The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-24
a SENSIBLE
LOVER

Copyright, 1905, by Homer spragus

with her Aunt Jane in the country for
a month while her parents made hur-
ried trip to England. 1t was the last Of
February, and there was snow OH the
ground.
The next farm 10 Aunt James was
was also 4 widow. \ hired man named
Jim Williams plowed, planted and
reaped for her. When Jim heard that
city girl was stopping with Aunt
Jane he went over to see her for him
self. He didn't stop TO put on clean
shirt or to grease and lampblack his
shoes. He entered the house in that
familiar way farmers have among
themselves, and when introduced to
the visitor he held out hand as big as
washboard and shook her small one
vigorously.
How are ye? Nice winter weather
we're having" he said.
The young lady of wealth and social
standing tried to squelch him, but Jim
drew up his chair and spoke of spring
calves and kicking COWS in way
meant to be highly entertaining. He
refused to be Snubbcd. and he wouldn't
take hint
When the subject Of music was re-
ferred to he volunteered to sing a bal
lad or two, and when 10 o'clock came
lie took his hat, held out his hand again
and departed after saying:
We'll, Minnie l don't know when
I've spent more interesting evening
and its all ewing TO you. I'm not one
Of these stuck up chaps. I'm Jest plain
Jim Williams, and you'll find me
yard wide and all wool every time. I'll
run in quite frequently and cheer you
up"
Miss Minnie had many criticisms to
make after the caller had left and as
serted if he came again he would get
setback to last him all his life.
Aunt Jane tried to soothc her "Oh.
you mustn't mind our ways out here in
the country. As Jim has fallen in love
with you at first sight he will
"W-h-a-t" exclaimed the Mortified
girl
why, couldn't you tell that lie had
fallen in love with you:"
"Of course not! How dare he do such
a thing"
Il don't see why YOU make such
fuss over it, If You don't want to
marry him YOU can say 50 when he
asks YOU
When jim had retired that night he
got to thinking things over I'm jim
Williams" he soliloquized I'm as
stout as a bull and have an appetite
like a horse I'm twcnty-scvcn years
Old and have $500 in the bank. There
amt no flies on me, and I'm a good
huff match for any gal that lives. I'm
in love with Minnie Stacy. l don't
know Whar sort of Il farmers wife
she'd make. but I'm willing TO take my
chances. Wen take in Niagara falls
on our wedding trip, and if she wants
candy at 30 cents a box she shall have
it, I'll give her a week to sort O get
acquainted, and then I'll pop the ques-
ton"
1t was all settled in his mind when
he turned over and went to sleep, and
he saw ~ clouds on the horizon as he
awoke in the morning. Thereafter for
nine or ten nights he was regular
caller at Aunt James house If he saw
Minnie he tried to interest her in
snakes, mud turtles. frogs and other
novelties Of farm life and gave her in
tereSting statistics of how much hay
COW would consume in the winter.
When Minnie stuck to her room and
refused to come down he had Green
ing apples and other messages for her
and continued to grow more deeply in
love. About the 1st of March the ma
pie sugar season opened. The making
of the sugar was Il part of Jim'S spring
work and from the first run of sap he
sent the city girl some maple wax on
clean, white maple chip
The snow disappeared the spring
birds began to appear and the ground
was getting dry undcrfoot when Min
ME started out one afternoon for a
walk. She wandered over Il field and
into piece Of woods, hoping to find
the first spring flower, and of a sudden
she felt chills sweep over her and the
atmosphere grew dark. \ blizzard had
stolen upon the country as softly as a
thief in the night In her sudden alarm
the girl became turned around. She
was hurying through the woods when
the wind rose the air filed with snow.
and she clutched the branch of bush
and Shrieked her alarm
She kept up her shrieks for half an
hour and then sank down in a collapse
She did not realize what was happen
ing when Jim Williams came feeling
his way through the storm, took her in
his arms and carried her to the sugar
bush shanty, forty rods away.
1t was blizzard long TO be remem-
bered. The thermometer went down to
zero, and Il foot or more Of snow fell,
and for two or three days the farmers
were imprisoned in their houses The
girl recovered her senses soon after
reaching the sugar camp, but there was
no going farther. Jim happened to
have plenty TO eat and plenty of blan-
kets. He gave up the shanty to her for
the night and dug out place for him
self before the fire. She might have