Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-12-24

les, you may Keep your Poht'
agreed Jerry, with an undisgnised
glance of admiration ut the pretty
face opposite him.
Mays eyes fell before his, but not
until they had flashed back look that
caused his heart TO beat high with
hope.
The fact ofihe matter was that stall
wart, good-looking Jerry had long adj
mired his employers handsome aud
accomplished daughter, but today was
the first time he had dared to let her
know it, either by look or speech.
After that, however their acquaint-
ance rapidly ripeued and few weeks
later Jerry surprised Mr., Johnson by
asking for the hand Of his daughter
ia marriage.
Mr.. Johnson was engaged in the
pastoral occupation Of milking COW
at the moment this question was
sprung upon him, and he nearly fell
OFF the stool in astOniShment.
"Want to marry my darter, Mayo
he gasped. III guess not, young man.
Not if the court knows itself, I've
bin edyercatin' her fer suthin' higher
than margin her fathers hired man. "
"Oh, if that is the only objection,
it eau easily be removed" interposed
Jerry. 81 don't expect to remain any
bodys hired man after my two years
are up. believe told you when |
came here that | had just graduated
from college, and intended To make
the pursuit of agriculture my life
business, instead of going into medi-
cine or law, or any other of the
already oyercrowded professions. |
believe man with brains can put
them to as good use and makeas much
money in farming AZ in anything else,
and propose to prove It, am study.
ing the practical side of the business
now, and at the end of my two years
| propose to go west and buy II ranch
and strike out for myself. As far as
education is concerned, | don't think
| shall ever give your daughter oc-
casion to be ashamed Of me, and as to
supporting her comfortably and in be-
coming style, believe l shall be
abundantly able to do so, and
Cant help that, jerry broke in
Mr.. johnson. II hain't gointer have
We luggin' May oifjest because We two
young folks imagine yer in love. A
woman is mighty queer an onsartin
sort of critter, anyhow, IA yell find
out soon enough when We git hooked
up in double harness fer life with one
of 'em, an il I was i'll yer place
wouldn't be in any hurry bout takin
yoke of that kind on my shoulders.
Anyhow, if We insist on gittin'
married in spite of my warnin yen
halter pick out some other pardner
besides the one we've got yer eyes sot
on at present. My darler is goin' back
to college next week to finish up her
edyercation, au' when she gifts through
her schooin' il will be plenty time
enough fer her to commence thinkin'
bout the men. She'll forgit we by that
time fast enough, so ye might as well
give up all hope rightnow Of ever git
lin her. | like We well enough other
ways, Jerry, but / don't care fer yc in
the role of son-in-law. There, now,
we've got yer answer fair an square,
an ef We want to stay an work ont
the balance of yer time, we'll drop tho
love bizness right here. an I'll treat
we as well as ever; but We don't care
To stay under the circumstances 1t IL
all right, an | shan't blame We any
fer going. Now, which is it to be.
Jerry, stay or quit?"
"I'll stay" said Jerry, quietly.
And stay he did performing his
duties as conscientiously and thor
oughly as ever, although the farm life
suddenly grew sordid and dull when
May went back to her college studies.
The months rolled swiftly around,
however, as months have habit of
doing, until eighteen of them had
he IL crossed off the calendar of time.
Then May, rs bright aud winsome as
of old, came home with her dimples
and diploma, and, though he did not
even dare to look his admiration,
Jerry was straightway transported to
paradise.
Jerry's term of service finally ex-
pired, and he regretfully announced
that the time had come for him to
strike out for himself.
That's so, Jerry" said Farmer
Johnson. 81 had clean forgot bout
yer two years bein' up today WAL,
I'll look over accounts an settle up
with We after dinner, an in the mean
time We kin be lookin' round an sorter
maxim up yer mind which one of the
critters on the place We want. be-
lieve We was to take yer choice when
ye quit"
"Well," said jerry, promptly, sit
4 Il. l.. ii.