Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-31

Well, things went m IN thls fasnlon
from one year to another, until at last
I felt fairly desperate, an as if l must
"either end it or mend it." An just
when I was in this frame Of mind, UP
came John Walgrove.
He was widower, his wife having
died two years before. I had known
them very we'll, an had been sorry for
the man when heard of his loss.
I was never more surprised in my
life, though, when he called one after
noon. Of course sat an talked to
him, an he stopped an stopped, until
at last was bound in common civil
ity to offer him cup O. tea.
While we were sitting at the table
havin' it, he kept lookin' at me until
I wondered whatever the man was
thinkin' about. But at last / knew,
for he says:
"I've never felt 80 happy an con-
tent since my wife died. Miss Rey-
nolds, don't you think as you an me
might be very comfortable together p
stared at him, for, upon my word,
I didn't for the minute take what he
meant.
"Don't you think we might ?" he
asked again. "I've been a good hus-
band to one wife, an I would be to an
other"
1t was the greatest wonder in the
world as I didn't drop my cup an
saucer, which 1 happened to be hold
in my hand. -,
"Good gracious, Mr.. Walgrove!'
says I.
He drew his chair closer up to me,
an went on talkin'. An what he
said sounded something like, can
tell you, after Sans "can't help it"
sort O. ways.
"But there's Sam p says I, when l
could get word in edgeways.
"Sam Oh, Sam be dashed ~ says
John, for he'd got bit warmed up
then, you know. "Look here, Janet,
NV girl; Sam will never marry you ;
he hasn't got pluck enough to do it
while his mother says he mustn't.
Wait for him, an you'll be an old
maid to the end O. your days! Take
me, an I'll make you as good hus-
band as ever the sun shone on"
"Well, what to do I didn't know
However, at last, promised John that
1 would tell Sam straight how matters
stood, an hear what he'd got to say"
So next time I saw him, I tackled
him fair.
"Now, sam," says I, "you an me
have been engaged Is years, an, as
Il can see, we're no nearer bein' mar.
ried than we were at first start.
tell you straight I've had enough of it.
an I want to know what you mean to
do. I'm tired livin' by myself, ar
there's another man ready to marry
me, if you're not"
aAnother man r' says Sam, starin
like stuck sheep.
eyes," answers, "an' I needn't &c
no roundabout. It's John Walgrove.'
"Oh, you'd be Number Two, would
YOU ?" with an attempt at Jeer
though could see he was mad.
"I'd sooner be Number Two than
Number None at ALL" answers L
"Now I've told you fair and honest
an you can just please yourself. I've
likin' for you, Sam, an we've been
promised to one another all these years
| dor't want to act in noways shah
by, but you've got to make up your
mind. You can either take me, OF
leave me for good an ALL"
Well, miss, he couldn't speak up,
even then. He muttered an hawed
till my blood fairly boiled.
"Go an ask your mother !" says |,
sarcastic like. "No doubt she'll ad'
wise you" An if the silly sheep
didn't get up anG 60!
Upon my word, didn't know
whether to laugh or cry. l was feel
ing reg'lar hysterical when John came
in.
"I'm not a bit surprised !" says he
when I had told him what had passed
can you mark my words, he'll never
say either one thing or the other
He'll shuttle out of it." Johns voice
was awfully conten1ptuous when. ht
said "shuffle."
But he was right enough, for San
never came near me again. Every
time he passed the house, he went al
if wolves were after him, an looked
neither to the right nor left.
let a week or two 60 on, an thel
John says, "Well, surely you can SCI
for yourself what Sam means Yol
won't think anything more of hin
after this ?"
"No," answers. ~ consider I'm
free now" But I could hardly hell
sheddin' a few tears, for it seemed
rather hard to be treated like tina
after all those years.
"Don't cry, lass !" says John. An
then, after a minutes hesitation, h
kissed me, an 1 somehow began tt
feel that I'd gained better one thai
1 had lost.
So after that I thoroughly made W
nv mind, an I wanted to see Sam tt