Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-02-28
A WISE WOMAN.
She Knew Jim and Had known JIm's
Daddy Before Him.

SnS Knew Jim and Had known SAnaS
Daddy Before Him.
I had been living in the neighbor-
hood of the mountains one summer.
until had become SO well acquainted
with the people of that immediate sec
ton as to be taken into their councils
and looked to for advice on all sorts of
questions. neven in domestic matters.
The one most important involved the
fate OF two lovers. Jim Sallers was
counting Marthy Little. and everybody
thought it was just the right thing ex-
cept Marthy's mother. and she had OPP
posed it from the beginning. The
girls father was perfectly satisfied and
did what he could to win his wife over.
but she was obdurate and would listen
to no persuasion. 1 had talked to her
once or twice, but it did no good and
gave it up. Jim and / had been on
terms all along and I advised him to
run off with Marthy and trust to luck
for the balance. He was thrifty
young fellow, sober and industrious,
and could get along very well without
the maternal blessing, seeing that
everybody else was pleased, but he did
not care to do so if there was any
chance of winning the mother. At
last he agreed that if Mrs. Little didn't
come around within week, he would
pick Marthy up and run away with her,
l agreeing to lend him what extra
money he might need, as he had good
creek farm and would have plenty when
his crops came in. With this assurance
from Jim I went back to Mrs. Little.
81 know what you've come fer,
colonel, and it amt no use talkin'," she
said as soon as got into the house.
my dear madam" replied, 81 must
| talk to you. I've seen Jim and as sure
as you are alive, he will run off with
Narthy and marry her, whether you
want him to or not. and it would be so
much better il you would give your
consent and have it all done regular
and as it should be-"
''Weu, tell you 1 won't give my
consent, and that ends it" she said
hotly. 81 don't keer what anybody
and everybody says, 1 amt a goin' to
say he kin marry her."
But that is childish said I. ''You
won't give your consent just because
you don't want to and for no other
reason"
I've got my reasons" she answered
doggedly.
We'll, tell me what they are"
She got up and went to the door and
around the house and then back again
II wuz lookin' to see if there wuz any.
body about" she said as she resumed
her place, s'and ez they amt, I'll tell
you my reasons eff you'll promise you
| won't tell
I gave the promise readily and she
went on after a bit:
I've knowed Jim sence he wuz a
| l. r L. H. Of
him. she said, land they won't do to
fool with. Jim's all right and I'd like
to see Marthy married to him, but
Jim's that pesky, that eff he knowed
me and Marthy's pap and Marthy
wanted him to marry her, he'd be
craw-fishin' in no time and thar
wouldn't be no weddin'. But ez long
ez he thinks somebody is ag'in him.
he's goin' to take t'other track and
pull his way. Now you know my rea'
I sons and 1 amt a-goin' to move a peg
outen the road fer nobody till I've got
Jim landed safe with Marthy down
thar on that farm Nv his'n. Let him
run off with her eff he wanster and
when they come back hitched fer good
FL have an Unfair right here IN my
house that will be the biggest one yor
ever hearn tell NV in these parts
colonel, and eff you ever tell on me il
won't be good fer you. Now mind"
minded. and now Jim and Marthy
have been married some time, and jim
is so well satisfied that even if l have
betrayed the confidence of his respected
mother-in-law, it will not make any
great difference.-Detroit Free Press
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