Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-07-26
Copyright, 1894, by the Author.l

There had been no rain on Dancing
Branch for nearly two months.
Capt. Twitchell was greatly con-
cerned about his corn and also his cot
ton. The corn would not ear we'll nor
the cotton make good bolls, unless
water were forthcoming in some shape
before many days. He was likewise
at this time greatly troubled about his
only daughter. He hardly knew which
of his worries was the greater. Yet
there was difference. He knew just
then of no way by which he could con-
troll Jupiter Pluvius, yet he could-or
thought he cOuld-cOntrol his daugh-
ter, Nisby. Nisby, it may be said, was
the local Interpretation of Sophonisba.
IF the cussed crops do go up" he
soliloquized, Il reckon We'll have to
stand the racket somehow. But, by
mighty!'-this was the captains
favorite oath-''by mighty, sir! If
Twitchell 'thout my consent he'll get
up airlier and stay up longer than
most fools Of his heft usually do"
But, in the nature of things, there
were sundry protests and plottings
against the parental fat.
II declare" said Nisby, during one
of the stolen interviews down at the
captains spring house, which the per-
sistepcy OF John Henry had brought
about when his adored one went after
water, II don't know what we'd bet
ter do. Paw'd as soon see me marry
the Old Teller himself as you, John
I ho
him so set aginst ye."
IN tell you why, Nisby. It's pure,
derned mulishness, if he is your paw.
But don't you worry. I've studied it
all over and I've thought up scheme
worth two Of his yet. If everything
works out well. your father may pos
sibly save his cotton. but he's bound to
lose his girl, sure as God made little
apples!
Il always know'd you was smart,
John Henry and Misty, under the
glow of this confession, allowed her
lover to kiss her without boxing his
ears, after the most approved Dancing
Branch manner. Tell me what you're
np to, anyhow"
Now. Nisby, never you mind. All
you've got to do is to stay right at
home until you hear from me again
You know I amt never lowed to
go anywhere sence me and you been
talkin'. Pa, he keeps as close watch
as if 1 was gold and he was feared
some one would steal me, and ma, she
hardly ever shets her eyes at night
overtime l turns over she'll holler
out: That You, Nisby? and when
don't answer, she'll come and feel to
see il I'm in the bed"
YOU, Nisby" now came in shrill
feminine tones from the direction of
the captains house. Where be you?"
Now, John Henry, you skip" said
Misty, submitting to another Dancing
Branch caress. That's nav. She'll
be down here soon's answer"
The young man vanished in the sur
rounding bushes, while Nisby, taking
up her pail of water, proceeded toward
the house, sending on ahead of her the
cry:
I'm comm, nav
A few days later on the news few
up and down Dancing Branch that
Prof. Drydapper, the famous govern
ment expert. was about to visit that
region in order to test some of his pc
culiar theories in regard to producing
rain by artificial means. The pro-
fessor, it was said, had recently been
deluging the people of southern and
western Texas, and now proposed to
show the folks in middle Georgia how
to bamboozle nature into tears with q
few chemicals artistically applied.
'By mighty, sir! quoth the captain,
~ don't believe the man can construct
decent sprinkle
But the more he looked at his shriv-
cling corn and cotton. the less
skeptical he grew. Presently it was