Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-05-29
A WIFE FOR AN HOUR.

Plunkett, as he took his seat by the
side of his old 'oman,' as he calls her;
''for never had no foolishness when
was a courtin,' and lean prove that
by the old 'oman herself"
II warn't 80 easy got as you'd
make out" spoke up the wife OF
Plunkett, as she run a knitting needle
back of her ear and laid the unfinished
sock on her lap.
"I'll tell you, resumed the old man,
as smiled played over his face, ''she
was kind O. independent like in our
courtin' days, and ! begin ter think
once that she warn't gwine ter have
me at all, and got tired foolin' with
her, for there was another girl in the
settlement that | knowed would have
me at the drop O. hat, and | had
just about made up my mind that l
warn't gwine to wear marry mother
pair O. shoes out runnin' after girls
fore l got married, and so one Sun
day as l went home with the old
oman here from singin' she seed l
was little drawer than common be-
fore we got outen sight O the meetin'
house, and she begin to kind O. pout
like, and I lowed, l did. Now !
want this thing settled
"She didn't say nothin', and we
Just walked along the road silent,
and l seed the foot-log in front about
two hundred yards off, and thought
ter myself, Now, 'ssoon s l git across
that foot-log I'll make her pint the
day, or I'll know the reason why
When we got ter the foot-log took
her hand ter help her across, and l
no sooner got a hold O. her hand
than all my brave feelings were gone,
and | begin ter tell her about how
much l thought O. her, and was jist s
humble g dog. She seed she had
me; and pretty soon she jerked her
hand away and begin ter pout agin,
and we walked along S silent s a
graveyard for about u quarter
o n mile; but every once and
awhile l could see her cut her eye
from under her bonnet at me, and I
begin ter decide that she was kind O.
maxim fun O. me, and l got Drawer
than she had ever seed me up ter
that time, and l lowed:
g. Mary, you see yonder big pine
tree alongside O the road?'
"'Yes, Bob" said she.
"'Well, Mary said l, If you don't
say you'll marry me fore we pass
that tree I'll never fool with you
agin.'
"She didn't say a word, and we
walked along some little piece, and I
was studyin' all the time about some
thin ter say ter her, but my throat
choked up and Icouldn't saga word
till caught her smilin', and then L
lowed:
If you don't want ter say nothin
} you can jist give me your hand and
will take that as yes, but if we pass
that tree Pm gone and gone forever.
"She seed was in earnest, but she
didn't let on, and we walked along
+ side by side till we got pretty close
ter the tree, and thinks ter myself,
, I'm goner, and begin ter think
about the other girl.
ave had gone along till we were in
ten steps O. the big tree, and l had
t give it up, when all GA sudden | seed
Mary pull her bonnet down and look
the other way from me, and then
know'd l was goner, for It warn't
.. more N three steps ter the tree; but
!. iist then she begin ter jab her hand
, out in front O me quick land nervous
y holdin' her bonnet over her :ace
! with the other hand, and looking the
other way. l stopped for l know'(
what she meant, and l took hold o
8 that hand and l held it till she looked
around at me, and then pushed hel
! bonnet back and's she looked up Al
, me stopped and kissed her. We've
been married now goin' on tifty-thre,
, years, and have never been sorry
) and | hope she has not,
/; "You don't waste much time tellin
. me O. your love these days, though,
h said the old lady as she took tn
knitting needle from behind her ea
, and resumed her knitting.
"But what l was goin' ter tell 70,
+ about" said Plunkett, without TAX
ing notice OF his wife's remark, "was
{ the oman shat you seed pass along
, the road awhile ago,
4 "When the war broke out that wa
l. as pretty and rosy-cheeked girl a.
YOU ever seed. and she had NOR
.arning' than any other girl in thes
parts. She was the daughter o. {
tine old widow lady and had fou
brothers. She was jist passin' through
G her courtin' days when Georgia sc
l. 4