Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-01-11

III she gets mad before l begin -

III she gets mad before l begin y
"They wuz sayin'-sayin' -
"Well?" sharply, what wuz they
sayin'?"
They wuz sayin' how as you'd
never marry any one--you wuz that
uncertain like and flighty like"
who said that ?" said Minna, turn
ing wrathful eyes upon him.
Il don't exactly remember" falter.
ed 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 unex-
pected home-thrust, he remained un-
comfortably silent.
Minna pursued her advantage.
Mice doings them, fur man " she
went on, contemptuously. Talking
about girls when they can't talk back
for themselves"
II 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 spoke back for you, Minna,
l did"
"Oh, you did, did you ?" was the dis
couraging comment. "Snce it wuz
you said the worst, seems to me it
wuz all you could do"
They said lot more'n did," Bob
continued, with fictitious courage.
"They said as how l needn't be hang
in around here, fur ye'd allus scorn
me till the Judgment and not marry
me at ALL"
There wuz some truth in their re-
marks. remarked Minna, snubbing-
ly.
But there's wusser nor that" he
said, with well-forced gloominess. Il
said as how | knowed you would
marry me. =
"Who made you so wiser" interrupt
ed Minna sarcastically.
AN man bet Inc you wouldn't,
an'-an'-I bet him you would"
"Betsm calculated the much in.
censed Minna.
AN | bet fearful lot, Minna.
Gosh-I'm scared to think of it. If |
got to give him all that money the
farm ull have to go sure"
Minna looked frightened.
How much?" she asked family.
Wonder how much she'll stand?'
Bob asked himself perplexedly. Then
he looked at her tentatively.
I'm most afeared to tell you. It's
it's-gosh Minna-it's S100."
"Oh, myr' calculated Minna. You
never did"
"a hundred dollars?n repeated Bob
chokingly, and overcome by the feel
ings he had aroused he buried his
head in his hands. From this safe re-
treat he continued disjointed remarks
broken by emotion.
Don't care for myself. [Sigh.l 1
don't want to live anyway, but the
farm ul have to go sure, and poor
mother and father Sob.
"Oh, no, no., said Minna tearfully.
They're old now to start over agin
a protracted sigh, but | kin work
for 'em. I'll doitn-and Bob's should
ers shook with nobly suppressed emo
tion-''it ull come hard to lose the old
place now sob after all them years.
"Oh, don't, don't, don't, Bob! |
can't bear it ~ gasped Minna, chok-
ing down the tears, "I'll-Ilr'--
Bob waited moment. Then he
went on.
Poor sister can't go to school or
nothin', rocking himself to and fro in
apparent deep grief, AN there's no
wood got for winter"-here he wept
aloud, and seeing this, Minna, too,
wept aloud.
"Oh, Bob she cried, "how could
you be so-son-and she burst again
into tears.
Dunno, Minna, " he said in chok-
ing voice, but there amt no help for
it now. It's all got to go-farm an
ALL
Never" said Minna, hyste rically,
Il will marry you'll willn'
"Taint right to ask you" Bob said
sadly and hypocritically. You don't
care nothin' about me-"
Il didn't afore," said Minna, tear
fully and shame:acedly, but that
was an awful lot OF money to bet on
me. l like you for it, Bob, do!
An you will marry me?'
She nodded.
Thank you, Minna," Bob said,
mournfully. Its awfully good in
you"
A moment elapsed before he started
on the real business Of courting-he
had TO proceed carefully-and in that
moment Bob looked upat very jester
of a twinkling star and silently ex-
changed with it knowing and pro