The Rugby news. (Rugby, Morgan County, Tenn.) 1890-189?, 1891-01-10
ping up to the front door. I opened the
door when he knocked. "Is this the
Morris farm?" he asked.

'and heard that the hired man here had |
been drafted, and I thought you might |
want another"
'I'll call mother" said /; "come in,"
and gave him chair. Mother came
in pretty soon and said: "Yes, we do
need hired man if any one ever did,
for, we're all alone on the farm with
horses, and cattle, and hogs to look
after, and crop to put in in the spring
that is, if we don't lose the farm-but
you don't look as if you could do farm
work. How old are you?"
''Twenty-three," was the answer.
what is your name?" said mother.
George Marvin" he replied. II
haven't been in the country long. My
father was killed in the service; my
mother has since died. My only sister
is living with an uncle in Bradford.
enlisted, but the examining physicians
wouldn't accept me. They said some
thing was wrong with my lungs, but I
don't believe it. guess l look so white
from being in the house so much. I've
been writing book for the last three
months, and now want outdoor eXer.
cise."
Writing fiddlestick!" said mother;
''you're throwing away your time. Can
you milk cows?"
81 can try" said George.
swell, that's something" said moth
er. "Nettie can show you how. You
can stay, but can't tell what we can
pay you yet till we see what you can do"
So George Marvin became our hired
man. liked George from the first, but
he didn't know much about farm work,
though he soon got used to it, and it
brought color into his cheeks.
Joel Griffin had been at our house
pretty often since fathers death, though
generally managed to escape from the
room and leave him to talk with mother.
thought he was uneasy about his
money. One evening after he had gone
mother called me in and said: 'Nettie,
what do you think? All our troubles
areas an end--mortgages paid and all. !"
why, mother, how is that?" said l.
"Girl," said mother, 'you don't know
your good fortune. Joel Griffin has
asked me for your hand"
"And what did you answer him,
mother?"
"Answer him." said mother, show
could | answer him but one way?
gave my consent, and l told him your
answer would probably be the same
as mine, and he's coming tomorrow
night for your answer. He says he'll
release both the mortgages if you'll be-
come his wife"
"Well," said I, 81 never will, that's
sure. hate him." 7"
you've got every thing in your own
hands," said mother. "You can save
this property to yourself and Ralph
and me in my old age, insure your
brothers finishing his studies and get
ting his diploma. You know with one
arm he never could succeed in life with.
out profession. You can marry man
who loves you, and is able to give you
a good home, and can take care of you
or you can see us all homeless in the
street Besides" she added, ''you love
no one else, do you?"
II don't know" said /, "but 1 don't
love Joel Griffin, and he's old enough tc
be my father besides"
"Well," said mother, 'you know the
result if you refuse him." and she left
the room.
Sure enough the next evening Joe
was there. Mother called me in and
left the room.
Miss Nettie," said Joel, 'your moth
er has probably told you that want te
marry you. l have had that notion fol
some time, but you always seemed tt
try and keep out of my way. Now
our mother has given her consent, ant
if you say yes Pll get the license to
morrow"
y don't love you, Mr.. Griffin" said l
''Well, that doesn't make any differ
ence," said he, probably in time yo,
will. You know those mortgages ART
due in May and July, and I'll RELEASE
them both If you'll marry me-"
Suppose don't marry you?" said l
"Why, them" said he, ''of course, yol
can't expect any favors from me. Th'
mortgages will have to be paid whel
they're due, or I'll have to foreclose ant
sell you out"
II The evening of the 1st of April Joe
came, and when mother called me int
the room he said: "Well, Nettie, hav
you decided?" He didn't even wait TO
, mother to go out.
"Yes, have decided" said I.
, "What is your decision?"
, ''If either mortgage is not paid whe1
it is DUE" said /, 81 will marry you tn
next day."
, Time passed on, so fast! The oven
ing of the 1st of May l was sitting il
| the front room, thinking how near tn
, 18th of May was, and what fate await
| ed me, for knew there was no help 70
? it. ! must either marry Joel or we mus
loge our home. George came in, AM
4