Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-09-06

r-.4 N-4al4 JtNSltd you lu4ehb hhON II
she'd GROW up SO prlm and high headed
ana latrful mo- man in his senses d
ever want 10 marry her, and, land
SNOW. women that don't marry have a
hard time" Grandma Cole said to her
soa's meek widow.
Air4. Cole answered a little tremu-
loaSly But, mother, they do want to
marry her Jessy might "a had four
proposals last year, If only she'd "a
gone and let the men speak out"
And who were the men, I'd like to
knowg" Grandma puffed. her throat
swelling visibly. "Widderwers with
nine children. or else one foot In the
grave or cranky old bachelors, or may
bc even preachers. Besides. how can
you know even a preacher wants to
marry you unless he ups and says sof
| never did hold with this way Of
maxim out every man that went to
house or even rode past II had notion
of golu' there courtin',"
She paused IN breathless triumph. If
Mrs Lem Cole had been wise she
would have held her peace. Grandma
bore cOut.OvertIng very III indeed. and
10 prove her IN the wrong was TO risk
everythln- Mrs Lem knew that very
well. but a goaded woman Is often a
desperate one Therefore she burst
out. Well Three OF the men-aDd
they weren't widowers nor preachers,
but real good chances asked me to
ask Jessy if she'd listen 10 'em. And
tie other One"-
There wasn't any other one. Maria,
I don't believe one word you're
sayln'." Grandma broke out furiously.
-Four proposals indeed. Why, Ann
Liza didn't have but three In the whole
Of last year and the beaus around her
all the time like bees around a honey
pot"
The other one was Jimmy Wakefield.
And he wouldn't be stopped. Just up
and asked Jessy Ike man." Mrs. Lem
said. not meekly. but with such red
spots IN her cheeks she looked almost
as young as her daughter.
Get out of here, you" Grandma
painted. Jimmy Wakefield. indeed
Why he's never had a notion 10 any
body but Ann Liza. And she's goin' to
take him. too, when she gets good and
ready. Don't you dare talk of him
wantin' that stick of q Jessy. II !
thought there was any truth In what
you've said I'd send you straight out Of
the house"
Then wel go without waiting to
be sent" Jessy burst out from the
doorway She had been standing just
outside, feeling somehow that her dear
patient mother might need her help and
couutenance. Il don't Ike TO tell. TO
say such things" she went on, "but
NANNY told the truth. nothing but the
truth And she shan't stay here to be
insulted Unless you ask her pardon
ven 50 away"
Where To the county poorhousef
don't know any other chance for ye,"
Grandma said white faced, her eyes
flashing
She was an imperiOus old lady. nobly
partial 10 her namesake and favorite
grandchlld Ann Eliza Wicks, partly
because Ann Eliza was pretty and TAX
Ing and lmpertiuent. partly also be-
cause she had money enough of her
own 10 Ice entirely independent
Grandfather Cole had left everything
10 his wife. She held on to ii with a
grip Of iron All her five children had
pr0-pered except luckless Lemuel. He
had left wife and daughter little except
his 90 luck Ii had followed them so
throughout the three years since his
death they had At last been forced 10
accept IN" shelter Grandma had grudg-
luzly offered
Teach school. You know | won't
have that" grandma had said to Jes-
Fys plan. No, missy, I'll marry you
of iu a year Then you can take your
mother home with you. Remember
be-gars mustn't be choosers. You
amt quite a beggar. You'll get some
thing when / die, Of course. But |
amt going q see my husbands money
wasted IA long as | can help IL, even
II ! had any 10 spare, which l haven't.
II costs such lot to do things. Why,
Just even half livin' nearly bankrupts
me Ann Liza has 20 have things.
She's got q delicate appetite, and SO
n0tiouatr She can afford to be- be-
cause she can keep Oh havin' what she
wants when she comes TO spendin' her
own money You've got no money to
spend. 50 you'd better learn economy
every way
Jessy had been for going away then,
but her mothers timorous fears had
prevailed on her to stay. Jessy was
not strictly pretty. Her eyes were too
serious, her lips too severe. She had
a good chin. fine and clean cut. and a
lovely neck below II. Her hair was
faxen, her eyes a water blue
Ann Eliza had black eyes and hair
and very high color. Grandma thought
her the prcttiest creature In the world.
She likewise thought Jesslca hardly
paSsable But now as she faced her
Rrandchild she saw a Jessica new and
strange, one whose cheeks were dam
ask ruses
The change startled her. She turned
half about saying In a grumbllng
yoice. Maria. you oughtn't TO pro-
woke me SD co out Ia the garden.
Tm comm pretty shortly And you,
Jessy. tell the boy TO bring round the
buggy. want you and Ann Liza TO
drive over o. the store for me"
"I'm sorry. but ! can't 60" Jessy
said. holding tight 20 her mothers
hand Il shall be busy packing up