The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-22

tian man; then turns 10 Lang an says:
But there's one thing I'm wantin', - says
he. AN it's that I'm here for now
- know" answers Lang. with a nod.
Well, I'll be wishful to help ye."
I'm thankful to ye." says Tom again.
AN I'm thinkin' ye can help me. I'm look
in for a Wife"
Jaw" says Lang. lookin' round. Now.
is that 500"
"Ay, that's so. I've been lookin' long
says Tom. But now, please God, I'm
suited. She's found at last"
Then Lang looked again at Tom, an
grins. an says: Faith, then, I'm ~rejoiced
to hear it." says he. AN mebbe you'd be
tellin' me her name"
Surely" answers Tom. shes above in
the house there an her names your own;
an it's proud l am to ha' met We both this
day"
At that Lang falls solemn an sits starin'
at Tom for a while; then bursts out laugh
in; an says he. Faith we honors us both,
Mr.. Martin"
"Ah, not at all" answers Tom; ''sure the
honor's mine;'' then. in the thick-headed
way Of him, starts there and then (before
he'd known the man three hours, mind ye;
but that was Toms way) to make a bar
gain with Lang for the daughter. She was
just the kind for him. He'd treat her well.
Let Lang oblige him by mentionin' his
wishes.
But Lang could only laugh till the hay
cock shook. Are We in sober earnest?"
asks he at last.
I'm not given to jokin'," answers Tom.
"An' business is business" he says.
Then go to Sarah" says Lang at that.
| tfTftC har affair She's har Oun business
woman. Away to Sarah.' says Lang; then
turns off across the meadow shakin' in his
shoes.
Twas a bad start, you'd think; but sure
Tom cared nothin' for starts. Twas the
end OF things he always looked to; an
faith, he turned from Lang as pleased as
Punch. If it's only between herself an me,
he thinks, why then it's as good as settled.
So off he sets from the meadow. an comes
to the house again., an steps into the
kitchen, an says he to Sarah: i've just
come from your father, Miss Sally, an he
agrees thai 1 may have a word wi We"
Faith, then. ye may have two. Mr.. Mar
tin" answers Sally; "but be quick, for I'm
busy.'N
"In not be a minute" says Tom. IT'S
just this; I'm in need of a wife,"
Then 1 hope you'll get her." says Sally.
There's plenty d oblige We these parts"
Zone II do" says Tom; IAN I'm thinkin'
I've got her"
Jaw, indeed" says Sally. 'Mebbe I know
her"
Eye know her WELL" says Tom. Say
your own name an you've got her"
Me- shouts Sally; then put hands on
hips an stands staring at Tom. Me-" she
says again; an turns way laughin'. Jaw,
Lord seer"
"Ay, it's you," says Tom. bold as brass;
then, in his go-ahead fashion, starts maxi
in things plain to Sally. He was such an
age. lie came of such a stock. He owned
so much land, an furniture. an ready
money. He'd make a good man
You'd make the divil's own man." says
Sally. "Ah, quit your ravin'. an go back to
your madhouse."
You're the woman for me- says Tom:
I've searched for We long"
I'm the woman for none o. ye." answers
Sally. II give We my scorn."
"Scorn or no scorn," says Tom; you're
the woman for me, an the woman I'll
have
"Ah. go home to your prayers" says Sal
ly; IAN find sense on the way"
sally" says Tom; 'strivin's no good.
Will we answer me now
Tom fool" shouts Sally. els that an
answer?'
IN come back in a week." answers Tom;
then turns on his heel and marches off.
It's her woman's way, thinks he; in a week
she'll know better. An away Tom goes for
home.
Well, he waited his week; then, true to
his word, comes back an sits down In
7 o-osz I;tohon Tnnn ~ NAaro --,zI-s,g
up the chimbley, an pleasant enough. Sally
was there, too. big an rosy as ever, knit
tin on a stool: an beside her was a thin
yellow slip of a man; Long Ned By name,
that eyed Tom as he entered, an gave him
no welcome, an lent no word to the talk.
All the time Tom was conversin', airin' his
knowledge an wisdom. Ned sat glowerin'
at him, or whisperin' to Sarah, or wrig-
glin' on his stool; an what ne gave to Tom
was paid him back. Tom just overlooked
him. I know you, me son, thinks Tom, an
I know what you're after; but you're
wastin' your time, thinks Tom, an sits
taIkin' over Ned's head as If It was a
dogs. An sure Lang. bein' a humorsome
man, enjoyed the sport; an Sally, In her
way, enjoyed her part: an the game went
on. Tom talked an talked; Ned glowered
and twisted; Lang smoked an grinned;
Sally knitted an smiled; at last, says Tom,
over Ned's head, 1--WE come for the an
swer, Miss Sally says he.
Have you then, be the Lord!' shouts
Ned, swingin' round on his stool. ASK me,
an I'll answer ye."
1--WE come for the answer, Miss Sally"
says Tom again, nor so much as looked at
Ned.
ITS the same as before, Mr.. Martin"
answers Sally with a grin.
"Then I'll come back in a week." says
Tom: an rises for home.
Blu all the way he considered with him
self. an all through the week he kept con-
siderin'; then, the week bein' over, tramps
over the hills once more an comes again to
Lang's kitchen.
To all appearance everything was just the
same as before. Here sat Lang with his
pipe; there sat Sally with her knittin';
here Long Ned beside Sally, silent an
glowerin' there Tom in the corner. talkin'
away as -unconcerned as We please. But
there was a CLINT in Toms eye that night,
an when, at last, he leant over his knees
towards Sally an repeated his question.
somethin' in his voice kept Ned quiet.
'Tve come for an answer, Miss Sally"
says Tom.
Its the same as before, Nr. Martin"
answers Sally. an looks him in the eyes.