Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-03-10
Woman Disposes

s Woman Disposes !
-&~- 49,. By i
!: JOHN c. FIScHBEcx !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Copyright. IN. By Daily Story Pub. Co.,
HIS happened 20 years ago, wher
good Mr.. Spotswood was governor
of this fair province of Virginia. was
q young gallant then. and not . some
what sluggish dullard. as l have be-
come. And Nine. Clarendon, whom you
may see knitting placidly by the window
: yoiider, was neither elderly nor gray
haired. She was as lissome young lass
as one might wish to see, and when
saw her first, riding along a country lane
on her palfrey, felt that Cupid s arrows
had wounded me once for all.
Now, this is q bit of personal history,
and refers to Christmas time and stormy
weather. such as sometimes happens,
though but rarely, in our Virginia. There
were many merry-makings in the coun-
try in those days. when the example OF a
pleasure-loving monarch, h0wbeit he
dwelt across the seas, encouraged his
people in all such harmless indulgences.
1t was at neighbours place. where we
were enjoying dance, not long before
the beginning of the holiday season, that
fmsde my bow to S~eet Mistress Pru-
deRoe HARDWOOD. But she would have
Mons Ct me; tossing. her pretty head and
busting of onathe arm Of one Of her 9th
Or suitors.
thought this bad beginning, but re-
minded me of the proverb about the
brave and the fair, and determined to
press my suit 1t CHANGED that her
father had been an old comrade of mine
In the Indian wars. and soon found
means to visit him. The old man re-
ceived me cordially, and as we sat over
our mugs in the comfortable wainscotted
halio his fine old dwelling, he rehearsed
to me the eventful story of his cam
paigns I listened with outward re-
spect, but, as confess with some
shame. with small attention; because
q Mistress Prudence served us from time
to time, as the mugs ran dry-talking
being thirsty work-as my eyes and ears
were for her alone.
need not say that once established in
the good mans graces, was assiduous
in my wooing. But Prudence put me
OF with the art of which every maid.
however country bred. is mistress. At
the end Of the twelvemonth knew no
better how stood in her estimation
than I did at the beginning.
-.}, Christmas eve was approaching, and
with, the decline sof the year came fire.
quent storms and tremendous SHOWS,
asick ~ She people of the vlcinage had
not seer for time longer than COM
passed by the memory of the Oldest man
amongst U.S. Travel was not only diff
cult, but perilous. and hardly a morn
ing passed but brought tidings Of dis
tress, not rarely coupled with the news
that some daring equestrian had sue
cumbed to the cold, or been 'whelmed in
Z treacherous creek. could not leave
my lonely hall in such weather without
a decent excuse, and for week searched
an vain for q reasonable pretext to dare
che dangerous roads and see Prudence
again. I was very much in love, and it
seemed at length as though would risk
any danger, just to see her sweet face
again. .,
At last could no longer deny the
qualification of my desire. So, saddling
nay horse, Dobbin, I pushed through the
heavy drifts and on to Holloway hall.
passing over the great stone bridge
across the river which separates the
two estates noted that the ice had &C
cumulated perilously against the CEN
trail arch of the bridge, and remarked to
myself that there would be risk. an the
weather moderated not, of the ancient
structure collapsing before the ire
mendous pressure. At another time or
ON another mission, I might have dis
mouneod md nadR an examination of
The nasoafJ. but pusl1ed on. assuring
myself that there was no immediate
peril. and that the stonework had stood
80 winters, even il none so severe as
this. and would doubtless survive a few
brief days of stress.
AS I brushed the snow from my cloak
In the porch of Holloway, could not but
feel a sense of foolishness, for having
gentured on visit at time so evident
IT, unpropitious Old Master Haywood
was absent. but Prudence met me at the
door. - hi
s%'Why. Master Clarendon" she said,
saucily, "'tis rough wind that blows
you hither. Shall bid you welcome, or
uo?"
"As you prefer" answered, somewhat
stiffly. for I was nettled at the mockery
In her eyes. ''But since come SO far
and by such dangerous roads, I may tell
you that have an object in doing so. >.
A sudden color famed into her cheeks
and she drew back with little exclama-
ton, partly surprise and partly coquetry
for such is the manner of girls.
Fear not" I cried, the sight of her
dear face putting to fight all the timidity
of the previous moment. "all have to
say may. be put in three words: love
-