The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-01

SATISFACTORY 10 Lnem. A. - EEses
But, my dear Polly, you can make
an explanation that will be satisfactory
to me-
mot now, my dear, but after awhile
I will. Your father is calling you"
The old man stood at the garden
gate, whooping the name of his daugh-
ter, and when she had come to him,
having left Polly sitting on bench in
the summer house, the old fellow said:
"Nell, go it into the house and stay there
till l come, and when do come may
have some mighty interestin' news for
you"
| The girl passed on without replying,
and the old man joined Polly in the
summer house. He sat down on the
bench near her, tanning himself with
his straw hat, and it was some time be-
fore he spoke.
"Hotter'n it was last night" he said.
Hotter than it was night before last,
think" the woman replied.
II CAD, l guess you're right. You
always raise me one; must have played
poker in your time"
But if were to play poker might
not always raise; l might sometimes
simply call"
Cad, believe you have played; but
that amt what want to talk about.
See this?' He touched his shirt collar
and it was fastened with horseshoe
nail. Been threatenin' to git it for
a long time and got it jest now in honor
of you, don't you see? But it amt
nothin' to laugh at. Will you let me
tell you something"
Eyes, am going to sit here few
moments longer"
Don't exactly like the way you put
it, but reckon it's all right He was
silent, fumbling with the nail at his
collar; he sighed deeply, threw his hat
on the ground, thrust his hands into
his pockets and leaned back against the
vlne-woven lattice work. And in the
twilight she could see that his face was
| hard-set and his countenance eager.
what were you going to tell me?"
she asked.
| "Somethin' powerful important to
both of us, but you'll have to let me
git at it in my own roundabout way.
BY this time the whole town is discuss
in the fact that three men, strange
men at that, come here and called YOU
Polly. And mebbe in the mornin' thew
will tell you that you better git out,
Then what?"
iii tell them to go to a place not on
the school maps, but well located in
spiritual geography"
II CAD, that's the way to talk to avoid
strength, but it won't do to tell 'em no
such thing. There is a wav bv
which the whole affair may be made
smooth"
ut is smooth enough now" she 70.
piled.
I'll be dinged if it is; it's as
rough as toad's back; but we can
smooth it. Now here" he leaned
toward her. II say now here, YOU
marry me and the whole affair will be
settled, for they won't dare to talk
about the wife of the mayor Of this
town. Hah, what do you say? You
see that I've got about the best place
around here, and was down the creek
yesterday evenin' and that corn is goin'
TO turn out monstrous, hah? You can
go right down to the store and trade
out ten dollars worth at a snort, hah?
Then Nell can help you right along in
the printing Office and it shan't cost
you cent. AS told you once before,
you amt so powerful good loolin'.
Your face amt got that saft look that
1t ought to have, but we can't expect
everything CT woman from the CITY.
you know. Oh, know I'm gittin' old.
but bet dollar that can jump over
that bean pole right yander"
IN take the bet" she replied.
"Hah, what's that? You don't want
to see me jumpin' round in the garden
path at night like toad, do voup
wouldn't like to have it said that YOU
married man simply because he could
jump over pole, would you? Look.
don't you see-1 have got this here horse.
shoe nail jest to please you? Look how
l am putting myself out"
but you haven't told me that vo,
love me-" she said, and in the gather
ing darkness he could see her looking
down. As
Haven't II Well / do. Love 20,
well enough to let you 70 to the store
ana trade out ten dollars worth at a
SNORT and II that amt love, hanged if
In, Know wv, what is. Yes, I even love you
more n than that-1'n let you trade out
fifteen Now what do you say?"
Mr.. Aimes," she said, and her voice
was low and sympathetic, "your earn
est pleading warns my heart toward
you' and it therefore grieves me to tell
you tnat am engaged"
The horn spoon you sayl But who
Tor But not to one of them men. I
hope"
No; not to one particularly, but to
all three" -
The off OK you say! But you can
marry all three of EN-"
No, can't; but l can wait and see
which one really want"
Miss" said the old man, catching
up his hat and arising, ''you come
mighty near being the blamest creeter
ever saw"
He stood there fumbling with his
collar; he took out the nail, held It's
Il Il -