Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-12

WAoA snSes
That's what mean"
why, some Of my nephews an
nieces think that belong to then
and I'm sure 1t would be wrong In m
to go of and marry when they nee
me so much"
"They amt like other young folk.
then. But that's neither pro nor cor
| tell you solemnly that the Lord new
er made as fine a woman as you b
and intended her to be single. Yo1
amt exactly an old woman, bu
you're gittin' along, gittin' along
Where's your home? Amt got none
You are jes' Twin round fust on
place and then the other. No, stree
you're too good a woman for that sor
Of thing. You need a solid, stead!
old man for a husband, who will Civ
you home to boss and who will TAXI
care OF you. | know you could Gil
handsomer men. amt q perfect fig
ger. I'm little short. my feet arr
too fiat and my heads not q propel
shape; but there nothin' the matter
with my heart. IT'S sound as a dol.
lar, Miss Dinah,. and every heart beat
In 1t is for you"
"Pshaw! How you do talk" said
Miss Dinah, blushlng and then hurry.
Ing to get back to the argument
There's another reason why you
shouldn't marry, Judge. Think Of the
children. Every one Of them would
be furious with me as we'll as with
you. can't imagine what put this
marryin' notion into your head. In
the first place, everybody'll be laugh
ing at you II you should marry again.
Then there'll be a howl from the
children; and lastly you are too old
and have got too many mortgages on
you. And you ought to be thinking
about religion, too, and preparin'
yourself for the hereafter instead Of
filling your old head with all these
here love-sick notions"
you talk mighty hard Miss d.
nah" said the Judge, who was visibly
discouraged, and who, as he sat in
the moonlight, did look very old and
lonesome. III you jes knowed how
hard 1t was for me to kill time on my
place with nobody but the servants
there, you'd change your idee about
my bein' so silly; but I've laid the
case before you and II you won't give
me no decision tonight, I'll ask you
to consider 1t and give me an answer
when | come again"
very well. I'll do that; but in the
you had better consider
what I've been a-sayin' to you before
you come again. You just take about
a week and steddy 1t over
As she went into the house the pic
ture Of her aged suitor, departing sad
ly to his desolate home, remained
with her; and in her room she spoke
to her sister-in-law in this vein:
Eyes, he asked me to marry him, but
| didn't give him no answer. He's too
old to marry, and Id be goose II |
did; but then he does live lonesome
kind Of life. That old man certainly
does need a helpmate; and then he
set me to thinkin' about myself.
Here am nearly fifty years old
without a home, and I've been forcin'
myself very likely on lot of young
people that didn't want me. | sup,
pose it's time for me to quit it. Well,
Jonadab-I mean the Judge-wants
me to be his'n. OF course, | give the
best advice | could and told him he
was fool to think of marryin; and
I've done full duty. never let on to
him about it, Maria, but Jonadab has
convinced me that | ought to
git married, and I'd just as soon mar
y him as any other man | know; and
les a soft-hearted critter, too and SO
guess I'll take him. He's a powerful
lose reasoner. Jonadab is, and he's
got me persuaded, though he don't
lnow it yet
On the evening when the Judge was
o have returned for his answer Miss
)inah had arrayed herself with lit
lie more than her usual care in antic
patton of the visit. After supper
he took her seat upon the porch,
which, by a wise provision, had been
gain surrendered to her, and che was
njoylng the balminess of the night
nd meditating upon her best plan of
when the barking of a lit
lie terrier at the front gate announc-
d the arrival OF negro boy. He
'rought with him a letter, for Miss
)inah, it was "frum de Jedge, an dar
ian't no answer"
Miss Dinah took the letter into the
ouse thinking that 1t was anything
nut what 1t was; for this Is what the
Judge wrote.
Dear Miss Dinah. | have been
over what you said to me
he other night. have went over
he p'ints seriatim, as the lawyers
ay, and your argument is like your
elf, perfect. You have convinced me
hat am an old fool that amt got
10 business with new wife at nv
ime OF life. amt got so much re-
Igion as | oughter have, and I'm a
ding to get some more. You are
light, Miss Dinah. and you've con-
inced me that was wrong II eyer |
on need friend call on the under
.gned. hereby withdraw my suit |
Or the hand of the most sensible wo-
IAN | know YOres to command,