The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-01


mer johnson to his man of all work, ''ye
needn't cit oneasy jest because old Pod
gers hez offered 70 a dollar month
more'n I'm payin' ye. i reckon I've got
ez much money and kin afford TO pay yez
about as much ez Podgers kin or mebbe
o little more. Yer q first rate worker,
Jerry, I'll admit that, an don't want ye
20 be gettin dissatisfied or thinkin' Of
diggin' out SC I'll make n bargain with
We right now before we 40 any further.
III We stick To me and work ez we'll ez
ye've bin workin right along fer the next
two years pil pay ye the Same as Podeers
offered We, and at tho end OF the two
years I'll give ye the best critter on the
place. Ycs.~siree, Jerry, ye kin take yer
pick of any crittsr Oh the hull place,
from u sheep up to horse, or even u
giraffe or elephant, II happen TO have
one of 'em on hand, when 1t comes time
To take yer choice'
"what dye say to that .Jerrys 1t is a
bargainS'
"Ill do it." answered Jerry Brant
quietly. "and there's my hand to bind
The bargain.
That's the way TO talk; that's Jest
what / wanted 20 hear, exclaimed Far
mer johnson, eraspiDg Jerry's extended
palm and giving IL hearty snake.
Now that Diz ness Is settled satisfactory
TO allhands, an we Kin pitch into the
work with clear conscience"
No further mention was made OF the
bargain between jerry and his employer
untll thev were seated at the dinner table
later in the day, and then Mr.. johnson,
Across the table at his better fraction and
said:
"Well, mother, / had TO discharge Jerry
an hire MIN over ag'in today
"You seem to be in very good humor
about it,so i judge the difference couldn't t
Johnson, who used TO be Yankee
school ma'am, before she married
and therefore did not handle the
Unitad States dialect with the offhand
familiarity of her husband.
serious? Ye kin bet il isl" calculated
Mr.. johnson. why, Two got to pay
him 81 u month mcre'n 4 did bsfore, an
ct rhe end OF two years. If he stays right
along, he's to Lave his pick out Of the
critters on the place to take along with
him an keep for his own. i expect he'll
take "a horse, but can't help IL. i wasn't
goin TO lot old Podgers hire him away
from me and then 90 around chucklin
over it .bshind my back for the next six
months.'
MIR. Podgers made an attempt to hire
him, did hcy"
"Ycs,an purity nervy attompt at that.
Offered him I'll more n month, but set
tied the matter In a hurry by pilIn' the
best critter on the place on top OF that.
But II he stays the hull two years
reckon he ii earn it, eb, aerryY"
Jerry biushed, and answered that he
would do his best
Didn't you exempt my pony, papa
] really can't think OF allowing Mr.. Brant
10 run of with that even If he does earn
it!p exclaimed Farmer Johnson's pretty
lS-year-ol daughter May, with side-lone
glance of admiration au Jerry's broad
shoulders ana manly features
fOh Jerry wouldn'u be mean enough
70 take the pony, l guess, interposed
her father.
mo" said Jerry. II don't want the
pony-nnless the rider goes with IL, Z" he
add d, sotto voce.
"Eh, what's that?" demanded Mr.
johnson. UNLESS whatg / didn't ketch
the tail end of that remark exactly.
Jerry's face turned crimson, and he
was about to repeat his remark when tho
quick witted yoHetg lady came to the
rescue.
mir Brant"-sbe always called him
by that title. because she considered ii
more becoming and digniied than Jerry
" Mr. Brant says he doesn't want the pony
uni the bride goes with it, l believe,
she explained ingenuously.
Huh! | recKOn "a halter is all he'll
yet with her If Le takes that pony There
want anything In the writin's abo ut
throwin' In IA bride, said Farmer John
sou.
lyon needn't worry, father. / think
Mr.. Brant Will BE- generous enough TO
spare me my pony, said May nassur-
inoly
"Yes you NAV keep your pony"
agreed Jerry, with an unGisguised glance
OF admiration at the pretty face opposite
him. Mays eyes fell befors HIS but not
until they had flashed back look that
caused his heart To beat high with hope.
The fact Of the matter was that stall
wart good cooking Jerry had long ad-
Gired his employers handsome and ac-
COR plished daugnter, but today was tho
first time he mad dared To let her know
IL either by look or speech. After that.
however, tteir acquaintance rapidl}
ripened and few weeks later Jerry sur
prised Mr.. johnson by asking for the
hand Ct his daucbtHr In marriages.
Mr. Johnson was engaged in this pas
torJl occupation Of milking cow at the
moment this question was sprung upon
him, and he nearly fell of the stool in
aStOni shmtnt.f
want t. marry my dnrter May" he
gnspet. 81 guess rot young man Net
If the court knows itself. I've bin ecyer-
catin her fer suthin higher than marryin
her fathers hired man..
ION, If that Is the only objection, it
cap easily 10 removed" intCruosed Jerry.
81 dln't expect TO remain anybody hired
man after my two years are up / believe
1 told you when | came here that ] had
just grauduated from college and in
tended 10 make the pursuit OF agricul-
turc my llfa business instead of going in
to medicine or law or any other of the al.
ready ovcrcrowded professions. / believe
"a man with brains can put them Il rs
good use and make as much money
in farming os in anything else. aud pro-
pose to prove IL. / am studying the prac
teal side OF the business now. and at the
epd OF my two years pr pose TO go west
ard buy ranch aud strike out for my
self. As far as my education is con-
cerneu. | don't think shall ever give
your daughter occasion TO he ashamed of
me, and as To supporting her comfortably
and III becoming style, / believe 1 shall
be abundantly aDlj To do so, and'--
Cant help that, derry. broke in Mr..
johnson. II hnin't going 10 have ye
lugein May of Jest because yo two young
folks imagine yer in love. a woman is
n mighty queer ana unsartin sort of crit
ter anyhow, as ye'll find out soon enough
when 20 sit bookoi up in double harness
fer life with one of 'em. and IL / was i'm
Yer place | wouldn't be IN any hurry
bout takin' yoke Of that kind on my
shoulders ANYHOW If Va insist on Qittin'