The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-03
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3. 1894

8OitcIcu ocncalu the uOueF eFsICklc lOI tuc
last few nights; and brought back his
oozing courage.
They wuz talking about you last
night down at the pump" he remarked,
with assumed eheerfulness.
'Talkin' about me ?" said Minna, an
grily. "How dare they ?"
"Oh, ILord| gasped Bob to himself.
"If she gets mad before begin :"
"They wuz sayin'-"
"well?" sharply, @what wuz they say
ing?"
They wuz sayin' how as you'd never
marry anyone-you wuz that uncertain
and Eighty"
"Who said that?" said Minna, turning
wrathful eyes upon him
81 don't exactly remember" faltered
Bob.
"Most likely yourself" disdainfully.
Bob could not truthfully disown the
remark, as he had made it frequently, in
confidence, to his near companions in
the village. So after this unexpected
home thrust, he remained uncomforably
silent
Minna pursued her advantage.
"Niee doings them, fur man /" she
went on, eontemptuoIsly. Talking
about girls when they can't talk back for
themselves ="
If the reported conversation had not
been wholly imaginary, Bob would have
been stricken with remorse. As it was,
however, although inwardly trembling,
he saw an opening and took it.
'But l spoke back for you Minna,
did"
"Oh, you did, did your" was the dis
eouraging comment "Since it wuz you
said the worst, seems 70 me It wuz all
you could do"
They said lot more'n l did," Bob
continued, with fictitious courage. "They
said as how needn't be hangin' around
here, fur ye'd sllus scOrn me till the
! judgment, and not marry me at all. -
There WIZ some truth in their re-
marks" remarked Minns, snubbingIy.
"But there's wusSer nor that he said,
with well forced gIoominess. Il said as
how knowed you would marry me-"
"Who made you SO wise? ?" interrupt
ed Minns, sarcastieally.
"And a man bet me you wouldn't an
AM bet him you would"
Beasts calculated the much iaeensed
Minna.
"An bet fearful lot, Minna. Gosh
I'm scared to think of it. If I've got to
give him all that monty, the farm ull
have to 60"
Minna looked frightened.
"How much ?" she asked, family.
wonder how much she'll stand ?7
Bob asked himself perpiexedly. Then
he glanced at her.
"Fm most afeared to tell you. It's
its-sl00"
"Oh, myw calculated SIinna: "You
never did"
az hundred dollars :" repeated Bob,
ehokingly, and overcome by the feelings
he had aroused he buried his head in
his hands. From this safe retreat he
continued disjointed remarks broken by
emotion.
"Don't care for myself Sigh don't
want to live any iway, but the farm oil
have 20 go, sure, and poor mother and
father" (Sob.)
"Oh, no, no" said Minna tearfully.
They're old now to start over again,
a protrscted sigh, but 1 kin work for
'em. I'll do it and BOb's shoulders
shook with nobly suppressed emotion
1t u'll come hard 70 lose the old place
nOw-tsob) after all them years.
"0h, don't, don't, Bob. l can't bear
itr gasped .Iinna, choking down the
tears. III"
Rob waited a moment. Then he went
on:
Poor sister can't 90 TO school or moth
ing" rocking himselfto and fro in appa-
rent deep grief, "sn' there's no wood got
for the winter" here he wept aloud,
and seeing this Minns, too, wept aloud.
"0h, Bob" she cried, chow could you
be so-so7-and she burst again into
tears.
Dunno, Minna," he said in a choking
voice, ~but there amt no help for it now.
It's all got to go-farm and all"
"Never," said Minna hysterically. a
will marry you-I will."
"'Tain't right TO ask you" Bob said
sadly and hypocri,ically." You don't
care nothin' about me-
Il didn't afore," said Minna tearfully
and shameiacedly, "but that was an
awful lot Of money 70 bet on me. ike
you for it, Bob, l do"
"And you will marry me %
She nodded.
"Thank you, Minna,' Bob said mourn
fully. "It's asfully good in you"
A moment elapsed before he started
on the real business Of eourtship-he
had to proceed carefally-and in that
moment Bob looked up al very jester
Of a twinkiing star and silently exehang-
ed with it knowing and prodigious
wink.-Ctieago L.ta-Ocsm.
.--
Not in X.