The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20

long as you have, and in all my experience
L have never met a man who was in hur-
ry TO close up bargain who didn't pro-
pose to skin you in the operation. The
good things will always keep awhile. They
will bear thinking about. studying over
and sleeping on. 1t is the devil himself
who says now or never now or never
II you love each other and he is worthy
of you, I'll see that you are married in
good time A few weeks-months-yes how
big they look to you now. but God! how
INFINITELY small they will appear to you
after awhile With youth there is no to-
morrow, no Notwithstanding but to-day
With age 1t is all one long yesterday.
Now Miss Alice, L am going to talk to
you like father; what I'm geing to say
may hurt, but it's the truth. l tell YOU
the captain leaned forward and lifted his
finger lmpressively; Il tell you he won't do
he's an Early, They're weak set; they
won't fight for their country and a man
who won't fight for his country won't fight
for his wife, His father bolted the ticket
/ can prove 1T. l know, my girl, he can't
help that, but there are some things he
can help. He smoked in my office without
your or my permission, and cigarette. L
can stand a pipe or a cigar, no matter
how rank they are. l use them myself
but a Overwhelmingly
The captain spat upon the floor as if to
take the very taste of the word out of his
mouth.
Then another thing, he wrote all over
my scratch-book. L don't like scribblers,
They scribble their way all through life
and, besides, the book was mine not his
Did you notice too, how he let me wolf
his girl away from him-his intended wife,
too. and never word of protest? Saw
dust! Do you suppose | would lay down
good hand without calling the other fell
low? Now you don't know anything about
what that means, but do. and so does he.
for he sat in a game with me once anss
he'll run through with your farm before
he learns the rules of the game Poker is
not young mans game. anyhow. It's al
ways break or go broke with them We
old fellows play ii for fun-ahemi with, OF
course, no objections TO a small ante Your
young man drinks. too. Why | never go
into the Jefferson House but that he isn't
there setting them up TO everybody-bar-
tender included. No gentleman does that
often. I'll go out and see your father to-
morrow and light on him like young
cyclone. I'll make him think he II be all
shot up il he doesn't behave himself, and if
this Mr.. Early Rose comes up here again
with that cigarette I'll throw him out of
the window and jump on him.
Now I'll get my hat and well go right
up Homeland. my child. not a word to my
wife about the poker and jefferson House.
| was forced to use them as Illustrations
not for publication. you understand. simply
evidence of good faith"
The captain smiled anxiously
! The girl laughed outright.
Captain Edmunds' she said with a
| wicked little twinkle in her eye tell me-
| didn't you try TO elope with mamma once
and didn't grandpa chase you with a pitch
| fork?''
The captain bristled UP like a badger.
| 'Chase me- he demanded. fiercely. never,
! / was armed | knew my temper. respect
| for gray hairs, you know. l didn't want TO
hurt him.
And. Captain Edmunds' she continued.
relentlessly, how old your wife when
| you married her, and how long had Won
known her beforehand"
Let me see; believe she was seventeen
| and / met her one day and ran away with
| her the next. But. you see' a smile
| breaking over his rugged face, that was
different You see, we loved each other
| and | was man enough to marry her with
| her father pounding on the minister's door
| with the butt OF his shotgun. Any sawdust
about that, eh?''