The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-30
THE FLIGHT OF WILLIAM.
BE Didn't Propose to Have That Knot
Tied If He Could uclp 1t.

Tied If He Could Help 1t.
1t was farmers wagon, and in It was
Che farmer, wife and daughter and young
man of about 90. He had long hair and o
dreadfully homesick expression of counte-
nance. AS he sat beside the girl on the scat
his back was bumped up, and his eyes
seemed to stare into vacancy. The girl had
red hair and a complacent look. The out
fit drove up to the Michigan avenue en-
trance to the city hall, and the farmer
turned to the young man and said:
Come, William-you get license right
in here"
II don't wanterr replied the young man
as the hump in his back got up and bumped
itself little more.
"But you've got to. You asked Sary to
have you over year ago, and don't pro-
pose to have any more foolin around"
ut hain't right by Sary," added the
mother.
"He's backed out three times" put in
Sarah as she looked carelessly around and
chewed vigorously on Quid of gum.
Put Ter off till Christmas" pleaded Will
liam, with one foot over the side of the
wagon.
Not n burned putl' stoutly replied the
father You go in and git that licensed
If they want any of us, you come to the
door and holler."
IF you didn't want Sary. what did you
ask her fur?" demanded the mother.
"Hain't she good huff fur your Hain't we
as good as the BeebesP I'd like to know if
we hain't"
II could hev married somebody ese,"
said Sarah, with a toss of her head. "If any
body don't want to marry me, 1 don't want
to marry them. If he wants to funk, let
him do it!'
''Sary, you shet upl' exclaimed the ia
Their. Pm runnin this 'ere marriage biz
ness myself, as is my duty to. When Teller
has spanked my gal fur three years-when
he's sot in my parlor every blamed night
fur 12 months-when he's sot the weddin
day three or four times fisself and backed
water every time, then take hand and
ask him what he means.'
| Cant wait month?' asked William
as he stood on the hub of the wheel.
mot n blamed minitl You git that IL
censel That's what you agreed to do last
night, and that's what you come to town
fur today"
William dropped to the curbstone, shook
some of the humpout of his back and toiled
up the steps and disappeared within the
building. Sarah chewed gum and looked
at the street cars, while the old folks
watched for William and talked about the
wedding. Half nm hour passed, and the
man became nervous. AT the end of an
other Is minutes he jumped down and en-
tered the building. To q policeman in the
| corridor he said:
Pm a-lookin fur lop shouldered, hump
backed Teller about % years old. who had
on II gray suit. He como in here fur a mar
| riage license"
How long ago?"
Purity nigh an hour"
II met him on the Fort street side Yes,
remember him. He simply passed down
the corridor and out of that door,"
How was he lookin?'
Rather pale and wild"
And breathin hard?"
Eyes"
"And glancin behind himP"
| "Yes-looking over his shoulder"
And what sort of n gait did he have?"
almost on n rum
"Flunked agin, by thunderr' exclaimed
| the father as he struck the wall a hard
blow
How f1unked?" queried the officer
why, he's shook my gal, beat the ole
woman and bilked me, and was probably
safe in Canada half an hour agoi I think
| I'll go down to the river and look across
Mebbe I'll see William on the furreign
shore and if 1 do 1 want to make a few
moshuns at him. want to make mo-
shun of pickin him up and moppin him over
10 acres of plowed ground, and then breakin
him in two across my knee and THROWN
the pieces into the hogpen! 1 turn to the
left and keep right down, don't L? Thanks.
William, Pm onto thee bigger'n houseI'
Detroit Free Press