Crawford avalanche., 1892-03-17
SHORTY. LocHINvAR.'
BY R. J. KErcnux.

Of successful contradiction. that ut nc
| period of mans existence does Cupid
strike 50 deeply and cause so much
sleeplessness as at the ago of one score
O. thereabout. l have known quite
number of young men of about that ago
to be deeply, passionately, desperately
in love, and ultimately to recover and 60
through similar hut less agonizing expe.
riences several times thereafter. But, as
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 diminishod-which
is something to be thankful for, for q
man who could suffer ut 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 q
pitiable creature, particularly when there
are obstacles, which is usually the case.
l always feel sorry for chap in this
sort of pickle, and felt particularly
sorry for poor Shorty Fleming. l know
ought not to encourage him, but he
was such good little beggar, and 81
much in earnest, that 1 would have defied
far more severe man than his brother
Jack for his sake. Besides, Shor was
not one of the chaps who get over any
thing easily, and l know failure would 20
hard with him. Moreover, Jack was not
the only "obstaclc." Sam Parker,
Shorty's Netties papa, also objected.
He was not II stern, unreasonable parent,
by any means. but his objections, even
if presented good-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-fsted as he was, had
spared no expense in edc CO ing her
literally. 1t was only natural, there
fore, for him TO object, especially rs
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 n direct pur-
pose. Jack was under the weather, and
lay on the sofa. was reading t, him
when Parker walked in.
"Howdy, Flemin'; laid up, air ye?
Howdy, Faber; purity warm, amt it?
Thanks, will sot SPELL" And he sat
down on the edge of chair and began
tracing figures on the floor with his big
spur. He seemed nervous, and rose to
leave the room, but he waved his hand
and said: 'Set daown, Faber. Set still.
Guess amt got nothin' t. say but what
ye mout or well hear"
Here the old man stiffened up in his
seat and stated the object of his mission,
in a good natured but thoroughly decided
way, closing with:
"Naow, Fleming, amt no 'bjecton
t tn leetle feller-not one mite; he's u
tip-top good boy, an all that. But
'tain't in reason th't I'm goin' t. spend
more'n three thousan' dollars eddicating'
young 'un, an then let 'er go an
marry neither 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 a
difficult matter. 1t is easy enough to
fall-just fall-in love with 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 a
matter of getting in love, which, accom-
plished, is rather more serious than q
mere fall into the samo.
Fleming sat up and ran his fingers
through his hair. gravely. Then: 81
quite agree with you, Mr.. Parker. Idon't
know what to say to Percy, but l will
try little strategy and see if he can't
be kept at home more. If that don't dc
l can talk to him."
And here began my connection with
Shorty's love affair. That evening l was
writing busily when somo one opened
the door Of my don and walked in. II
was Shorty. He sat down quietly and
took up paper, which he looked at fol
several minutes, while | scratched away
at my work. Then he threw down the
paper suddenly, and turned to me with
"Faber, what was old Parker here fol
today"
tried to dissemble, but Shorty is no.
body's fool, and interrupted: "Oh, rot y
said he, II reckon you think I'm d
sucker Now, honestly, what was he
here for?"
Finally / told him about the converse.
ton between his brother and Parker
He sat silent for few minutes. could
see his face twitch. Then he turned his
eyes to my face and said, slowly: "Faber
| know Pm young and oil that, but j
know my own mind. Jacks a gooc
brother and feels in duty bound to take
care of me, but | guess can tend tC
that myself. I've made up my minC
to marry that girl, If she'll have me. ant
all the Jacks and Sam Parkers in tn,
world can't stop me-" And Mr.. Porciva
Fleming set his mouth hnrd and walked
out. He called at Parker's the mex
evening, despite Jacks strategy"
There was another caller at Parker
that evening, in the person of Morris
Cottrell, a wealthy rancher from up th'
"Five-Mile." shorty, when he got home
mentioned this fact to me, with so m'
feeling in his tones. Cottrel was no oil,
duffer. He was man of thirty, ant
well-read, and a gentleman, and tn
prospect of having him for a rival woul'
have sent despair to the heart of an.
pennlless young man less determines
than Shorty Fleming.