Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-04
AN ARDENT WoOING.
He Looked Just Like Tommy. and
She Wanted to Wrap Her Heart
Strings Around Him.


stopped for the night on Bowie
branch, a tributary OF Rife creek
last October. Supper being over, the
''old man Of the house" and myself
drew chairs In front OF grateful fire
of hickory logs. We were discussing
such absorbing questions as the wealth
er, free silver. coon dogs. the Cuban
war, moonshine whiskey, Hannaism
and the best methods Of baking pos
sum, when a tall, comely girl OF about
seventeen, seated herself in the cor
ner at my left, fixed her luminous
blue eyes on my face, and hardly
Finally she elected a fierce pant. leaped
to her feet, seized the poker and gave
the side of the backlog quick stabs
Then she sat down and fixed her thirsty
gaze on me as before.
She then rose suddenly, turned over
the chair and rushed into the adjoining
room.
L heard her throw herself heavily
ACCESS the groaning bed. Then con-
vlusive sobs were born to my ears.
Soon the old man rose and followed
her Soon / could hear their voices
humming together.
Finally the talk ceased, and the old
| man slowly tramped back to where
was sitting. He stood with his back
to the fire a minute, and then gave al
embarrassed cough and spoke
Stranger, you know what that al
girl Is cryin' and sobbin' about?''
Il haven't the slightest idea, I'm
sure" / returned.
Wal, it's about you"
Indeed"
"Yas, you and xh' t'other little fell
low Vas. she says you're just like
him."
Like whom"
'Tommie Lattimer."
who's he?"
Only a plain, Unassumin' little hes;
thief, stranger He's away for the
time being, at Frankfort-delayed thar
for a short spell of four years, and it's
impossible for him to get away at pres
ent. Comm to examine you at close
quarters, l believe the gal is right
Don't want to brag on a man right
to his chin, but must say that you
look just like him.
My gal and him was goin' to hitch
up and tSOt toward eternity together
but the tarnal officers come in and cut
the tugs. Just ready for the ceremony
the preacher was here; the shoats
was baked; the punkin pies was smo-
kim On the table, when the ornery Off
GERS come up and jerked the little roos-
ter off the pole OF joy, took him
away and cooped him up. She's bin
lovin' him right along until you came
Now she says she'll take her heart
strings often him and wrap 'em around
you If you are willin'."
But" ! began.
oh, she means it, stranger. Needn't
think she's FIRTH with you. She
means what she says, clear up to the
bub. I'll see that she marries you, for
that matter. Paid the preacher for
marryin' her and little Tommy Latti-
mer. Give him next to my best coon
dog and the ceremony is still due us
She says it's no use to wait for Latti-
mer to get in. You lookin' jest like
him, she can imagine, fou see, that you
are him, and would thereby save three
years and three months of marriage
bliss that goes to waste by waitin for
~ iCt . SolC tAO WLOAo eAiAho SSN
tied, and git them tear sphshes often
her cheeks and them signs outen her
lungs. 1t bothers me-"
"But-I'm married.
Wal, there's the jestice- of the peace
right close here that can divorce We in
fifteen minutes from date. and I've got
a jug of liquor and a pound Of long
green terbacker to pay for the job.
Hurry up
It's impossible" said desperately.
Don't talk so loud then, so she can
overhear; III fix it fer We to escape if
you won't marry her. III tell her to
go to cookin' for the weddin', and that
you are gone for the preacher. When
you git out split for tall timber. Leave
the main road. for if she finds that
she's tripped up she'll foller We, and
she's got the fastest boss in the hills.
Besides she can shoot an apple from a
gatepost at distance Of one hundred
yards. Sorry, stranger, you look like
Tommie. Would er loved to had We
stayed over night AS it is. my care
for human life bids We split for yer
boss