The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-17


likely to throw away what he's got in
his hand as many Il boy that shows off
better
rs he in love with the grip asked,
seating myself for an interesting inter.
view in the duck legged chssi
Cousin Betsey reached for her knit
ting and went through some elaborate
adjustments of needles before she said:
Il reckon he'll be in love enough to
do. He amt egzactly an idiot, and the
girl is nice girl and pretty girl, and
she likes him. I've seen that plain
enough. and that is all l was studying
about. Jimmy would never have stir
enough about him to do his own court
ing anyhow, and he'll be pleased enough
to have girl like Milly Giles make up
to him."
The next that heard about .Jimmy's
matrimonial prospects was from him
self. He was going for a load of wood
one morning, and 1 went with him,
sometimes sitting behind the oxen,
sometimes walking with him behind
them or making little excursions into
the woods after late ferns in sheltered
hooks or for seductive punches of wild
grapes
Jimmy was as pleasant companion
on such a trip as the oxen themselves
indeed he was better, as good as dog
After he had loaded his wagon he sat
down on a log to rest, gazing benevo-
lently upon me as | grubbed about for
hickory nuts. gave up the hunt and
sat down too. Near by the oxen, loose
from the wagon, We're taking what
pleasure they could under the trying
though POLITICALLY yaunted condition of
a dual unity.
Cousin Betsey is talking of having
Milly Giles come over to make visit
while | am here" l said do you
think she'll come? Do you like her?''
Miss Milly is mighty nice young
pretty. and she comes of very good
family. But" Jimmy proceeded, hew-
ing his way through these unfamiliar
paths of expression with obvious diff
Guilty, II don't believe nav means
sure enough to ask her a-visitin while
you're here. Miss Milly is wear:n.
She talks a heap sometimes, and she
don't have no trouble bearin herself in
company, but still she's wearin. and
nav she thinks so too. Pm mighty
nigh sure nav wouldn't have her
come when you is here"
What is it makes her wearing"
persisted. Tell me how
Jimmy seemed to sink a shaft into
his consciousness and wait for returns.
Its somethin like tryin to drink
the foam on the top of the milk bucket
AS if you might start drinkin when it
was foam clean to the bottom"
cousin Bctsey wants you to marry
her" l stated in brutal young fashion.
Jimmy took off his hat, scratched his
curly head and knitted his faint brows
as he dug his heel into the mold and
gaZed fiXedly on the operation. Yes
sum-" he said; 'yessum, Pm afraid she
Does
"Well, will you?"
Jimmy looked at me as one of the
oxen might if had prodded him.
you member that girl told you
about the first day you come? show
ed you where she lived? Miss Ellen
Tod? Well" Jimmy concluded, seem
ing to feel that he was submitting a
problem as hopeless as was likely to
hear, 81 want to marry that girl"
ooh, you are in love with her, are
you?"
''No'm: can't say as am" Jimmy
replied judicially, although the color
crept up his face. 81 amt Influenced
by that. Miss Ellen's good match"
''Milly Giles is a good match, too,
isn't she?" said when had recovered
from this blow to my romanticism.
Miss Milly amt what I'd call good
match" Jimmy again drew down his
faint. blond brows in the eXertion of
cerebration and expression. She's got
some prop'ty, but prop'ty amt every
thing. Miss Milly's nice young lady,
but she amt no worker, and she amt
no head for management, and then
she's wearin. Where's the good of all
that there land if Jimmy finished
his appeal by implication, fixing his
limpid eyes upon me.
Most people would think Ellen Tod
bad match"
That's narrow mindedness." Jimmy
declared with uncommon decision
Miss Ellen would make splendid
wife. If that amt bein good match
He again came to full and impressive
stop.
But would Cousin Betsey think so?
Does she know you care about-that
you want to marry her?"
Jimmy mopped his brow with his
sleeve.
Nom; no'm." he said. And for the
Lords sake don't say nothin. | don't
know what to do. Maw's terrible mas
! terful. but-but-Nliss Ellen, she's
mighty patient, but she's powerful sot
too" And with this pregnant sugges-
ton of his own helplessness between
antagonistic forces the discussion con-
! cluded. and began to try to repair the
damage | had done his cheerfulness by
asking about his oxen.
! Idleness begot in me curiosity to
see Ellen Tod. so one day asked Jim
nv to take mo IN visit har