The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-17

Am 0LD-FASHI0NED w00NNG
Copyright
by S. S.
McCIure
&.co.


Jim Ben munched the cooky and toasted
his eyes on the neat. graceful form of the
red-headed girl. He was not given to day
dreams. Still, as he sat there he con-
jured up homeiy vision of domestic
bliss in the log house on the lower eighty.
Mr.. Weaver had talked of renting out the
lower eighty next year. If
Now, Jim Ben, you toddIe along out o.
here. How you spose I'm ever gein' to
get my work done up, an you ALI the time
foolin' round IL the way?'
Not being able to answer this very
pointed question. he slouched out and
went to mend the fence around the hog
pasture. He was in such a high humor
that he never swore once not even when
a strand Of the barb wire broke, much to
the decentralization of his '.overhalls',
= When milking time came Jim Ben
sucked the calves. as he was accustomed
to do, and then-which he was not ac-
customed to do-gallantly offered to milk
the Holstein COW. notorious hard milk
er. He sat on stool under the Holstein
and MIXED with both hands. while Randy
was milking the Jersey. They kept I'D
running fire of repartee-"sayin' smart
things" in the vernacular They were
having quite an enjoyable time. until Jim
Ben, somewhat deficient in finesse, made
the pretended error of mistaking her au-
Ii.
of milk shot across the intervening space
It took him>fairly in the face and he fed
in sheer terror, fearing the bucket of milk
would follow. For two days he was in
disgrace, and then came the singing
school.
When the supper was done and the
dishes washed that evening" Jim Ben
made his appearance in the kitchen. clean
shaved and clad in Sunday raiment As
of hin Oh u
thinking he was really manly looking
fellow. though his mouth was too large to
permit of his being called handsome. She
did not tell him so. She only remarked:
Land alive. What's the little boy
goin to do now?"
..Nothin' much. Nothin' but take the
hired girl to the singin' school. Run
along, sissy, an git on yer things. an
don't keep me waitln "
Strange to say. the hired girl obeyed.
Singing school was over, and they had
reached the front gate on their way
home. The stars were abashed and pale
in the presence of the ~esplendent full
moon. The couple stood by the gate in
silence for a moment, paying involuntary
tribute to the glory of the night. They
sat down on the horse block by the gate.
Randy took off her broad hat and her
glossy hair reflected the moonlight in a
poetry awoke in the heart of Jim Ben.
and he thought of the halo about the head
of the Madonna that hung on the wall of
the best room. He pondered for a mo-
ment and then said:
Randy, I'll take back what said t'othar
night-about your hair. you know It's
mighty purity hair, if it is red
She gave him grateful glance.
i've never went with a gal afore,' he
ont ON, to
None of 'em come up to what mother used
to be. She's dead you know. Mother was
an awful good cook. though sometimes
she'd get a leetle too much sody In the
biscuits. She was neat as pin about her
housekeepin', too. 1 tell you, she used to
make me walk chalk when come In the
kitchen with mud on my boots! You put
me In mind o. her in lots O. ways. That's
why brought the water and got the
kfndlin's and sort O. wait on you, like. And
ner butter and your'n tastes adzaely
alike
''Tain't everybody that knows how to
make good butter shyly admitted Randy.
You bet it ANTI fervently responded
Jim Ben. And I've always said when /
did get married. I was goin' to hev wife
that could come pz{wfth her at butter
maxim and housekeepin'."
Randy's hat slipped from her lap to the
ground. Both reached for it, and, as they
stopped. they bumped heads.
Shore sign well be together this time
mex year observed Randy. For answer,
Jim Ben's big hand closed gently on her
slender. unresisting fingers.
''Randy-his heart was humping so loud
he felt sure she must hear it-"Randy-I-
that is-Pve got six hundred dollars laid
up. Next spring I'm thinkin' of buying a
span O. bosses and rentin' the lower
eighty I'll do it-and well go into busi-
ness fer ourselves-if You just say the
word! VIII your
The red headed girl turned her face to
his with a happy smile. and said. as he
kissed the patch of freckles on her cheek:
I'm huh! but 1 bet l make you think
of yer ma more'n once, Jim Benz