The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-07-11
SAM STEBBIN'S COURTSHlP.

: MANA AOOhcu up 1lOm Luc peGSG SIZE |
was Smelling, while merry twinkle lie
her big blue eyes. -. /
BE yew so wild and fighty, Sam, that |
yew need tew be tied tew woman's |
apron strings?" she asked mischievousIy.
Sam looked trife offended, but he
soon recovered his even tempter. He
had lived on the little homestead some
thirty-hye years, was stalwart pillar
Of the church, and had led the village
'"'singin' school, for nearly. dozen years.
It was, no wonder Maria smiled at his
expressed intention of settling down.
The idea of his marrying was not So
strange to her, for the simple reason that
she had often thought about it and VOL
dered, in sort of disconsolate way, how
it would affect her own position if Sam
were to bring a wife into the home.
And she had often ended these ref1ec-
tons with few salt tears. for some way
Sam was very dear to her-as all adopt
ed brother, of course; but now
saying, softly:
''The woman I'd marry wouldn't wear
no apron strings, nor aprons neither:
Maria! She'd have tew be lady, an
learn the pianner, an there'd be SER
wants tew dew the work. That's the {;
way Le" Oe" Wucu tc" SAL "dAAA1us
he finished with a flourish.
: Maria dropped a. handful of pods into
the wrong pan and gazed earnestly into
her adopted brothers face.
Was it possible that Sam intended to
hurt her feelings, or had he suddenly
taken leave. Of his senses! There was
that played the piano and had servants
to do her work. Sam must be raving
mad. She twirled the corner Of her own
Bingham apron and waited anxiously for
the next Developments.
Eyes, Maria; them's my ideas of mat
rimony. don't want no wife Of mine
lard or-or shellin' peas" he ended,
sternly.
Maria felt the earth slipping from be-
meath her feet at this last explosion, but
in another moment Sam had stalked
away, and now she had time to think it
over.
She had worn aprons and shelled peas
in the Stebbins kitchen for many years,
but Sam had never objected to her
labOrs in any way, or even noticed that
she was the possessor of fingers, so far
as she knew.
And yet it seemed that he really was
observant even to the extent Of object
ing to these things, and then q flash of
anger ended her reflections.
She had it now; it was Della Brown
who had put these notions into Sans
Uranium.
Della was stranger in the village.
with money enough to pay her board at
Widow Jones' and not have to worry
her head or lift her finger in the bitter
struggle for existence.
The tears that were running now were
perhaps, the bitterest that Maria had
ever shed, for with this first touch of a
woman's jealousy there had come the
NJ o,N>o
Oh, how she loved him! The kind,
considerable brother she had found in the
days of her earliest orphanhood!
Sam said nothing when he entered the
kitchen again. Maria had nearly fin
ished the peas, and when he looked at
her she blushed furiously. She won
dered if he noticed that she had been
crying.
That night Della Brown came over to
see her-at least, that was the osten-
sible object Of the visit. OF course, Sam
had to "see her home" and Maria had
to take herself severely to task to keep
from thinking that this was the real OBJ
ject of the visit.
1t was late when Sam returned, but
Maria was still sitting by the kitchen
day, and had retired early, SO Maria
was alone when Sam came in.
did yew see her safe home, Sam?"
she asked, and in spite of herself there
was shade of anger in her voice.
Sam glanced at her sharply, and the
roguish twinkle shone in his eyes now
for a moment before he answered.
"Of course" he replied, finally, and
then, with movement that was bash
full and yet determined, he took his chair
from the opposite side of the fireplace
and carried it around to where Maria
was sitting.
Don't yew really think that woman
looks better without an apron, Maria?''
he he, questioned, rather sheepishly.
THEY'RE more logged up, more-more
Maria felt instinctively what was COM
ing, but at last she had gotten control
of her wicked heart, so she smiled brave
ly as she answered him.
YES, Sam. A woman does look better
without an apron, but II she has work
to do she must wear one, suppose"
"Wimmin' have tew work tew much-at
least, the wimmin in Joshuatown do,
anyway; but Della Brown Says
What does Della Brown say, Sam?'
Maria asked the question almost in
desperation for the tears were coming
nearer and nearer, and it did not seem
as If she could keep them back much
longer.
''She says" Sam answered, slowly,
that if a man really loves a woman he
won't let her work so hard. an wear
aprons an soil her fingers, an III agree
with Della Brown" he added, with
astonishing emphasis.
Maria glanced down at her fingers in
voluntarily. They were soft and taperine
naturally, but the nails were stained and
the skin did not look at all like Delia's.
She closed one hand quickly and tried to
hold it in fold of her dress, but with
sudden movement Sam bent forward
and covered it completely with his own.
"1ew have such pretty hands, Maria.'
he said.. softly. 1T 8 pity yew have
tie fingers
Mara did not look up. for the tears
had reached her lashes now, and she was
feeling little bit bewildered.
Dew yew know how much money
I've got, Maria?" said Sam, suddenly.
WAL, I'll tell yew!' he went on, with
out allowing her to answer.
when father died he left everything
tew ma except that old pastur's down by
the river; that was mine-ar' now that
the railroad wants my property I've
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