Mower County transcript., 1892-07-27
CHAPTER xxvu

Janets little girl, with tho quick in.
tuition OF childhood, had discovered that
John was a man after her own heart
When he waa about the house or yard
she followed him about like small
shadow, until tired out she would cry
out in most pcremptory fashion: "Tote
me, Don," and John would obediently
perch her on his shoulder, where with
one arm about his neck she would cling
like monkey. Every time he went to
town, his return was for her season
OF great rejoicing. She would rum
mage his pockets, and pull out the
small treasures purposely put there for
her delectation, with shouts of delight.
Several young men of the vicinity, at
tracted by the handsome young widow.
began to pay occasional visits to the
house. They met with polite but dis
tant treatment from Janet, and with
open hostility from Dot. who would
have none of them.
On one occasion. one OF them boider
than the rest, having Dot to himself out
on the porch, ventnred uo ask that
young lady, if she wonld not like 10 have
| another papa, whereupon Miss Dot set
up Il vOciferous howl 81 won't have G6~
body but Poppy Dou-'oo go way" aud
retreating inside promptly made known
the situation to her mother and grand,
mother The young man whose in8is.
Greet question had raised the storm re-
treated.in great haste, and John being
absent, at the moment, there was no one
present but Mrs Gregory 10 notice
Janets bushes, and she seized the OBJ
portunity to say TO Janet:
'Why don't You marry John and put
an end to these young mems visits which
seem so unwelcome?"
Janet was greatly distressed
"Oh! mother, how can you be SO crueli
You know that can never think oi
such thing again as marrying, and ]
could not be SO unjust as To give such q
worthless remnant to a good man like
John, even II he should want me, Of
which have no evidence"
Mrs Gregory looked sharply asJanes's
flushed face and fearful eyes. said
'Pshaw," and went about her business
The occurrence ranleled in Dots mind,
| and when John was sitting down by the
fire that evening after supper. as VIA
his custom, to spend an hour with the
family before going TO his own room.
she climbed on his lap. put both arms
| around his neck, squeezed him hard,
and gravely announced:
II des loves 90, Dom
There was a general laugh, which Of.
Tended the little lady, whereat she be
gan to air her grievances Janet. seeing
what was coming, seized her. protesting
most vehemently, and carried her of &c
bed. Janet did not return, and Mn.
Gregory, who was shrewd woman In
her way, told John Of the small .empes,
of the day. John sat quietly for man,
minutes; then he spoke, rs II thinking
aloud:
II shall ask Janet to marry mo, and II
she declines must leave here can
not stay here and see her marry anoth.
er man"
"John, am surprised at you I'll
did not know you to be n brave man
would think you coward Now, am
going to take your affairs In hand ]
don't know which Is the most foolish.
you or Janet. She thinks she must be
loyal to the memory Of that man who
did his best to embitter her Life, and you
talk about running away hloe school
boy from whipping, and both OF you
fairly In love or am no judge"
"Do you really think Janet cares for
me?"
'I do not think atau, Iinow It. Now,
tomorrow, you ask her 10 marry you.
and Z she declines, you tell her that you
will give her one more year TO make up
her mind, and II she docs not come
around In that year then VIII give you
leave to 60"