The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-09-02

fully, wiped his face with bis red ban
danna, and sot down on cheer. Miss
Sue wuz looking as sweet SIS sugar
cane, and ST thought he wuz in luck
at last. ST was careful this time, and
didn't say a word about marryin' un-
til Miss Sue played several pieces On
the organ, all of which he praised
powerful.
1t last. ss time was Aeeting, ST
broke loose:
"Miss Sue Ann" sez he, "mother
is gittin' old, and the old home is
lonesome, and I hev been thinkin' a
heap lately of increasin' the popula-
ton of the farm, in the shape Of a
wife, and eff you heven't got any pre-
vious engagements-ez I like you
pow'ful-I would be delighted to
have you take charge of my farm and
I will be your loving and obedient
servant"
'Mr. Hodges" sez Sue Ann Il
thank you for your kind but unex-
pected offer of marriage, but Iregret
exceedingly that I cannot except it
as could never be the wife of com.
mon farmer. My education and
breeding do not warrant me OF con-
sidering your offer, while at the same
time I appreciate your kindness and
will be a sister to you"
ST didn't faint, but he sez. 81 will
try to outlive this sad disappoint-
ment, but please don't claim kin with
me. I hev enough poor kin now"
Well ST was in a quandary, and
rode down the road until he saw a
light in the window of Squire Hop
per's house, and he recollected that
Nancy Hopper wuz one of the pur-
test gals at Pea Ridge school, and
he hitched old Beck" and went
up to the. door and knocked. Nancy
opened the door and ST felt at home
at or c., for Nancy had the sweetest
smile of any gal in that neighborhood.
"How dye, sir" sez she, and ST jest
went into the hallway smilin'. "You
must come out in The Kitchen" sez
Nancy, "as I am busy peelin' apples"
Of course Si went back thar, and he
helped Nancy at the job. ST sez he
never saw her look 80 handsome, and
hit was not long before he let loose.
Nancy" sez he, II hev been thinkin'
heap lately about how you poor wo-
men folks is worked, and I think a
likely and purity gal like you oughtn't
to work your life out for nothing,
when thar is strong men who will la
Dor, love and support. Nancy, won't
you be mine? I'll be good husband,
keep away from clubs, and jine the
| Meetin' eff you'll be mine!"
"But haint this rather sudden, SIP
sez Nancy, "you never hev been to
call on me since ten years ago when
we went to singin' skule. Iallus lowed
q couple orter do right smart court
in afore they wuz engaged"
Nancy" sez ST, Il have made up
my mind to git married, and you are
the gal for me, and eff we get spliced
right away, the long winter nights
are comm on, and we won't have a
thing to do but to court, and I'll spend
every evenin' courtin' eff you, so we
won't miss any of thet part"
By that time ST had sidled up to
Nancy and had his arm around her,
and Nancy, she didn't object, so 81
closed the bargain right thar, and
that is the swiftes' courtin' we ever
have record of on the Greek, and the
hsppiest marriage. For ST is model
husband, except when he gifts with
Jim Jinkins, Ole Man Peterkin and
some of them town dudes, or attends
q barbecue, but on the whole he is a
great improvement on the old ST. I
have serious intentions of marrying
myself, and if any fairly preserved
spinsters or widows of the vintage of
'65 wish q helpmate, the undersigned
is open to engagements and can give
| references. Joe Wipples.