The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-03-20

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"Ah, me! what * lille thing will
change q i5ersnn's whole life sometimes.
a1ke boys leased Silas numerically
about his mistake, and he never did
speak to poor Lydia again. He was
awfully jealous, ind was hopping mad
when he heard james had taken me home
and Never came near ine for u week, to
punish hue. When he did come, nv dan.
der was up and tho tpshot OF it was,
we broke friendship then and there.
Maybe We would have made up, but
Your uncle James, when he once got
started, didn't let any grass grow under
his feet, and after he had como to see
me awhile, WONDERED what I could
have 9 in that silly Silas Melton.
Father and mother liked James, too,
and he came to see me, as regular as
clock work, three times q week for over
four years."
"Dear mela cried Ada, did it take
him that long to propose?"
He never did propose answered
Aunt Maheltabel, with a merry tinkle
in her eye.
"Why, Aunt Hetty, you didn't ask
him to marty you, did your" Asked
Maude in surprise. "How did you come
to marry him, if he usyer asked you
too"
Listen and you will find ont. He
Kept coming week after week, and year
after year, but never d word of love-
making out of him. Bless your hearts!
/ know oil the time. he was in love with
me, but you never seed such a bashful
a Mother at last told me I must
kind of help him out, and let him see
he had nothing to fear; so I showed him
how many quilts I had pieced, and told
him about the pretty gray colt father
promised to give me when I was mar
ried, but the more I limited, and the
easier I made it for him, the more scared
he was, and the less he said. SO it
went on until nearly Christmas.
christmas came on Saturday that
year, and two of my c%roniei, Mary
Jones and Sallie~ Hodge, We're to be
married on that day. On the Sunday
night before Christmas, which was the
10Th Of December, James was at our
house on his regular Sunday visit. We
always sat in the family sitting-room,
and father and mother, my big brother
Fred, and the younger boys aud girls,
stayed there. too, until half-past eight,
which was cur regular bedtime. At
ten, James always went away, for our
folks were very strict. This particular
Sunday night We were all sitting around
the big tirerplace-my little sister
Frances in james, lap, and little Henry
leaning over his shoulder, for he always
liked to play with the children. We
were all talking about the weddings that
We're to come off that week, when
wicked Fred, who delighted to tease
me, spoke up suddenly: I say, sis,
why don't you and Jim get married the
same time with the others-it would be
jolly fun
snow, if he had said that to me wher
W were alone Iwonld have boxed hi:
ears. and that would have been the enc
of it, but it sort of frustrated me wher
James was there to hear, and him sc
easy plagued, but l says as easy and
careless-like as I could to turn the
matter of-'Oh, I'll never get married
the tail end of the week, Christmas OF
no Christmas
"Be married on Sunday, then" said
Fred, tantalizin'ly.
".No, 0 on Sunday either said I,
getting more and more confused, but
trying hard not to show it. Do you
s'po c I am going to put off my good
clothes the very day after l am married,
and go into the wash.tub? Not much
I'll wait until the washing and ironing
are both out OF the way
"'How would Wednes-- began Fred,
but father shut him up with q stern
Hush, we've had enough n%onsense!'
When father spoke in that tone we chill
dren always minded; that is, all of us
but little Frances; she was the youngest
and father had spoiled her until she
wasn't a mite afeared of him. She had
been listening to every word, and the
minute Fred hushed, she turned round
or James knee, SO she could look straight
into his eyes, and there. she says in her
quick, sharp way, lis you and Hetty
truly going to get married?'
"Idldn't dare to take but jestone peep
at your uncle, but I declare, 7 never
seed such a red face before. He looked
awfully plagued, but Frances was look
ing him square III the faco, and of last
he stammered out-I-why Yes, I
guess-I expect-that is, if Hetty'Il
have me- and then he begin moppin'
his face with his handkerchief.
"'Oh, she'll have you quick, I know
she will says Frances, bobbing her
head up and down. And air you GO
ing to get married Wednesday, as
brother said, and is Hetty-
:" Child! childY cried mother, trying
to lift her off from James lap, to carry
her from the room; but Frances was SO
spoiled she was bound to have her own
way, and she throwed both arms
around his neck, and says to mother:
I'm not o going one step till he tells
me. James, JamesP and she almost
screamed as mother tried to pull her
away from him. Tell me quick, air you
going to get married Wednesday? Air
you? Air you? Air youy
"'Yes TAM answered James desper.
ately, loosening her hands from his
! neck, and then mother carried Frances
of, her kicking and screaming every
step. Father looked at Fred so hard,
he didn't dare to say a word, and then
he muttered something about its being
bedtime, an left the room,
an the boys all followed
Is'pose father thought we didn't need
any extra company just then"
Aunt Mehitab1e paused a moment tc
fan herself, and to listen smilingly te
her neice's impatient remarks.
aOh Auntie, please don't stop right
now, in the very best part Of the story
Did you get married the next Wednes
day and-oh, tell us! what did he say.
and how did ne look. and how did be
act, after therest had gone away"
"Umph! J" said Aunt Mehetable slowly
He said-weil it was something rather
foolish I expect, though I didn't thinl
so then. Wait until your own lover.
come. and then you will know all abouI
it. Anyway. the end OF the story is, W.
we're married the very next week, anc
I amt never been q mite sorry I tool
him either.
"A Cheap Gymnasium.
The cheapest and best g JJmaasium il
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