The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-09

Mr.. Watson was engaged in the pas
toral occupation of milking a cow at
the moment this question was sprung
upon him, and he nearly fell off the
stool in establishment.
want to marry my darter May9'
he gasped. 81 guess not, young mani
Not if the court Knows itself. I've bin
edyercatin' her fer sumthin'higher than
marryin' her fathers hired man"
"Oh, if that is the only objection. it
can be easily be removed" interposed
Jerry. 81 don't expect Il remain any
body's hired man after my two years
are up. I believe I told you when /
came here that 1 had just graduated
from college, and intended to make
the pursuit of agriculture my life bust
ness, instead of going into medicine or
law, or any other of the already over
crowded professions. I believe a man
with brains a put them to q good
use and make as much money in farm
ing as in anything else, and I propose
to prove it. l am studying the practi
cal side Of the business now, and at the
end Of two years I propose to go West
n buy q ranch and strike out for
for myself. AS far as my education
is concerned, I don't think I shall ever
give your daughter occasion to be
ashamed Of me, and as to supporting
her comfortably and in becoming
style, I bell eve I shall be abundantly
able to do SO, and"
Cant help that, Jerry /" broke in
DIR. johnson. Il hain't gointer have
ye luggin' May off jest because ye two
young folks imagine yer in love. A
woman is a mighty queer an onsartin
sort of ~critter, anyhow, as ye find out
soon enough when ye git hooked up in
double harness fer life with one of 'em,
an if I was in yer place 1 wouldn't be
in any hurry bout takin' a yoke Of
that kind on my shoulders.
Anyhow, if ye insist on gittin' mar
ried in spite of my warnin, yell
halter pick out some other pardner
besides the or e ye'veg got yer eyes cot on
at present. Ny darter is goin' back to
college next week to finish up her edy-
creation, an when she gifts through her
schoolin' it will bs plenty time enough
fer her to commence thinkin' bout the
men. She'll forgit ye by that time fast
enough, so ye might as we'll give up all
hope right now of ever gittin' her. 1
like ye well enough other ways, Jerry,
but I don't care fer ye in the role Of
son in law. There, now, we've got yer
answer fair an square, an Of ye want
to stay an work out the balance Of yer
time, we'll drop the love biEness right
here, an I'll treat ye as we'll as ever;
gut if ye don't care to stay under the
circumstances it is all right, an I shan't
blame ye any fer going. Now, which
10 it to be, Jerry, stay OF quits"
'I1l stay" said Jerry, quietly.
And stay he did, performing his du-
ties as conscientiously and thoroughly
as ever, although the farm life grew.
suddenly sordid and dull when May
went back to her college studies.
The months rolled around, however,
as months have a habit Of doing, until
eighteen of them had been crossed eff
the calendar of time. Then, May a
bright and as winsome as of old, came
home with her dimples and diploma,
and, though he did not even dare to
look his admiration, Jerry was straight.
way transported to paradise.
Jerry's term of service finally ex
pired, and he regretefully announced
that the time had come for him to
strike out in life for himself.
That's so, Jerry, said Farmer Wat.
son. 81 had clean forgot bout yer
two years bein' up to day. Waal, I'll
look over accounts an settle up with
ye after dinner, an in the meantime
ye kin be lookin' round an sorter
maxim up yer mind which one of the
critters on the place ye want. / be-
lieve ye vas to take yer choice when
you quit"
"Well," said Jerry, promptly, sit
won't take me long to make up my
mind"
Here he stepped quickly across the
room to where May was gazing discon-
solately from the window, and whis
pered a question in her ear. For an
instant her eyes met his; then che rose,
with a smile, placed her hand conad.
ingly in his, and together they faced
her father.
This is my first and only CHOICE"
exclaimed Jerry, with a ring Of min
gled pride and triumph in his tones.
sAP,1t un cnnyk do that-1taint in the