The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-03-16

ty. she was about II, was barefoot ana
had on blue linsey wool dress. Her
hair was yaller and her cheeks was like
red apples. GRANADA he walked up to
her and give her look. She looked at
him, blushin' little, and her blue eyes
dancin' with mischief.
'How-de-do?' said gran dad. You
| amt the woman of the house, know,
for you amt married. The girl
laughed and blushed more than ever
| as she said she wasn't the woman of
the house. My, you're purity gran dad
said. I'm mighty glad you amt mar
ried, but you're too purity to stay
single
Maybe you're lookin' for a wife,
said the girl, still laughin' as though il
were mighty good joke.
Now, gran'dad hadn't notion of
gettin' married till that minute, but
something seemed to strike him all of a
| heap just then. His legs shook under
him like a green hunters does when he
| sights his first buck. Great drops OF
| sweat came out on his face, and his
mouth felt as dry as though he had a.
| tech of fever. This passed off in less
| time than it takes me to tell it; then he
| braced up and come little nearer tc
| the blue-eyed girl. He gave sort OF
gasp, as if he had been runnin' hard
| then said, quite steady and earnest:
| Yes, am lookin' for wife, and yor
suit me first-rate. VIII you have me?
THE purity girl didn't laugh any
I
Have you?' she said, SO astonishec
she could hardly speak. You must be
| crazy! don't even know your name,
and you don't know mine
well, my name is Tom Martin,
gran dad said, serious and steady. .
| am from Virginny, and I'm going tc
lllinoy to take up claim. I've got $500
in money; l don't drink nor swear, am
church member and % years old.
What's your name"
"'Jane Smith, she answered, taking
up the fish and putting some more in
the pan.
"'Well, Jane Smith, like your looks
and | like you. Will you have me, now
or never?'
"Well, don't mind, said Jane, think
in it over until the last piece was in the
pan and the grease sputterin' away at
a great rate. | don't mind, and don't
care if do
Now, guess you think grandad put
his arms round her and kissed her and
said something soft, for that's what
folks always do in story books when
girl says she will have 'em, but he didn't.
He knowed better. The chance was that
Jane, bein' proper brought up, would
have clipped him side of the head with
the fryin' fork. So he just went to the
door and sung out to the circuit rider
to come there. The preacher he come
in hurry. Grandad told him in few
words that he wanted to be spliced to
Jane Smith, then and there. He didn't
ask no questions, the preacher didn't,
but told them to jine hands. James
mother had been to the spring to fetch
some water and just now come in. Her
father and brother had been in the
stable givin' the horses their noon feed,
and they happened in; then all stood
starin' as if they were daft, while Jane
laid down the fork she's been turnin'
fish with, gave her hand to grandad,
and they were man and wife in less
than two minutes. Then Jane went on
fryin' fish for dinner.
That evening they had big supper,
for word had been sent all around the
settlement invitin' people to come, and
after supper there wuZ some whisky
drunk, for in those days preachers and
deacons took their dram regular and
never thought of dom any harm. There
was dancin', too, and the young men
wore moccasins they had made them
selves, and most of the girls was bare
foot. The bride borrowed pair of
party, put on her best linsey gown and
danced with the rest.
"Grandad stayed three days with his
new wife, then went on to Illinoy, laid
his claim, cleared ten acres, and built
cabin. He didn't see her nor hear
from her for six months; then he went
back and fetched her. They rode back
to their home on load of household
stuff and young fruit trees. They lived
happy together for so years and raised
family of seven sons. The Oldest,
'Lias, he"
Here loud snore interrupted Silas,
for Bill had succumbed to his narration
some time ago. The historian turned
his pipe upside down, blew out the
ashes, slowly arose, picked up his fish
ing rod and ambled out of sight, leaving
his crony to the mercy of lowering
yellow-jacket preparing for business.
Los Angeles Herald.