The Washington times., 1895-04-14

-. ~AAS[
WOoING PROGRESSED
RAPIDLY.
fence behind the stump, and even gracious
ly let some off-shootS drop over the gar
bage barrel outside. Al tie other end OF
the yard the pillars OF the little porch upon
which the basement door opened were also
twined with these luxuriant vines, and the
two comfort ablesplit -bottomed rockersupon
the porch, forced by circumstances into a
chatty proximity, were in the shade the
greater part OF the day. Altogether it was
a unique hack yard for this region of the
city, and it's charms Were made more evi-
dent by it's being at least six feet below
the level of the sidewalk, so that a loiterer
could lean on the fence and look down at
the CHEEKY scene without feeling that his
act was an intrusive one.
This yard. the ground floor of the tene-
ment, and the bit of grass in front, grass
that was clipped each morning, formed the
home of William Miller, and very happy
home it was, in spite of the fact that half
the men in the ueigbborhood had said feel
ingly, Pore Bill, pore old ouss,' when he
and his mother and his small sister Dolly
had united their fortunes with Maria Ken
nedy and her three sisters.
'SiX women folks is semethin' of fam
bly," Bnl had admitted, "but. Lor' them
girls will be marryin off in no time and L
together. Anyhow, a mans gotter get
married when the notion takes him, and
what yer goin' to do about it il he's
got folks and she's got folks? Take EN-
all in, / say, and keep on a-sayin' To yer
sef and to everybody else, The more the
merrier.
During the ten years since his marriage
be had faithfully kept up his cheerful
speech, and the old and the young Mrs.
Miller had gotten on fairly well together
in spite of positive convictions cherished
by each as to the running of household,
but the girls had not married off at the
rapid rate on which Bill had counted. There
were still three Miss Kennedys, and even
Dolly, unCieniable beauty that she had de-
veloped into, was still ION pore Bill s
hands," as the same sympathetic friends
often remarked. 1t was not for lack of
suitors in her case; all the blame, IL any
| had ever dreamed of blaming Dolly for
anything, would have to be laid to her own
capriclous will; it was, however, a matter
| of pride rather than regret to the whole
| family when it was surnised that ''our
| Dolls turned off another"
AS Bill bad grown accustomed to hel
| light-bearted Indifference to her lovers, il
naturally surprised him one night when he
had decided to go into his own pretty back
| yard for smoke to have his sisters -in-law
| say hastily In rapid succession, Better
You amt wanted out there, Bill
| why not?" he asked. Nobody out
| there but that no-Count Henery Dobbins.
| They can have the rockers-I don't want
to set down. I'm just goin' out to santer
| round a spell"
The three looked at each other. The
| youngest, Adeline, who was only thirty
/ giggled little as she said, Yes, it's only
Henery, but you better do yore santerin
| right here III the kitchen, Brother Billy"
stay in doors on night like this? No
| much" said Bill. To himself he added
DOLL like enough tired of Henery by now
| and mebbe ne and me can get few word
| OH this here last caper of the mayors. NJ
| use tryin' to make the girls understand it
but Henery is a good talker, il he is 81
| lazy"
He started again for the yard. but during
his moments delay his wife and mothe
had Joined In the discussion
He amt worthy of her noticin him,
the older woman said, earnestly. You e
right along out there, Bill. don't know
| what's come over Doll to take sech a shin
to Henery, after all the good offers she
had!"
Bill looked at them thoughtfully; so Dol
ly's hard heart was really touched at last
and by shiftless Henery Dobbins, of a
people in the woridl
'I reckon l jest as leave smoke rigt
here he said with his usual good nature.
His sisters-in-law beamed at him.
Il think Henery is a right pleasant youn
man." Jane ventured.
Old and young Mrs. Miller both turne
on her.
You do, do you?' said hersister ''Wel
seem as you are sech a judge"-but- 81
was interrupted by her mothe r-in-law, wh
said with pondefous sarcasm, May l
; allowed to ask, Jane Kenney, how man
;rpo Won va hnan rripH ma amp
The spnsters were subdued, and Bill
yielding to the force of family opinion
joined the couple in the yard, but he tel
-heartedly spent a large part OF the tim
over by the morning glories near the ale
> fence.
II like the way them giories smell"
! explained politely when he was invited
sit down on the porch
'fBill's lamb" Dolly said to herse
! tenderly," and l wish them glories d
have some smell to kill out the one fro
. 2 the alley for him.
While Bills wife and mother were su
: missive to Delly's viii they grumbled GOO
deal to each other.
ut will jest mean Bills hayin' to Loo
out fur them.' said his mother. "Hene
won't work steady, and Bill will have
take 'en in"
Yes" agreed Maria, sthat's what
will come to. Bill's got good pay, but
don't sec how he will stretch 1t any ru
ther"
, Both women sighed at the prospect o
!, fore them, but avoided looking at ea'
other as they did so Theirs were kind
natures, in spite of the frequent jarrin
and while Maria was anxious that q
Il old woman should not think she was
II grudging Bills care of his mother al
sister, the mother was hoping Maria q
: not suspect that she felt her boy had had
= hard time supporting three sisters-i
= law all these years. Bill himself sa
:, = little to his family except when he deem'
:. it judicious to throw in few remar
. derogatory to Henery when the lattel
bb lack of thrift was an especial source
u annoyance, or a little praise of him VIII
- % Dolly seemed depressed in spirit.
:, was difficult balancing even for one w
- had grown agile in such performano
by long years of practice In adapti
himself to feminine moods.
To one person, however, he gave cie
;, view OF the real state of his mind, a.
this was Jim Ruggles, who worked In {
7. shop with him. He lived near the Mile
le SO Bill had the chance to walk home wi
)" him each day, privilege he priced high
for Jim was man, although there we