Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-07
A WILL OF IRON.

that's his name-he is just the obstinatest. willfpllest deny yme-if-you-dare sort as I ever clapped eyes on, and the terror of this hero place he was when 1 come here, for he had whopped every chap that dared put 'em up agin him, and heavy was his hand on the man that thwarted him. But by and by he must go and get in love, which he certainly showed the best of taste, for never have seen such cheeks and such eyes as Polly Savory's was, and her figure-well, it's grown a bit since then, but don't sec any one about here, young or old, with a figure as will bear compare with hern now, while, as for man ners, she'd hayo taught duchess how to receive company, for l never see a young lady, even In draper's shop, as had Pol ly's style.
 Well, one evening she was walking across tho ten acre meadow yonder, when Dick Stubbs meets her and turns round at once and says arter few polite words. I love you.'
 with that he stops short, as if he ex- pected her to fall straight into his arms, but Polly just holds out her hand and says very polite, Then I'll wish you good even ing, Mir. Stubbs.
 "'But that won't do, Polly, says he I want you to tell me that you love me, too, for you do, don't you, Polly, deara'
 No, says she, I'm blessed if J doi
 "'Ah, well, you will in. time, after you've walked out with me bit
 '''Never, says she. Besides there's au- other gentleman prefer
 That made him show his teeth. Now, look here Polly, he says, I'm one of the sort, am, who always has his own way. 1 mean to have you for my wife, and woo betide the man that comes between me and my girll'
 He looked so big and threatening that many Q girl would have been frightened and might perhaps have taken him out of fear but Polly didn't know what fear was, so sho just tossed her dainty head, she did, and with Don't you never dare to speak to me again, Dick Stubbsp she walked of like hempress
 Next day the news was all over the village. Stubbs was made a laughing stock, though he swore to break any chaps head who made fun. But even he could not thrash a whole village
 "As for Polly, he treated her shameful, meeting her whenever ho could and threat ening murder against her gentleman as soon as ever ho found him out and telling her day after day that he'd mako her his
  the dumps dreadful, for I knew this gen. tleman, as Polly said she had a fancy for couldn't be me.
 "Woll, what I'm coming to is this: Polly went to see married sister living at Amblecote. Instead of going by tho bridge, which is nigh mile away, she borrowed old Garston's boat and sculled herself across. She started back just as it was getting dusk, for there wasn't any moon that night, and 6own she comes to the bank where she had moored the boat She got in, unhitched the painter and was just a-shoving of when, all on sudden, Stubbs was standing on the bank above her. He takes off his hat, and says he:
 Susan is that bad that I've been over to Marpleton to get her some doctors stuff. It'll save, sight of time and be real blessing to her if you'll let mo cross in the boat with you.
 "Polly hadn't the heart to say Mo- so she says very short:
 If it's to do Susan good, you can come.' e5as a.ss Hief
 And she sat down in the stern and let him shove off and take the sculls. Then she sec that he was a-pulling hard down stream.
 '' What are you a-doingS' she cries out
 "'I know what I'm a-doing right enough, says he
 Below Polly could hear the splashing and roaring of the weir, and right ahead she could see where the river divided, and she knew one fork of it would lead them on to certain death. Which was ho goingp
 "'Polly, he says, you're going to mar ry me.
 !" 'Neverl' sho answered him. Never. you poor thingP
 "'Then we'll dio together this night, he says, scowling at her like the black devil he was Over the weir we'll go. He pulled sharp around with his left as he spoke. She looked behind, and he gave laugh.
 The rudders in the bows, ho says I put it there out of harms way. We'll let her drift now, and in just about three minutes we shall be in kingdom como. Polly, will you have me?'
 '' 'Neverl' she tells him again.
 Then it's death!' ho cries out ship ping his sculls, and a long kiss, sweet heart, before it comes.'
 He jumped up and moved toward her, with his arms out when, quicker than I'm a-telling you, Polly swings herself with big jerk over to port and with her right hand she reaches and gives him a push to help him, and, slap! ever he went into the river. The boat righted, and Pol ly was in his seat and had the souls out in less than quarter of O minute. She was only just in time, for the boat weren't 50 yards from the weir, and hard work it was pulling round against stream, but some- how she managed it, and back she come safe to old Garston's All of a-tremble she was with rage when she landed, for I hap pened to Do there quite promiscuous and she told us all about it.
 ''' I hope he's drowned, says old Gar ston.
 No fear O that, says his wife. He swims too well and nin't meant for drown ing. You have the law on him, my dear she says to Polly.
 "'No, says Polly, just a-looking at me, that ain't tho sort of punishment want him to have 8
 "'So, says I. if you'll kindly excuse mo, must be a-going.
 And with that goes straight of to call on Dick StuhbS He WAS at home bft