly, but
SIGH ar fate"
"Yas, Jest about SIGH"
"I b'leve l would make her bet
ter husband"
''That mout be, but whar is yo'
credentials? You amt done nothin'
to win the never-dyin' love of gal
that kin skin a squirrel like liftin'
sock often clothes line"
"It's becaze I never had a chance,
Mr.. Dalch.''
ooh, you have jest had as much
chance as anybody. Chance don't
come to a mans house an holler
halo at the fence; they lie hid, an eff
you want 'em you got to skeer 'em
up. Wonder why Moss don't come
on?"
"Mebby he's in the other room
with the gals"
Just then Lib came out and asked:
dad, have you seed Moss?'
"No; lowed he war with YOU"
81 amt seed him an it is dun past
time. Wonder efhe thinksa woman
kinwait all day to bemarried? Some
body go out thar an blow the hon
an eff he hears it he will think it's din
ner time an come up, sho."
They blew the horn, but Moss did
not come. 81 wonder Whar he ISL"
said the old man. HE never failed
to be on time befo'."
"Oh, Ireckon he's dun forgot"
Andy Moore rejoined!
"Wall, l must say that weddin'
is a putty thing to furgit," the girl
replied.
"You air too putty a thing fur me
ever to furgit, said Andy, bestowing
upon her look of melting tender
ness, "Now, look here. Lib, he don't
keer enough for you to come, SO you
marry me. Thar is jestice of the
peace an he can make out the pa
pers."
ooh, no, KANT do that. He's
we'll fixed an you amt got nuthin'
much,"
GIVE got COW that he KANT
tech"
eyes, but he's got six feather beds
that his mother gave him."
"Wall, but I've got shuch mat
tress that amt to be sneezed at I'm
less you've got a powerful bad cold. "
"Whut's the use of talkin' non
sense" said old Dalch. "You ain't
good enough fur her an that settles
Say" Andy remarked, after a
short silence, char is goin' to be a
circus over at Shady Grove tomor-
row. War a-talkin' to Moss about
goin' thar, but he lowed that he
wouldn't be koteh in SIGH a place. :"
The girls eyes sparkled. "What!'
she exclaimed,S;'a sho' 'muff circus,
with horses in it?''
"Yas, an with a carryall load OF
monkeys"
"An' have they got wolf an a
bar?"
"Yas, an a elephant"
"But have they got a tiger an a
beautiful lady that rides hoss?"
"Yas, got all that an mo- too"
"Oh,.l wish Icould go!'
"Ef you'll marry me to-day I'll take
you thar tomorrer."
"Will you take me, tool" exclaimed
old<Dalch, springing to his feet.
"Yas I'll take you, too"
"The gals yourn, Andy. Git that
Teller to fix up the papers.
Late that evening, while old Dalct
was wandering about in the creek
bottoms, looking for his COW, hi
thought he heard some one calling
and, turning aside, he discovered {
low hut built of enormous logs. The
old fellow was puzzled, for he hat
never seen the hut before, nor could
he tell why it should be built, as il
was too small for a human habita
ton, and had no roof except a mum
Der of heavy logs on top. AS h
neared the hut he saw that it was a:
strong as a fortress, and, looking
still closer, he saw q face pressed
close against a small opening. TIL
old man took fright and was abou
. to run away when a pleading voic
|. bade him stay.
, cts me, Dalch. Don't you know
me? I'm Moss Settle"
: my! Moss. what on the top of tn
t yeth air you dom in thar?'' the oil
7 fellow exclaimed, approaching tn
3 pile of logs.
ooh, the scoundrel! But neve
8 mind, let me out"
! II don't know how; I don't kno,
5 how to get at the thing"
e "Wall, git me out somehow, fur
4 is high time ] war at the house,
Y bein' married like white man 'stea'
! of shet up here like dog"
q "Moss, Pm powerful sorry to te