Evening journal., 1898-10-15
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Unfortunately for one 1t Was Not He-
ciprOcated-Girl's Chances Of
Marriage Were slim.

Marriage Were slim.
I 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 weather,
coon dogs, Cuban war, moonshine
whisky and the best methods of bak-
ing 'possum, when tall, comely girl
of about II seated herself in the cor
ner al my left, fixed her luminous blue
eyes on my face, and hardly batted
them for more than a minute. Finally
she elected fierce pant, leaped to
her feet, seized the poker and gave the
side of the ruddy backlog several 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 adioin-
ing room.
l heard her throw herself heavily
across the groaning bed. Then con-
vulsive sobs were borne to my ears.
Soon the old man rose and followed
her. Soon 1 could hear their voices
humming together.
Finally the talk ceased and the old
man slowly tramped back to where L
was sitting. He stood with his back to
the fire minute, then gave an embar-
rassed cough and spoke:
stranger you know what that ar
gal is cryin' and sobbin' about?"
Il haven't the faintest idea, I'm
sure" 1 returned.
wal, it's about you"
Indeed"
"Yas, you an the t'other little
feller. Vas, she says you're just like
him"
Like whom?"
''Tommie Lattimer."
"Who's he?"
"Only a plain, unassumin' little hoss
thief, stranger. He's away for the time
being, at Frankfort, stranger-delayed
thar for a short spell of four years, an
it's impossible for him to get away at
present. Comm to examine you q
close quarters, I believe the gal is
right. Don't want to brag on a man
right to his chin, but 1 must say that
you do look jist like him.
"My gal an him was er goin' to hitch
up an trot off toward eternity to-
gether, but the 'tarnal officers come in
an cut the tugs. Jist ready for the
ceremony-the preacher was here, the
shoats was baked the pumpkin pies
were smokin' on the table, when the
ornery officers come up an jerked the
little rooster off the pole of joy, took
him away and cooped him up She's
been faithful to him, stranger; has
been lovin' him right along until you
came. Now she says she'll take her
heart strings off'n him and wrap 'em
around you if you are willin'."
"But-" began.
90, she means it, stranger. Needn't {
think she's hirtin' with ye. She means
what she says clear up to the hub! I'll
see that she marries you for that mat
ter Paid the preacher for marryin' her
and little Tommie Lattimer. Give him
next to my best coon dog and the cere-
mory is still due us. She says it's no
use 10 wait for Lattimer to get in. You
lookin' just like him, you see, she can
imagine that you are him, and would
thereby save three years and three
months of marriage bliss that goes to
waste by ,waitin' for him. So let's git
the thing settled an git them tear
splashes often her checks an them
sighs outen her lungs. 1t bothers me. -
"But-Pm married"
"Wall, thar's the jestice of the peace
right close here that can divorce We in
IS minutes from date, and I've got a jug
OF liquor and a pound O. long green to-
backer to pay him for the job. Hurry
up"
IT'S impossible!" said, desperately.
Don't talk so loud, then, so she can
overhear; I'll fix it fer ye to escape, if
you won't marry her. I'll tell her to
go to cool1in' for the weddin' and that
you are gone for the preacher. When
you git out split for tall timber. Leave
, the main road, and If she finds She's
tripped up she'll foler ye an she's
got the fastest boss in the hills. Be
sides, she can shoot an apple from q
gatepost at q distance of 100 yards
Sorry, stranger, you look like little
Tommie. Would er loved TO had W
stayed over night AS it is, my care
for human life bids ye split for yei
! hoss.'
And I "split."-Cincinnati CONNER
cial Tribune.