, 1891-01-21

my husband returned he found me
sitting breathless under the acacias
"Hush!r l said. with appraised I'm
ger; '~'listeni"
Our host and the colonel were talk
ing at the well.
We've had glorious meetings this
week, over st Gospel Swamp, Jarvis, :"
the minister was saying. Il looked
for you every night. If you could just
come over and near the singing, and
have some of the good brothers and
sisters pray with you. don't you
think
why, God bless your soul, man, -
interrupted the colonel, don't you
know TN %religious2 I'm with you right
Rlong-as to first principles, that is;
but, you see, l can't quite go the Meth
odist doctrine. l was raised a Presby-
terrain, you know-regular black and
blue Calvinist-and what a fellow takes
in with his mothers milk sticks by him.
I'm attached to the old ideas-infant
damnation, and total depravity, and
Internal punishment, and the interior
ence of the saints. You fellows over
at the Swamp are loosel Why, by
the way, my mother used 10 say to me
in her delicate, squeaky voice: Robert,
beware Of Methodists. They're loose,
my son, loose as a bag of bonesr No,
Indeed, ! wouldn't want you to think
me Indifferent TO religion. Religions
my forte. Why. by and by l mean to
start a Presbyterian church right here
under your nose.
I'm glad Of it, responded the good
minister warmly, you've 10 idea how
glad ] am, Jarvis"
why. mar alivei that church is I'm
my mind day and night. want to
get about forty good, pious Presbyterian
families to settle round here, and III
bore wells for 'em, and talk up the
church business between times. You
saw me carrying that lady's pitcher for
her this morning, didn't your Well,
by the way, that was a religious move
entirely. took her man for a Presby-
terrain preacher the minute l struck the
ranch; maybe it's poor health gives
him that cadayerous look, but you
can't most always tell More likely it's
religion"
E~sculapius retreated in wild disorder
and did rot appear again until supper
time. When that meal was finished
Col. Jarvis followed me 10 the piazza.
IF it amt p%resuning, madam he
said confidentially, "rd like to ask
your advice. take 1t you're from the
city, now"
Yes" l answered, with prefer
natural gravity; what makes you
think soT'
well, | knew it by your gait, most
ly. A woman that's raised in the
country walks as If she was used to
havin' the road to herself; city women
are generally good steppers. But that
amt the point. I'm engaged to be
married.
My composure under this announce
ment was grand.
Engaged TO be married." / said.
Let me congratulate you, colonel
May l hope to see the fortunate young
THAT depends. You see, I'm In a
row-the biggest kind of a row, by a
good deal; and l thought you might
give me a lift. She's a Frisco lady,
you know; one of your regular high
hyers-black eyes, bangs, NJ end O.
spirit. You see, she was visitin' over
at Los Nietos, and we made it up. and
when she went back to Frisco /
I'd send her a ring; 80 l
bought this" fumbling in his pocket
and producing the most astounding
of red glass and pinch
beck, and. by godfrey, she sent it
back to mel Now. l don sec any
thing wrong about that ring; do your"
1T is certainly q little-well, peculiar,
at least, for an engagement ring; per
haps she would like something a trife
less snowy. Ladies' have a great many
whims about jewelry, you know"
Exactly. That is just what l re
hected. So | went and bought this
ttriumphantly displaying a narrow gold
band). Now, that's what l call gen
teel don't you2 Well, IL you'll believe
It, she sent hat back too, by-return
mail. | wish I'd fetched you the letter
she wrote; if it wasn't the spiciest piece
of literature l even read by-anybody.
Shed have me understand she wasn't
a barmaid nor a Quaker, and if |
didn't know what was due to a
lady in her position I'd better find
out before l aspired to her hand, etc.
Oh, / tell you, she's grit; no end o
mettle. So you see I've struck a bowl
der, and it gets me bad, because l
meant to see the parson through with
his well here, and then go on to Frisco
and get married. Now if you'll help
me through, and get me into sand and
gravel again, and your man decides to
settle in these parts, I'll guarantee you
n number one well, good even two
inch flow, and no expense but pipe and
boardin' hands, I'll do it by-some
means"
"Oh, no, colonel" l said, struggling
with a laugh, Il couldn't allow that.
1t gives me great pleasure to advise you,
only it is u very delicate matter, you
know, and-really''-I was casting
about wildly for an Inspiration
wouldn't it be better to go on to the
city, as OF intended, and ask the lady
to go with you and exercise her own
taste in selecting a ringf'
My companion took step backward,
folded his arms, and looked at me ad-
m~iringly,
"Wen, if it don't beat all how a
woman walks through a millstonel
Now, that's what / call neat. Why,
God bless you, madam, I've been Dor
in Mt that thing for a week steady,