Smyrna times., 1891-02-04
IN A DILEMMA.

Mark Ramsey and Job Trotter wer
otten seen at the house of old SQUIRE Fl
pot. These visits were not due tn an,
regard Mark and Job may have had fo
tne squire, but were clearly traceable Z
the love which they bore his dauobta
Judy. The two young men waro .
much alike physically that they nigh
have been taken for twins. They wer
tall, strong and well built; thew wer
oiack eyed and long haired, sunburDe,
and hardened by exposure to all sorts n
hardshlPs. The resemblance even ex
tended to mental peculiarities. Mari
dld not know long division from, sbor
conlngs; neither did Job. Mark. piver
the freest exercise of his arm. couid mo-
with charred chunk have written hi,
name on the gable end of the barn
neither could Job. Being so much alilre
both physically and mentally, it was
small wonder that they loved judy. who
oy the way, was the handsomest pirl IN
the neighbOrhood
she was more than merely handsome.
she was bright, quick to learn. and. fiat.
terlng gossip declared, could knit a nair
of yarn socks or snatch the feathers aff :
chicken as quickly and as effectuallv AZ
any girl in the community, regardless
OF educational advantages. judy loved
Mark and Job, but she could not decide
winch one she preferred. This inabili+v
gave her great concern, and often at
nlght, while patching her fathers brown
jeans or atevening when crouched in the
slowly darkening gold of a diving dav
milking the muly COW, she wonId Sb,,t
her eyes, bring up the faces of her two
lovers, and attempt to force herself into
decision, but in vain, for when the gold
Oh evening had darkened into the char
coal OF night, when old mulv stood ma.
tlently with one foot in the pail of milk
Judy's love remained in equal division
OId tllpot liked the boys, but, to have
saved his life, he could not have told
which one was his favorite. He u,as
willing she should marry one of them. it
made no difference which, and he so
cretly wished that one of them. still no
matter which, would die, SO that the ro-
manning one could make his daupbter
happy. '-'''
Neither one Of the young men was ever
able to see the girl alone, for they kent
SO close a watch upon each others mova-
ments that one making disappearance at
.ne squire house, was sure to be followed
Immediately by the other.
One morning, just as the souire and
judy had arisen from the breakfast table !
voices IN the sitting room announced ~ |
wen accustomed ears the arrival of the |
lovers. The old man and his daughter
went IN, and, following a long and worn
habit, cordially shook hands with the visi-
tors and bade them feel perfectly at homo
we nave come" said Mark, ''to see if
"ecan tsorter make some arrangements"
That's what we have" Job put in.
want Judy" Mark added.
$50 do l." said Job.
1 love her powerful" +" Mark ohservad
Il love her just about the same, !" Lob
declared. 1'''' 'Oo
'Gentlemen," said the squire. pernlex-
IDLY strOking his whiskers, 81 don't sea
low we are going to manage this affair.
'udy' don't you, arter all, love one lust
little better than you do the otherP''
= believe do, pap" she answered.
mar we are 'gittin' at it. Now.
which one is itY'
mats what 1 kain't tell, pap"
Thar 1t goes again, an we arr inst as
ur on as ever. Mark, amt you cot
iothin' to suggest"
Don t believe I have. Job mout have"
No. 1 hain't, lessen it is that she mar
me an be done with it."
as, and reckon 1 can make sicb n
1ggeStlon In favor of myself" Mark re-
lied' and then half musingly added:
DO wish this thing was over with. fuy
am behind with my crap an nv FARMS
lnnln' down, for 1 have to watch lob ,
} close that WV
Jest the same with me-" Job broke in.
wall, now," said the old squire,
Suthln has got to be did, and did at
nee, fur I'm tired Of this here feverisb .
as the feller SAYS. I have
earn my gran'daddy talk about cases
re this that took place in the old times Il
Id they never failed to git at a settle. .
ent somehow ruther. Il mont bovo 3
'en by match of some sort-foot race
sslin', or shootin'. don't know 80
tiy how, but near as can ricolleck .
% way gran'daddy told it thev alIns .
u 1t to be decided by some's perioritv =
at one he'll over the other" u
I'm morn willin'," Job declared Il
what do you say, Judy?" y
suits me-" the girl answered. :.
"Au right, said the old man. scWe y
n now begin to see our way c'lar; shall y
be rasslin'?' o
ihey agreed that it should be wrestling, y
d going out into the yard, gave them. u :,
YES up to the contest, but the fatal - :.
allarlty again asserted itself, for the -
lng men were of equal strength and -
ihty. Then they tried foot racing %
y were of equal speed; rifle shooting
y were of equal skill.
wall, this do beat, and beat it peart ''9
!, anything l ever seed, the old squire =.
,lared. "Spozen you fling up chip "
or dry?' 0P :.
Don't believe like that idea, fur it ~ ~
y shows luck without Superiority. "a "a
Tx answered. Glow is yo' pulse VI
tim on that pint, Job?" -
Beatin' low down in the shade. fur I 80
It like the idee." al
Wall, said the old man, "let's 90 in "a
house and set down; might as well p lu'
restln' while we're thinkin' up suthin' VI
: Helloa! yander comes Parson -
ddle. Light, parson, and examine wa
saddle" he added, as the preacher wi
" up at the gate. adj
ne parson dismounted, and, with the tai
man, followed the lovers into the sac
SO. 49, -
Is it possible" said the preacher, in drs
'onse to a declaration made bv the clu
squire, that you cannot, even bv his
most persuasive appeal to sentiment, Der
9 this extremely eccentric court wa.
pul
Jant do 1t, one way nor luther" the the
man reloinedi and then, quickly hau
lng 70 the girl, he added, "Judy, I've lool
an idee." NJ
What is it, papi" wit
Well. it's this: Parson Briddle. here. q
seed a good deal Of the world-w'y, GUS
We been way down in Robinson bod
lty, haven't you, parson?" hor
es, the parson answered proudlv. ofis
mar, now" continued the old man. rod,
has even been way down in Robin. IS,
county, and is, from the fack that
as seen good deal Of the world,
ledge OF the good pi'nts in man; 50
, Judy air you willin' to leave it to NJ
parson and take the one he picks youI
HNTTae