Smyrna times., 1897-05-19
"I'LL WAIT FOR YOU"

uduSuIoI JOuuS nah3 S"AO l. u AAANA
Blifkins, looking at the young man
sharply from head to foot.
eyes, sir; I spoke to Miss Mary !
last evening, and she-she referred me
to you"
The old mans face sOftened.
''Gary is a good girl, very good |
girl" he said, stroking his chin with a
thoughtful air, ''and she deserves a
good husband. What can you dO?"
The young man looked rather blank
at this abrupt inquiry.
eff you refer to my ability to sup
port wife, can assure YOU
"I know you are a rich man, Luke
Jordon. But take it for granted that
you ask my girl to marry yOu-nOt
your property. What guarantee can
you give me, in case it should be swept
away-as in thousands of instances
that you could provide for her a COM
Portable home? You have hands
and brains. Do you know how to use
them? Again ask you, what can you
do?"
This was a style of catechism for
which Luke was quite unprepared, and
he stared blankly at the questiOner
without speaking.
81 believe you managed to get
through college. Have you any pro-
fession?"
ono, sir. 1 thought
''Have you any trade?"
"No, sir! My father thought that
with the wealth 1 should inherit 1
should not need any,"
"What are you fit for? Here you
are, strong, able-bodied young man
"a years old, and never earned a
a dollar in your life! You ought to be
ashamed of yourself! And you want to
marry my daughter?" resumed the old
man. ''Now, I've given Mary as good
advantages for learning as any girl in
town, and she hasn't thrown them
away, but if she didn't know how to
work, she'd be no daughter of mine.
If l chose, could keep more than one
servant, but don't, no more than I
choose that my daughter should be a
pale, spiritless creature, full of dyspep-
sia and all manner of fine lady all
ments, instead of the smiling, bright
eyed, rosy-cheeked lass she is. did
say that she should marry no lad that
had been cursed with rich father, but
she's taken a foolish liking to you, and
I'll tell you what I'll do-go to work
and prove yourself to be a man; per.
feet yourself in some occupation-1
don't care what, so it be honest; theI
come to me, and if the girl be willing
she is yours
As the old man said this he deliber
ately went into the house.
Pretty Mary Blifkins was waiting t.
see her lover down at the garden gate
their usual trystiDg place. The smil
ing light faded from her eyes as sh,
= noticed his sober, discounted look.
"Father means well," she said, a
t Luke told her the result of his appli
cation. "And Tam not sure but wha
= he's about right" she resumed, after
thoughtful pause, 'for it seems to MI
: that every man, be he rich or poor
ought to have some occupation"
= Then as she noticed her lovers grav
look, she added softly: "Never mind
: I'll wait for you, Luke" "
Luke Jordan suddenly disappeare
t from his accustomed haunts, much t
the surprise of his gay associates. Blu
d wherever he went he carried with hin
Q in his exile these words, which wer
like a tower of strength to his soul
ID 'I'll wait for you, Luke"
One pleasant, sunshiny mornin
late in October, as Farmer Blifkin
was propping up the grapevine in hi
front garden that threatened to brea
down with the weight of luxuriou
- branches,a a neat-looking cart drove VI
from which Luke Jordan alighted wit
a quick, elastic spring quite in his fo
\ mer easy, leisurely. movements.
i "Good-morning, Mr.. Blifkins.
understood that you wanted to bu
some cider barrels. I think I ha'
some here that will suit you"
"Whose make are they?" inquire
the old man as, opening the gate,
e paused by the wagon.
NC Mine, replied Luke, with an air
pardonable pride, ''and challent
any cooper to beat them"
Mr.. Blifkins examined them crit
Is. cally, one by one.
'ly 'They'll do" he said, coolly, as
'ss e. set down the last of the lot. "Wh
.or will you take for them?"
OF OF "What asked you for, six montl
,e- ago to-day-your daughter, sir,
IS The roguish twinkle in the old maj
Mie M eyes broadened into a smile.
you've the right mettle in you, aft
sre all" he cried. "Come in, ,lad-cor
ere in. shouldn't wonder if we made
80 trade, after all"
Nothing loath, Luke obeyed.
ere Mary tripped out into the en- ti
ere Her round arms were bare abo
the elbows, and bore traces of t
ere -four she had been sitting.
90, Her dress was a neat gingham, OF
which was tied blue-checkereda aprC
But she looked as winning and low
Du as she always did wherever she "
the found.
9Ihle the She blushed and smiled as she 8
Luke, and then turning her eyes vi
es- her father waited dutifully to h
what he had to say.
al The old man regarded his daugh
n for q a moment with peculiar look.
MARY, this young man ,mayhap J
have seen him before-has brought
lot of tubs and barrels, all of his 0
. make-a right good article, too.
mail asks a ooad haavv nrica for 'am