Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-08-25
ElCKLE BILL VAN LOON
A Story of Unrequited Love and Disap
nointmen

A Story of Unrequited Love and Disap'
pointment.
While driving from Geeville to Coverly's
Corners, in the big hemlock belt of Penn.
sylvania, was approaching backwoods
farmhouse that stood near the road when
old, came running toward me from the
house. He threw up one hand and yelled:
"Hey, there! Hold on spellp'
stopped my horse.
"Be you squirrel" he asked eagerly.
was compelled to confess that l was
not.
lawyer"
"Not lawyer, either"
mot even dominica" persisted the boy,
looking disappointed.
NO." said I. mot even a dominic"
"This is all fired hard luckW exclaimed
the boy. We've got Bill in the humor
now, an if you was only a squire or law
yer or dominic we would chnch the thing
right here an have him high an dry"
Just then a lean, lank and sallow mid
die aged woman came to the door of the
house, and peering over her shoulder was
handsome red checked girl not more
than eighteen.
SIS he squire, Sim?" screamed the wo-
man.
"NawW replied the boy, in tone of dis
gust. "He hain't even a dominica
"Shucks!" exclaimed the woman; eff we
hadn't "a wanted one all powerful bad jist
now, ev'ry squire in the township d ben
nosin round here 'lectioneerin, and not
less than half dozen dominies ID ben
droppin in fer dinner, an wantin yaller leg
chickens at that. Now here's Bill, chang
erber than milk in Thunderstorm an II
we don't clinch him now it'll be jist like
him to back out an jine his clearin someres
else! Shucks, say This is down hard
luck, even fer these sun het barrensp'
SIS some one dying" asked, not know
ing just what to say, with the light had.
Not p'ticklar dyin fer sure" put in the
red checked girl, "but jist dyin to hev Bill
Van Loon an his clearin clinched while
he's in the humor."
"Weddinp' remarked the shockheaded
boy sententiously. 'Leastways, there
would be one if you was only squire or
even dominic"
They seemed to hold it up against me be-
cause I was inconsiderate enough not to
have been either one or the other.
"Where's the bride?" 1 asked the boy.
The red checked girl in the doorway over
heard the question and answered it her.
self.
"I'm her!" she said. "Pervdin 1 could
| git Bill clinched right now"
where's the happy bridegroom"
asked.
Il dunno as he's so overpowerin happy"
said the shockheaded boy; "but he's out
with pop, lookin the clearin over"
| 1t was only three miles to Coverly's Cor
ners and l restored a degree of cheerful
ness to the eager family by saying that if
| it would be of any service to them 1 would
| fetch squire or dominic to their house
as soon as could drive to the Corners and
back.
"Gosh!" exclaimed the red checked girl
eff ye do that We kin kiss the bride! Not
nowl'' she said as 1 began to climb down
out of the wagon. when ye come back"
"Ill fotch a squire" said, ''or kill a
horsep'
I didn't lose any time in getting to the
| Corners, for was interested in having that
! pretty. red checked girl clinch the trifling
Bill Van Loon, although he didn't deserve
such luck. l wasn't entirely disinterested,
either, for Sally had said that could kiss
the bride, and she was decidedly kissable
person. The boy who had come with me
seemed to have better opinion of a squire
efficiency in the emergency than he had of
dominie's, soon found the former and
back we started with the important official.
didn't spare the horse, and we got back
to the clearing in good time Sally's
mother met us at the door. She was severe
and gloomy.
Turn round an go backI" she said.
eyer too late"
Sally sat on a chair kicking her heels
against the floor in loud and spiteful
tattoo. She was squealing and sobbing,
and her cheeks were fiery.
II wouldn't "a keered snap" she
sobbed, "but 1 know he'll go an marry
that snif1lin, redheaded Kit Cooley, con-
sarn his inconstant pictur! An it's all
your fault, We keerless Sim, you" she ex-
claimed, turning on her shockheaded and
surprised brother. Eye went an left a
hull turnip in the cows chop, an she went
an choked on it! Boo-wool B-o-o-o-o"
The iron hand of fate had indeed closed
on the family with remorseless clutch.
While was driving my horse well nigh
to death, so that Bill Van Loon might be
clinched while he was in the humor, what
should the Jersey COW up and do but choke
to death ON a turnip.
"Well," the businesslike Mr.. Van Loon
had said, "of course that's all tina be to
it!' and walked away to open negotiations
elsewhere
1t had never occurred to me before, but
l feel it now. that man can't travel in
that part of the country and do to others
as he would be done by unless he is either
squire or a dominic If had been either
one or t'other on that trip, Sally would
have been the mistress of Bill Van Looms
farm. And better than all, she'd have
kissed me!-Ed Mott in New York Sun.
Mt