Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-12-30
HOW 1T BEGAN
tOriginal.l

OF the renee that 1nclOsed the Dorm
farm. Jenny's elbows were on the top
rail, and her chin was in the palms Of
her hands. Henry was standing little
off.
Jenny" he said, shave y heerd y're
pap say how his potatoes air comm
out this year?'
They're all little and mighty few in
hill"
Henry put out one hand and rested
it on the top rail very near Jenny's
elbow.
"Ours is pretty good" he said.
"Reckon We'll have fair crop of 'em."
II hope y will"
Henry put his other hand on the rail.
His position was face to face with
Jenny, his hands inclosng her elbows.
"Air y afeerd of fallin' Backward"
she asked.
"Waal, it's kind o. humpy underfoot
here. A plowed field $ no place to
stand 'thout holdin' on ter somep'n.'
Notwithstanding Jenny's covert init
nation that Henry was edging rather
close she stood her ground.
"They say Mabel Haines is a-goin' to
be married" she remarked.
"Waal, that's material. I'd like to find
some gal wilHn' to marry me-"
Il s'pose any of 'em would suit W"
"No they wouldn't. The gal 1 want
has bke eyes. yaller hair and mighty
trim figure
Half the gals bout here has blue
eyes and yaller hair"
There's only one got the right shade
for me-"
Henry continued to pull himself for
ward at intervals. each time drawing a
trifle nearer to Jenny's face.
"Y' better stop that" she said.
"Why:"
"'Cause."
Although Jenny spoke very mildly,
she frightened the bashful swain. He
leaned as far back as his arms would
let him and looked at her obviously.
He saw no encouragement. 1t did not
occur to him that Jenny might stand
farther from the fence. But Jenny's
mild admonition was her only effort
to prevent his touching her rosy lips
with his whenever he had mustered
the necessary courage.
Jenny" he said, II b'lieve y're
Altered I'm goin' to kiss y"
mo. amt. Y. wouldn't dare do
that"
would y mind?'
"Henery Dorm, y jist stop talkin'
bout SIGH things"
Henry started. He wondered how he
could have been so bold. He let go his
hold on the fence and stood back.
"Our brindle cow" he said. had a
calf last night
To this bit of information Jenny
made no reply. She dropped her arms
on to the top rail and looked far be-
yond the easily discouraged Henry.
eyre mad at me ter talkin' about
kissin' y" he said.
II amt mad about y're talkin' about
kissin' me-" she replied.
"Y're mad from somepn. I reck-
oned that was it,"
what y say?"
Henry repeated.
"Oh. y're standin' so fer away l
couldn't hear y"
Henry pondered upon this remark,
and glimmer of encouragement pene-
trated his sluggish brain. He ap-
preached the fence and after few ir-
relevant remarks put his hands on the
rail again, inclosing Jenny's round
! arms, though his were unbent, keep
ing him at a distance from the lips he
coveted.
IF y think y kin drive me away
from this fence she said, 'y're
mighty mistaken"
IL amt a-tryin'."
Henry began a process Of swinging
backward and forward. Several times
he approached within few inches of
her lips. She neither moved nor spoke.
Finally the temptation was too great
for him. and as a bit Of metal placed
too close to a magnet will suddenly
click against it he got within an ire
sistible attraction. and their lips met.
Henry drew back abashed.
"That was an accident" he said. Il
WOuiuh q uOhC ~ iCh q qudhtCh cSS-
ton O. land If could "a helped it."
"And l wouldn't "a had y done 1t
fer another quarter section" replied
the girl. coloring. by think / want
anybody to kiss me as feels that
a-way?"
"Air y goin' to forgive me, Jenny?'
mo"
The word was spoken in a very nom
committal tone, but Henry did not so
understand 1t. He stood very near the
pouting lips that had tasted so sweet.
and bit Of recklessness came to him.
Jenny" he said, 81 reckon that II y
air not goin' to forgive me fer takin'
one might as well have a Dozen"
To this Jenny made no reply. She
looked out toward barn that doomed
up on the crest Of distant hill and
waited.
slow much madden would y be IL
took dozen than II / took one?' he
asked.
"Lots."
Henry was beginning to discover
h. ho So, , III,