Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-05-06

harness.
He sat on log in shed. The gentle
patter of rain on the roof seemed to
have soothing effect on the young man,
and he alternately whistled and sang
snatches of song. But his work became
monotonous, and he was feeling a bit
lonesome, when Flora entered the shed
and stood beside him. She smiled in a
roguish way and kept one hand behind
her back, as if she held something she
wished to conceal.
"What favor do you want now, Flora9"
asked John, good naturally.
81 want you to fill the box in the
kitchen with wood"
"But am to have no reward2 rather
suspect from your attitude that you have
something for me-"
81 must have your promise that you
will bring in the wood before will tell
YOU"
"Nonsensel You know I'll do any
thing for you"
eff you're sure you'll be rewarded,
you should add"
"I'll add it, then, just to please you,
retorted John, with laugh.
You're are so good I'll not keep you
waiting longer"
Flora produced rose, and, as a slight
blush swept over her fair cheeks, she
slipped the flower into buttonhole of
his vest. John caught her hands as she
was about to step back, and his hand
some eyes were full of ardor.
"This can not be all of my reward,
he said in low voice. tremulous with
feeling.
"Of course it is. Let me CO."
The alarmed girl began to struggle
ana to blush violently, but the hands
that could hold pillow firmly for hours
behind pair of strong horses were fully
equal to the present emergency.
"This is the only way to thank you
properly" cried John, as he suddenly
drew the girl toward him and imprinted
a kiss
81 think you're real mean, John
Smith," said Flora, in as indignant
tone as she could summon.
81 know am, but can't help it," he
rejoined.
Il won't stay with you minute
longer" she cried, as he reluctantly re-
leased her.
"Then I'll stay with you" And he
ran by her side.
"I'm sorry gave you the rose. You'll
never have another chance to get the
best of me-"
"Then Ill take the last chance. Flora,
be mine and I'll be yours"
mo, thank you."
"You don't mean it, cried the young
man, as he caught her and bestowed an
other kiss.
"You are my prisoner" he murmured,
tenderly.
GLOW can obtain my released"
"Only by promising to become my
wife"
81 promise"
whats all this kissing and fooling
mean1" cried rough voice.
The young man looked up in startled
way. He knew he had been caught by
his father. In his haste and rapture as a
lover John had thrown caution to the
winds and had forgotten that he might
be observed in his act of ardent wooing.
at means that Flora has promised to
become my wife," said John, frankly
and fearlessly.
"Well. I'm sorry to hear it, for I'm
afraid it may be necessary for me to
make you seek another situation than
the one on this farm" repeated Justin
glumly.
81 think l know what is in your
mind, I" said his son.
"You probably do. If you think I'm
going to give up my hold on the Edwin
Smith farm in a hurry you've made the
big mistake of your life. The will, as
neither you nor Flora can han have for
gotten, left Edwin's farm to be under my
control during my life, after which it will
become Flora's property. 1t is provided
that the only way she can receive il
sooner is for her to merry before she is
81 years old. If she marries before that
age she is to obtain the farm outright at
once. Now, am supposed to know. and
do knew, good deal more than you and
Flora, and my judgment is that I can
the farm my brother left good
deal better than anyone else, at least
until you two are as old and sensible as
you ought to be when it is time for me
10 die. 1t is next to this farm, and
arger and better farm than this one is,
and l can manage the two farms together
With more profit and benefit to all of us
han anyone else can. I've no objection
% your marrying Flora after she's 81.
indeed, I'D calculated that such marri-
lge would be the thing to expect, the
proper thing for yon both, provided you
,ould wait until the right time. But
nothing sudden or injudicious will be
permitted by me.
''Now, John, if you'll promise solemnly
land know your word can be depended
ipon-not to marry Flora until the day
Ifter her twenty first birthday, you can
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