Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-02-08
A WISE FATHER.

three pretty girls known by the
names of Paula, Patience and Prls-
ella. They were Mr.. Jones' three
daughters and as handsome and ac-
complished girls are easy to lose, he
watched them like an eagle watches
the eyrie. This did not please Messrs.
Sparks, Larks and Marks, who hap
pened to be investing their attention
in the matrimonial market, at a time
when Mr.. Jones was wrathy with all
suitors, and investing his surplus
cash in bull dogs and revolvers. Sam
Marks was madly in love, Harry
Sparks was worse and Jim Larks
was desperate. Mr.. Sparks had
sized up Mr. Larks the moment he
was introduced to him by Miss Pris-
ella Jones and Mr.. Larks had also
estimated his man according to his
notion.
Mr.. Marks being in a hurry to
have his fate settled wrote, letter
to Patience couched in the following
terms:
"My dear Miss Jones-It is enough
to drive man crazy to be in love,
yet never to be able to see his adored
one. love you, adore you, 1 wor-
ship the very ground you walk on;
for you are utterly too, too, too
See if you can't devise a scheme by
which l can see you. l shall be at
Flowers place tomorrow, and hope
to be able to see you there.
"Yours, forever and day,
"MARK MARKS"
Fora day Or two Mr.. Marks kept
this letter in his pocket not knowing
what to do with it, but as Mr.. Sparks
was very laxative concerning his
love affairs and for fear of being
over matched and "cut OUT he con
cluded to let one of Mr.. Jones' farm
hands deliver the letter to her.
Mr.. Clodcrusher had a very poor
memory, so before he was 100 yards
away from Mr.. Marks he had for
gotten whom to give the letter to.
The envelope being addressed to
Miss =. Jones, Clodcrusher scratched
his head, stood awhile, and then
went on. Miss Paula was swinging
on the garden gate when he passed
her. go, Miss Paula, l got letter,
and don't know who to give it to-"
":Who is itaddressed to, WIlliam?"
"To Miss p. Jones. Here, take it;
here's your father coming, and it's
after | O'clock" He thrust the let
ter into her hand ard ran away.
About two minutes later Mr. Jones
had that letter and was examining it.
He rushed into the house and said to
his wife:
"Here, mother, call the girls here;
do you hear me? call the girls here"
Mrs. Jones shouted, and in marched |
Priscilla, looking as orangey as a
carrot. In jumped Paula, looking
like beet, and Patience, who had |
been out gathering corn, ran in with
an apron full, looking as white as a
lily.
"What is it, father?" she asked.
"Come here, you mink; do you see
this letter."
eyes, father"
"Do you know who wrote it?"
"No, father"
"Paula, who wrote this letter."
81 don't know, father"
priscilla, do you know who sent
you this letter."
"No, father"
"Now look ere, girls, rve stood
this ERE racket long enough. l will
give a thousand dollars to the girl
who will own up"
at is Mr.. Marks" at is Mr..
Sparks" at is Mr.. Larks," they all
snow Patience, you sweet little
hing, you know twas Mr.. Marks"
said one
snow Priscilla it was Mr.. Sparks,
wasn't it dearie?" said another.
"Now you know it was Mr.. Larks
Paula dear"
81 don't know any such thing"
,ried Paula.
"Well. is IL Iarks. Sharks or