River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-07

uuHS even the mean StIttiS NuSl Z uC
passed, and somewhere up in balsam
poplar a bird would persist in singing,
and something in Gabe's heart kept an
swering, answering. IS he alighted and
hitched Suke before Anna Maria's
gate.
A little later she came out arrayed
in all her glory. She passed through
the gate which the smiling Gabe held
open for her, and stepped lightly into
the buggy. Suke turned one inqnisitive
glance over her shoulder, and then,
winking slowly to herself consented to
be unhitched and to jog leisurely to-
ward the country roads. What Gabe
said TO Anna Maria and what Anna
Maria said to Gabe on that drive is not
recorded. But it is evident that the
lover had been preparing his lady for
something momentous, for upon re-
turning late that afternoon he paused
as he helped her alight, and whispered,
softly: II got sompin' mo- to say to
you"
As they entered the house, the smell
Of baking biscuits and of frying pork
Moore also had recognized this as a
gala-day, and was putting herself out
to lay such a feast for her daughters
sutton as he should remember for many
day to come. Gabe sat down in the
| spick-and-span front room.
Mas biscuits cert'n'y does smell
scan'lous," Anna Maria commented,
agreeably.
Gabe's mind was too full Of his mis-
sion to heed the remark. The mo-
| mentous second had arrived-the sec
| ond that held the fruition of all his
ambitions, all his dreams. He
pumped down on his knees at her
feet. ooh, Anna Maria,' he cried,
anna Maria, amt you gwine hab me
now?"
Anna Maria turned on him a look full
of startled surprise, which soon turned
to anger and disdain. Look hyeah.
Gabe," she said, wrathfully, whats de
mattah wild you? Is you done TUX Leah
OBJ yo' senses? Amt you got no 'spect
fo' lady's feelin's? Heah Ise tiahed
and hongry, an you come 'roun' talk
in SIGH foolishness Ell dat. No. I amt
gwine, hab you. Git up f'om daih, an
ac' sensible. Ise hongry. is"
Gabe got up sheepishly, busting his
knees. Anna Maria turned to the win
dow. He took his hat, and let him
self out of the dor.
"Heyo, Brotha Gabe, wha you
gwine? You amt gwine way fo' sup
pah, am you? We got some monstous
fine middlin' daih fryin' speshly fo'
you," was the greeting from Anna
Maria's father
''D'you want to buy Suke? Ise gwine
way f'om hyeah."
whats de mattah'd you?'' was the
old mans quick question.
else done filled all de 'quirements
you tor me, an aXed Anna Maria gain
an she won't hab me, an Ise gwine
way"
mo, y amt. Set down.
Gabe seated himself beside his ad-
WISER.
Gwen you ak Anna Maria?"
"Jes now"
"Oomph, oomph, oomph," said the
old man, refectiveIy; and he went on:
"Gabe, fo' a ha'd-wo kin, money-sav-
in, long haided man you sholy has got
less sense dan anybody l know"
What's l done now?'' said Gabe,
disconsolately. "Ain't I filled all de
'quirements? Amt l satisfied huh
soul? Amt I chawmed huh yeah?
Amt I pleased huh eye? Now wha'
mo'-oh, faint no use!'
''HoP on, hol' on, l say; yo' done all
desc things. You's satisfied huh soul,
yous chawmed huh yeah, you's
pleased huh eye, an she's jes ready
fo' you, but Lawd "a massy pom me,
amt you got mo- sense dan to pop
de question to a lady wen she hungry?
Gabe, you got lots 20 Farm"
faint no use, Unc' Ike; eff she eat
suppah an git satisfied, den she amt
gwine need me-"
you set down an wait till aftah
suppah, l say"
Just then the call for supper came,
and Gabe went in with the black Solo
mon. During the blessing Anna Maria
was cold and distant, but when the first
biscuit was passed to her her face
Frightened She half smiled as she
broke it open and filled its hot interior
with rich yellow butter. The smile
was on full force when she had tasted
the brown, crisp "middlin'," and by the
time she had the Jackets" off two
steaming potatoes her face was beam
ing.
With wonder and JOY Gabe watched
the metamorphosis take place, and
Uncle Ike had constantly to keep
nudging or kicking him under the
table to keep from betraying him
self
When the supper was done, and it
went on to a merry ending, Aunt Han
nah refused Anna Maria's help with
mock fierceness, and Uncle Ike went
out on the porch to smoke Only the
front room was left for Anna Maria
and Gabe., and thither they went.
Gabe fingered for awhile on the
brink, and then plunged in: "Anna
Maria, Ise failed an failed, an Ise
waited an waited. Is you-is you
will you hab me now?''
la, Gabe Halls, you is de beatness!"
But her hand slipped into his.
us YOU gwine hab me, Anna Maria -
he repeated.
Il reckon I'll hab to-" she said
Out on the porch Uncle Ike waited
long in the silence; then he said:
well, dat's moughty good sign,
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