Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-03-03
SHORTY LOCHINV
BY II. J. KETCHUM.

peTlou OIL u man eNlStenCe uOeS Sup1O
strike so deeply and cause so much
sleeplessness as at the age of one score
or thereabout. | have known quite q
number of young men of about that age
to be deeply, passionately, desperately
in love, and ultimately to recover and 60
through similar but less agonizing expe-
riences several times thereafter. But, as
L said, they never, in single instance
suffered half so much from subsequent
attacks as from that first experience.
Not that they love less, but their capac-
ity for suffering has minished-which
is something to be thankful for, for a
man who could suffer at each recurrence
of the complaint as much as he did al
the first would die of the second or third
relapse.
The victim of this first attack is a
pitiable creature, particularly when there
are obstacles, which is usually the case.
always feel sorry for chap in this
sort of pickle, and | felt particularly
sorry for poor Shorty Fleming. know
ought not to encourage him, but he
was such good little beggar, and so
much in earnest, that would have defed
far more severe man than his brother
0aSh loi suhC. DGslucsy NuOItf WIS
not one of the chaps who get over any
thing easily, and know failure would go
hard with him. Moreover, Jack was not
the only "obstacle." Sam Parker,
Shorty's Nettie's papa, also objected.
He was not stern, unreasonable parent,
by any means, but his objections, even
If presented od-naturedly, were none
the less formidable. Parker was u
shrewd Maine Yankee, with total dis
belief in the ability of womankind to use
reason, and record of some sixty years
OF devotion TO an earnest hustle for the
fascinating but elusive American dollar.
Nettie was the only daughter and the
youngest child in family of seven, and
the old man, close-fisted as he was, had
spared no expense in educating her
iberally. 1t was only natural, there
fore, for him to object, especially as
Nettie was barely eighteen, and had only
been out of school few months.
He called on Jack one afternoon, not
casually, as he usually called, on his way
to or from town, but with direct pur-
pose. Jack was under the weather, and
lay on the sofa. was reading to him
when Parker walked in.
"Howdy, Flemin'; laid up, air ye?
Howdy, Faber; purity warm, amt it?
Thanks, l will set SPELL" And he sat
down on the edge of a chair and began
tracing figures on the floor with his big
spur. He seemed nervous, and l rose to
leave the room, but he waved his hand
and said: "Set daown, Faber. Set still.
Guess | ain't got nothin' t say but what
ye mout ez well hear"
Here the old man stifened up in his
sent and stated the object of his mission,
in good -natured but thoroughly decided
way, closing with:
"Naow, Fleming, amt no 'bjection
Z tn leetle feller-not one mite; he's a
tip-top good boy, an all that. But
tain't in reason th't I'm goin' t. spend
more'n three thousan' dollars educating
young 'un, an then let 'er go an
marry mother young un, 'thout ary red.
An that's what it'll come tew, fust thing
we know"
Now, Parker's remarks were in the
nature of a revelation to us. OF course
we knew Shorty had put in good many
evenings at the Parker ranch, but we
had never guessed that his visits there
had any significance. A courtship, too,
with six big brothers loafng around, is n
difficult matter. 1t is easy enough to
fall-iust fall-in love with a girl if
there is no one to hinder. But with six
young men, with whom one is on good
terms, sitting around and occupying a
large portion of ones attention, it is n
matter of getting in love, which, accom-
plished, is rather more serious than a
mere fall into the same.
Fleming sat up and ran his fingers
through his hair gravely. Then: 81
quite agree with you, Mr.. Parker. DOM
know what to say to Percy, but | will
try little strategy and see if he cant
be kept at home more. If that don't dc
can talk to him."
And here began my connection with
Shorty's love affair. That evening was
writing busily when some one opened
the door of my don and walked in. II
was Shorty. lie sat down quietly anC
took up paper, which he looked at 70,
several minutes, while l scratched ava,
at my work. Then he threw down tn
paper suddenly, and turned to me with
"Faber, what was old Parker here fo
today"
tried to dissemble, but Shorty is no
BODY TOOL, and interrupted: ooh, rot !!
said he, 81 reckon you think I'm
sucker. Now, honestly, what was h
here for?"
Finally l told him about the converse
tion between his brother and Parker
He sat silent for few minutes. l coul
see his face twitch. Then he turned hi
eyes to my face and said, slowly: "Fabel
1 know I'm young and all that, but
know my own mind. jacks a goo
brother and feels in duty bound to tax
care of me, but | guess can tend I
that myself. I've made up my min
to marry that girl, If she'll have me, an
oil the Jacks and Sam Parkers in ii
world can't stop me-" And Mr.. Perciv
Fleming set his mouth hard and wake
out. He called at Parker's the ne
evening despite Jacks STRATEGY"
There was another caller at Parker
that evening, in the person of Mor
Cottrell, wealthy rnncher from up IL
"Five-Alilc. Shorty, when he got hom
mentioned this fact to me, with so
feeling in his tones. Cottrel was no o
duffer. He was man of thirty, al
well-rcad, and a gentleman, and Il
prospect of having him for rival won
have sent despair to the heart of al
penniloss young man less determin
than Shorty Fleming.