Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-09-11
WHY EMMA THANKED HIM.
He Kindly Relieved tho Lonesomeness
During h0r Hushand's Absence.

men in former years indeed,sI have
reason to believe it is not obsolete at
this writing), of Sitting out" competit-
ors for lady's favor. In many agri-
cultural districts it is still Q humiliating
acknowledgement for young man to
admit he has been compelled, by any
artificeof his rival, to retire from the
field. One Of the most whimsical Incl
dents growing out of this phase Of RI
valry occurred recently in . small town
in Ohio.
A handsome, free, and airy young
fellow who WAS q great favorite with
everybody. called on q young lady
whose father was 'twell heeled, as the
saying goes, in this worlds goods. Miss
R was accounted great catch. She
had among her admirers an easy, slow
going young attorney, highly connected,
and possessing very decided talent. He
was careless in his at.ire-almost SLOW
emily. But he was fellow who bore
cquaintance-grew nightly on close
acquaintance. The young lawyer hap
pened to occupy an old-fashioned
rocker when the wide-awake, bright
Dick B dropped in. He seemed to
be glued to his seat At least he did not
bulge from it while Dick was there.
Dick left him there, but resolved to
GUST him.
Upon subsequent call, finding Miss
R alone, Dick carried out his pro-
gram. for, the young attorney dropping
in lazily later, was surprised to see
Dick ensconced in the rocker. The
medical student sat his fellow visitor
out.
But the contest, apparently, was not
ended, for both happened to meet at
Miss IS on the same evening, and
now, with one result. The young law
yer, whom I will call Gray, would talk
to Miss at intervals, amuse himself
by exciting her anger, or wit, rise lazily,
dawdle at the door, and after some
whispered talk. leave his rival in the
rocker.
The young student could not resist
the temptation to disclose the situation
to the friends of both parties. Some
there were who marvelled at the lack of
spirit Gray revealed. As the first
conner, he should, it was argued, have
held his ground. The mere fact that
he did not, was deemed sufficient rea-
son for Dick B to boast, and his
boasts were reported to Miss R,
who, however tantalized her lady
friends by holding her tongue, and
smiling when her lovers were discussed.
Six months passed; the lawyer in all
that time had not even seriously at
tempted to "set Dick B" out. On the
contrary, he seemed to derive secret
satisfaction in retiring at uniform hour,
whereat Dick B-assumedt the bearing
and language of an accepted lover. He
did not at once correct the impression
that he was Miss Rs accepted sutton; he
entered faint disclaimers, knowing thew
would be regarded as admissions of his
entire confidence in his suit, for it was
now suit in earnest. People were pre-.
pared for the announcement of the en-.
gagement of Miss R and Dick
B, when that young gentleman,
who was prosecuting his Sitting OUT
scheme assiduously, came to grief il
this wise:
It was beautiful moonlight night,
one of those nights made expressly for
lovers. Dick was lolling in the shadow
of vine-clad porch when Gray dropped
in lazily. The conversation that night
seemed more animated than usual.
The young attorney had more to say,
and said it better. In the course of the
evening he secured the rocker, and, to
Dicks surprise, kept it. When the time
arrived for his withdrawal, he did not
retire. He seemed to ENJOY the COM
pany of his fellows and made himself
very agreeable. Eleven o'clock passed.
The half hour fitted away. Dick be.
San to grow uneasy. Twelve o'clock ar
cerned as tho it were but six. Another
half, three-quarters, one o'clock came,
passed, and yet Gray did not manifest
any signs of . retiring disposition.
In sheer desperation, Dick, as the
first quarter rounded on one, got upon
his feet and said something about the
lateness of the hour. He was bidding
Miss R good night, when Gray,
rising slowly to his full height, said
very deliberately:
@Don't be in hurry, Dick. I'll go
with you presently. This is the last
night we may sit up as lete as this to.
gether, for we," looking at Miss R,
"will be in our new house in week.
Emma, you ought to thank Dick for
his kindness in keeping you company
while I've been porting over my books.
We have been married two months,
Dick"
As Dick related it himself, he scarcely
knew whether he stood on his heels OF
his head" 1t taught him lesson, how.
ever, for Gray persisted in thanking
him, both for his wife and on his own
account. for throwing people off the
track"
What Board Means to the Hired Man.
Wages and board in the family mean
to the average hired man that board
amounts to nothing or next to nothing.
Let him pay his board, then he will
realize its value. but as long as that
patient drudge, the farmers wife, can
be compelledto carry the added burden
ofcooking, washing, mending and caring
for his room he regards it as q debt due.
Paying for his washing he will see it in
different light than when he care
lessly losses down dozen or more
heavy garments every Monday morning
for the farmers wife to amuse herself in