The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-02-16

quent developments, and it was ny
much surprise that she herself rao,,.
a visit from Zeke Sharp.
Zeke tapped lightly on the :.
door Mrs. Bilks answered tho ,a
and colby Informed him that MI.
dy wasn't to home"
1t be you l wuz a-wantin "a
aryways." responded zeke in a foo,'
voice.
vt this piece of news Mrs Rm
eyes wiiencd porceptibly as She !,
garlel her caller for a moment
Wasn't necessary, however. for ho,
invite him in, for Zeke was alreadv
and seated
Il shore wuz sorry, NIiz Bilks, Cam,
you wouldn't let me an Mirandr ba.
them licenses" And Zeke sicb,,
YEARLY
Licenses be fudgedw snapped NJ
Bilks. Things air a-comin to prrt,
pass when man wants to lone ~
with a gal faint more'n sixteen o.,
amt never baked bread ner stitched
stitch. much less tended to bor,,
jam full o chillern, like you alrea5.
got. Seems to me you'd a-pickel ".
man a little higher yer own age an
one what knows how ter do Souethio,,
Hele Mrs. Bilks smoothed out "a,
ment on the ironing board. took m q,
iron and worked industriouslv as sb.
waited fer Zelle to reply.
That's jes' what l come to see VI,
about" replied the meek man. Yam
know if our heads wuz set me an M
, randy could go down to Hornetyille as
git the licenses. AIirandy's a good gal
an | think a heap of her. but She's :,
young an delicate-like I'm afcard She'd
/ not set much store by the chiIcu anil
you know l want somebody thatI be al
/ mother to 'em. | thought O you lots al
times. Nliz Billls, cause you're So Chin
per an handy bout the house. but I
didn't s'pose you'd care to take the
'sponsibility.'
81 guess you never aXed me- retort.
/ ed Mrs. Bilks.
You shore would fill the place" con.
qinuod Zeke You're not more'n thirty.
five
"Jes' thirty-four. an l guess they
amt many wimmen that can git aroun'
rs spry an DO as much work as me mel.
Their" flashed Mrs. Bilks proudly.
IF YOU wouldn't mind" Went Oh
Zeke. I'VE might as well hitch M AM
try double harness awhile anyways"
"Now you're a-talkin' sense, declar
ed the widow AN they amt n1 us
a-wastin' time if were goin' to e.t mar
ried. I reckon that house an thom chl
Tern air a-ueedin' attention bad nougl
now. | guess Mirandy Il ride q hid
boss when she finds were sD.icod.
Mrs. Bilks flushed to the roots Of be
hair
Again the work was put aside. agai
the best frock was donned, and agai
the widow visited the county clerk
office. this time accompanied by VI
Zebe sharp 1t was the latter who al
piled for the license for "EZekiaI ShaI
an Miz Mirandy Bilks." The cer
glanced at Mrs. Bilks and smiled. Tht
lady blushed and hung her head.
which he inferred that she had wit
drawn her former objections, and
wrote out the license in which the
dy's name appeared as Miss Mranj
Bilks.
II Mrs. Bilks had high hopes of /
ing married a second time they we
soon to be dashed to the ground, for
emerging from the office who shou
the couple encounter but Miss Mirani
Here's them licenses" shouted Eel
as he caught the girl by the arm
Mrs. Billls stared at them in surpri
4 moment later she came near faint
with amaZement when the two 81
denly vanished around a corner
wheeled about and dashed into
clerks Office again, where a stormy
terview took place.
lie SAID Miss Miranda" protest
the clerk as he lodged behind tabl
Not far away the decamping part
We're standing before a l-..hister "
had commanded them to join Ri
hands"
You lie!' screamed the widow I"
said miz!!" And she made dive at
the retreating official.
Not far away the minister said,
pronounce you man and Wife
As Zelle and his bride descended
front steps of the parsonage they II
) have heard sounds, which same
: anated from the office, where the il
; Mrs. Bilks was strenuouSly endea'
ing 10 lSy her hands ON the clerl, \
madl'a mis- size