Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-11-14
HlRAM'S C0URTSHlP
A Story Of Two Lovers, a Stern Parent
and-a Vicious Dog.
10y w. L. FRENCH.


Brig Boggs was wealthy old farmer
with wife and one very pretty ane
engaging daughter.
Old Brig, as he was called, was ex
ceedingly peculia: in NEST OF things
Mrs. Boggs was used to his ways and
paid but little heed to them; SO was
his daughter Julia. and she paid less
heed. One thing, he was decidedly OPP
posed to Julia's having young men com.
ing to the house to court her; in fact
he would not permit it, or, to use his
own words, "He hain't agon' to have
the place overrun by young fellers
comm to court his gal, an that's all
there is to hit.
But though he succeeded in keeping
them away from the house, he did not
succeed SO we'll in keeping them away
from his fair Julia's side when she was
calling at the neighbours or attending
social gatherings. OF this the old man
knew nothing. He imagined that his
control over Julia was SO great that she
would not think of disobeying his COM
mands. 8
A young farmer, whose land.adj Joined
that of Old Brig on, the west, had met
Julia. Each had been smitten with the
charms of the other, and in q few short
months they were engaged to be mar
ned. How to win the old mans con-
sent was the trouble which now pre-.
scented itself to their consideration.
Julia's lover, Hiram Fries, was very
estimable young man, and in every
way worthy of her, SO Brig could have
no objection to him on that score. His
only reason would be that he did not
want Julia to marry anyone, and, as
he was very hard-headed, both
knew that his consent would be
hard to obtain. But they loved each
other and were determined to wed.
even if Old Brig would not give his per-
mission, though they both would much
prefer to have it.
1t was at length decldeu Lna5 hiram
should cali on Julia's father, lay the
case before him and use every argu.
ment in his power to win the old man
over. Hiram realized how heavy was
the task he had set about doing He
would much rather have faced loaded
cannon than Old Brig, but it had to be
done and there was no one to do it but
him, SO he nerved himself up to the
proper pitch, and, donning his "best
clothes" set out one evening for the
Boggs' homestead. When he arrived
he found the old gentleman busily en-
gagged doing his evening chores.
"Howdy, Hiram: glad to see you.
You're looking mighty slick ter-night;
must have been some place." was the
old mans greeting.
mo, I haven't been any place yet, :"
replied Hiram; Il am just a-goin'
now"
"Oh, thet's it. Well, what sort O
doin's is OH hand ter-night?" and the
old man entered corn-crib and, seiz-
ing a scoop, commenced throwing out
huge shovelfuls of corn to squealing
swine, which ceased their music long
enough to make wild scramble for the
golden ears of corn.
"None, that 1 know Of" replied
Hiram. who was at q loss to commence
the subject he had in mind.
Il reckoned thar must be, from the
way you are fixed UP, bein' as it's a
week day, too," said Old Brig.
"No; the fact is I came over to see
you," rejoined Hiram, who was deter.
mined to make bold plunge into the
object of his visit and have the worst
over with at once.
"Well, here am" replied Old Brig,
who, having thrown out the required
amount of feed for his hogs, dropped
the shovel and prepared to listen to the
young man.
"You see, sir, that I-well-that is
I love Julia and have asked her to mar
sry me, and she has promised to marry
me provided you're willin.'
Hiram stretched the truth little
here, for Julia had promised to we'd him
in any event.
Hem! Rather seems as though you
had fixed it all up to marry whether !
be agreeable er not How long has
this thing been goin' on?"
Nigh on to six months" replied
Hiram, somewhat encouraged by the
way Old Brig was receiving the news.
AS long as that, an never heered
a drafted word erbout hit. You must
hey been mighty sly all this time to
keep hit hid from the old man. 1 reck-
on it would hev looked better if you
he'd come to me first before courtin' the
gal an found out if I was willin'?"
Il s'pose I should, but Julia thought
you wouldn't let me come to see her,
an SO had to spark her wherever we
happened to meet. -
sNot very honorable, young man,
and ye hev had yer trouble an pains
fer nothin. You're good enough
fellow, I'll low, but my darter ain t
agoin' to marry anyone with my con-
sent, and don't reckon she will with
out: 1t you an her love enough to
wait till after I'm dead to marry, I
hain't no objection, but she amt agoin'
to marry at all if kin help it,"
Surely you don't mean that. Re-
member how we'll we love each other,
and make us happy by giving your con-
SENT" pleaded Hiram, who was 10th to
yield without struggle.