St. Landry democrat., 1892-04-23
SHORTY LOCHINV AR
BY r. J, KETCHUM.

strike so deeply and cause so much
sleaplessness as at the age of one score
or thereabout | have known quite a
number of young men of about that age
t. be deeply, passionately, desperately
in love, and ultimately to recover and go
through similar but less agonizing expe-
riences several times thereafter. But, as
| said, they never, in a single instance
suffered half 80 much from subsequent
attacks as from that first experience.
Not that they love less, but their capac-
ity for suffering has dminished-which
is something to be thankful for, for a
man who could suffer at each recurrence
OF the complaint as much as he did at
the first, would die of the second or third
relapse.
Tho 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 a 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 detied
q far more severe man than his brother
Jack for his sake. Besides, Shorty was
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 good-naturedly, were none
| the less Formidable Parker was a
shrewd Maine Yankee, with total dis
belief in the ability of womankind to use
reason, and a 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 mon, close-tisted as he was, had
| spared no expense in edUca ing her
literally. 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 q direct pur-
pose. Jack was under the weather, and
lay on the sofa | was reading to him
when Parker walked in.
"lIowdy, Flemin'; laid up, air ye?
Howdy, Faber; purity warm, amt it?
Thanks, | will set 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 ez we'll hear"
Here the old man stit'ened up in his
seat and stated the object of his mission,
in a good natured but thoroughly decided
way, closing with:
"Naow, Fleming, l amt no objection
{ tn leetle feller-not one mite; he's q
tip-top good boy, an all that. But
faint in reason tht I'm goin' t. spend
more'n three thousan' dollars educating
u young 'un, an then let or go an
marry mother young 'un, 'thout airy 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 tho Parker ranch, but we
had never guessed that his visits there
had any significance. A courtship, too,
with six big brothers loafing around, is
difficult matter. 1t is easy enough to
falI-just 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 q
large portion Of ones attention, it is
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: II
quite agree with you, Mr.. Parker. Idon't
know what to say to Percy, but [ will
try little strategy and see if he can't
be kept at home more. If that don't do
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. It
was Shorty. Re sat down quietly and
took up paper, which he looked at for
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 for
to-day2"
tried to dissemble, but Shorty is no.
body's fool, and interrupted: "Oh, rot !"
said he, II reckon you think I'm
sucker. Now, honestly, what was he
here for?"
Finally l told him about the converse
tion between his brother and Parker.
lie sat silent for few minutes. | could
sec his face twitch. Then he turned his
eyes to my face and said, slowly: "Faber,
| know I'm young and ell that, butt
know my own mind. Jacks a good
brother and feels in duty bound to take
care of me, but | guess can tend to
that myself. I've made up my mind
to marry that girl, if she'll have me, and
oil the Jacks and Sam Parkers in the
world can't stop me-" And Mr.. Peroival
Fleming set his mouth hard and walked
out. He called at Parker's the next
evening, despite Jacks strategy"
There was another callcr at Parker's
that evening, in the person Of Morris
Cottrell, q wealthy rencher from up the
Five Mile" Shorty, when he got home,
mentioned this fact to me, with 80 mo
feeling in his tones. Cottrel was no old
dutfer. ie was man Of thirty, and
well-read, and a gentleman, aud the
prospect of having him for rival would
have sent despair to the heart OF any
penniless young man less determined
than Shorty Fleming.