Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29

you ricollect that some time ago 1 told you
about my field of corn down the creek?
Well, you ought to see it now. Seventy
five or hundred bushels to the acre. And
you know that told you that you might
even spend $15. OF course you ricollect
1T, for how could woman and as brave
a woman as you ever forget it. Well,
have been thinkin' the matter over since
then and have come to the conclusion
that you may spend $50 at snort. Now,
what do you think of it?"
But you don't owe me anything" shaH
replied.
mo. but want to give it to you, id
you see-give ii to you to spend at a sn6
hah? want to marry you, don't syS2
understand
Mr.. Aimes, You are too brave a man to
throw yourself away"
NOW. look here, don't come a twitin'
of me-" he said. 4 was gon' to help you
shoot them fellers, but, hang it, Nell took
| the gun and slipped away with it before
could get to- the house. l can't run as fast
as could at one time
but l saw you running through the
street and a deer couldn't have been fas-
| ter
| you. are right. and 1 was runnin' for
| the gun"
But you We're not running toward your
| house."
| NO, of course not, for knew that Nell
| had tuck my gun and. was goin' after
another one And it's "a good thing for
them that | didn't 49, ut let us git
Il
| matter over and 1 have-cone to the con-
| clusion that 1 can't git along very well
| without You, and know Nell can't. Why,
| look here, you ought to be a mother to
| that girl, hah? Didn't shs risk her life to
| help you? And amt such courage as that
| deservin' of a mother? It's easy enough
| to be a mother to her."
Yes, but / can't very wen be mother
| to both of you"
"The horn spoon! I don't want you to
| be mother to me; want you to be wife
| to me-
Il think a great deal of you. Mr..
| Aimes."
BEGGED to you, CAD"
And 1 will break my engagement to
| those three men and engage myself to
| you for che year."
"Cut it down and I'm with you"
"All right, We'll say three months"
"And will you swear you won't fool meT'
I'm swear that 1 will not break the en-
gagement unless you are willing"
But here, you won't cut Ap no caper
in the meantime that will cause me to
draw off, hah? All right now, IT'S a go,
and Ill tell that old woman to weave an
other rag carpet, He stopped at the door,
turned about and remarked: Amt quite
as chilly as it was yistidy."
And before she could reply he had lunged
out into the street and was fastening TO
tell his daughter of his happiness. When
Polly reached home, just as twilight was
tangling itself amid the dead vines in the
garden, she found Nell standing at the
gate, waiting for her. The girl was ner-
yous, and she opened the gate with a jerk.
What have you told father? she ask
ed, when Polly passed Through the gate.
Don't go into the house just yet; wait here
a moment. What have YOU told father?
she repeated.
Polly stood there. laughing at her, but
she grew more nervous 1T is nothing to
laugh at" she said. "You told me, or that
is you agreed, that we should never marry
and that we should live together"
Don't be worried, L was only joking
with him.
but, Polly, that was no way to joke
with an old man: He is one of the best
men in the world. and all that, but you
don't want to marry even the best man..
1T will work out all right, Nell; don't
worry over it,"
But how can ii work out all right?
"Wait, and you shall see."
Eyes, and that's what you said about
those three men, and that hasn't worked
out all right yet. 1 have tried so hard
just can't. Why do you wish to mystify
me? Haven't l always been frank with
your"
Eyes, too frank, perhaps"
That's what / sometimes think myself
But here comes father
The old man came out, wearing horse
shoe nail mounted as breastpin IA
ther," said the girl, IF were you L would
take off that fool thing and throw ii
away"
Throw away my 5etrothal pledge, hah?
Not much. You go into the house and
Polly and 1 will walk down and look at
that bottom field of corn by moonlight"
Il don't care TO walk this evening" Polly
replied Up, tired"
''All right, wen wait till some other time;
but say, you might let me kiss you once
just for luck"
NO you've had luck enough. By the
way, there Is a clause that / must insert
in our contract and that is this: If you
speak to me again or to anyone about our
or ha 10 instant
ly broken. There, not word or I'll break
1t right now
To observe the new clause required on
the old mans part a strong exertion of
will; and sometimes, in babbling about
his bottom field of corn, he approached
near the danger lire. News of the engage
ment got out, but the old fellow swore
that he had told no one; but he had been
seen talking to the president of the mite
society," and it was known that she had
spread the report. And she said many
things that were not complimentary to
Polly; said that she had come to Broom
field merely to catch a husband. She even
stopped Polly in the street and asked her
when the marriage was to take place.
at seems of deep concern to YOU" Polly
replied.
'Oh, not at ALL I'm sure. 1 just merely
happened to think of it, 1 don't care il
you marry him today. I'm sure. He's moth
ing to me, goodness knows. And so far as
that's concerned, / could have married him
Ions ago. suppose the match will be
very suitable. He's getting old, and you're
not so very young yourself Those city
women have a knack of hiding their age,
too. Oh, yes, 1 should think that you are
very well suited. It's nothing to me, I'm
sure"
coed, and I hope that you'll accept an
invite ton to my wedding"
"Oh, l am the last person in the world
to go 40 weddings. OF course, if it's a
romantic affair l don't mind going, but a
cut and dried marriage never did catch me.
oh, by the way, what will those three
strange men think?'
Il don't know. but 1 have invited them
to the wedding"
Miss, must say that you are about the
curisest critter / ever saw, and 1T strikes
me that the less a body has to do with
you the better it will be for EN-"
Several months passed, and the expira-
ton of the lease was approaching. And so
was the time set for Polly's marriage The
bottom field had yielded lavishly, and the
old man wore a new ECmespun suit. You
know, we had sort of contract" he
said to Polly one evening.
Yes, but if you speak of the engage
ment I'll break it,"
Il CAD, you've got me wound up in a
close place. I'd like to ask you if it amt
about time you was gettn' your dress
ready and all that sort of thing"
Look out, now, Mr. Aimes."
The old man ducked his head as though