Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-02

| NteAoh' "OiiS NOlly Sdlu Snt
hadn't been feelin' jest right for &
few days. Says she, L amt slept
much for two nights an feel dret
full near beat out. Ihev been tryin',
says she, Ito decide an important
matter, and at last I've made up my
mind. The individual says she, is
comm for his answer this evenin'
an when he comes, you'll hev to ex
cuse me. I'll bring some magazines
out into the kitchen for you to read
while he's here.'
'Oh, that'll be all right says 1
carelessly.
You see, knew by that they
warn't engaged yet, an was to my
wits end to know how to manage
L knew 'twouldn't be no use to argy
with Polly, for she was alters terri.
BILE sot in her ways, an found out
before long by her talk that she'd
made up her mind to accept him.
Bnt as we sat there a-talkin' an idee
flashed across me. You see, when /
was gettin' over the fever, good old
DR.. Wheeler gave me some restin'
powders 'cause I couldn't Sleep
Says he, You needn't be afeared to
take 'em, for there's nothin' in 'em
to hurt anybody Well, when ]
was packin' up to go down to Polly's,
see them powders, an something
seemed to tell me to put them in, SO
did. AM now l said to myself
that if / could get chance, I'd drop
one into Polly's tea at supper, an
then if could get her off to sleep
afore Uriah come, 1 could easily send
him off with flea in his ear.
Wall, it seemed that everything
worked right in my favor. After
Polly'd got the table sot an the tea
poured out, she went into the but.
terry after somethin' she'd forgot,
an 1 dropped the powder into her
cup.
We eat our supper an then 1
helped her wash the dishes. After
we had sot down Polly began to nod, =,
an says she, Pm terrible kind o.
drowsy, Susie. / b'lieve I'll lay
down few minutes, an / may drop
asleep. If anybody should come in
he sure to call me.' She went into
the bedroom an laid down, an it
warn't no time, hardly, afore she
was sound asleep. / felt kind o.
guilty an scared like, though I knew
that no harm was done. DIR.
Wheeler said that the powders
wouldn't hurt anybody, an he was a
nice old man as ever lived.
Wall, l went an dressed myself
in one o. Polly's gowns, an 1 fixed
my hair like hers, an then 1 sot
down in the sittin'-rcam. Pretty
soon / heered knock at the door
an went an opened it. There stood
Uriah, In his Sunday suit. 1 had
seen him a few times some years be-
fore.
'Good-evenin', Mrs. JONES' says
he.
.Good-evenin', Mr.. Hayden says
l. Walk in an set down."
81 didn't feel jest at my ease, but
l tried not to appear so. He made a
few indifferent remarks about the
weather, an the new meetin' house,
an / responded as best could.
couldn't help thinkin' that should
be in an awful predickerment if
Polly should wake up.n
Wall, Mrs. Jones-Polly,' said
he, called tonight, in accordin' to
agreement, for my answer. You
have had a week to reflect In, an it
seems to me that ought to be long
enough. won't say anything about
the state of my affections. You know
how / feel towards you.
Will you be my wife ?'
mo, Mr.. Hayden, will not, says
I.
What, says he, do understand
that you refuse me?'
Yes,' says I, calmly and then
that 1t wouldn't do to be
too short, 1 says, 1 thank you for the
honor, Mr.. Hayden, but can never
be your wife, an don't mention it to
me ag'in.'
!Wall, you needn't get up about
it, says he, tartily. Il guess I can
find somebody that'll hev me, an
you can 60 on livin' alone If you
want to. It's my opinion you'll run
through with your property, an it's
a good properly, too.'
smiled. I see that he didn't care
nothin' about Polly; twas her prop
erty he was after, as had thought
all along. He went off in high dud-
geon, an went an took off Polly's
gown. She slept like a log till nigh
ten O'Clock, when 1 woke her up.
Dear mev said she, hev 1 slept
all the evenin'?'
Yes, Polly says I, an / thought
as long as you warn't needed, l
wouldn't wake you. / guess we'd
better get to bed, now. 'Taint very
likely there'll be any callers at this
time of evenin'.'
mo, 1 s'pose not,' says she but
/ can't understand why there amt
been One.'
1 didn't say nOthln', an we went
to bed, an Polly slept like babe all
night.
"And when did your sister dis
cover the trick you had played upon
her ?" asked, wiping the tears from
my eyes.
"Oh no not till after, she was mar.
ried the second time. She was glad
enough then that / had prevented
her from hevin' such q worthless
drunken critter. But I wouldn't ha'
done such a thing late years. l
shouldn't ha' felt right to-" And
the dear old lady sighed.
What became of Uriah ?" /
asked.
He married the Widder ThOmp.
son, an made her miserable all her
life till he died. Oh, no doubt twas
a good thing that l done jest as did
but, someway, Polly never liked to
hear much about it, an as l said
afore, wouldn't do 1t ag'in. Come
nax,IA ,x,al,o a Ara L., tho oooH OF fnuo