Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-10
G :

day A boy had brought the note, and while
was standing on the front steps reading 1T, who
should come past but DR.. Macfarren. He took
of his hat, and said
"Ah, Miss Price, you all ready, l see.
wish I could stop now, but l will be with you
later, without fail"
''What?" said l.
II told Mr.. Gamble only few moments ago
that [ would perform the ceremony at half-past
nine this evening"" he said: $50 good-by until
then, Miss Price"
| rushed down the yard to the lilac-bushes
where Aunt Martha couldn't me, and hid my
face in the leaves. What did it mean? / Just
choked. and began to trembe so that thought
| should fall, when / felt manly steal
around my waist. | thought twas Henry, but
when I looked up, if it wasn't Joshua Gibson!
''Why, Josh!' ] said, family. He looked so
wholesome, and kind, and like old times, that I
just put my head on his shoulder and let it stay
there for couple of minutes, while he patted me
in comfortable way that did me good.
Now" he said, "Annie Louise, | heard you
talking to the minister, and | saw you felt so
bad that ! couldn't help following after you.
There's something up, and | want you to tell
me what its Amt / been watching We for a
month past, and seen you losing all your pretty
color and getting thinner every day. and sort of
scared-looking? Why, I loved you long before
that yellow complicated fool ever set eyes on you,
and ] thought you were going to love too,
before he came to hand. Tell me all about it,"
Well, did. I just told him the whole thing,
and OH it was a relief! / told him how careful
Henry had always been of me- and about the
presents, and tile month we'd been waiting min.
ute by minute. as one might say, to be married,
and how the minister coming tonight at last,
and Henry had known it all the time, and had
given me the slip and when | finished I burst
right out crying.
'I made up my mind this afternoon" said l.
Chat if / wasn't married tonight never should
be-"
"You poor little SOUL" said Josh; and, oh, he
was comforting, though | think he swore some
under his breath and he held me up strong.
GAS for that sneaking lizard, that"
ooh, JOSH" I cried.
I'm going to say it, Annie Louise; he's a."
Well, there, he did call Henry some real sassy
Names and I knew / ought to be angry but |
wasn't. I was glad.
''Do you know" said he, "that Henry Gamble
is making up to that rich Mrs. Hunter that lives
in JAY street? She's had two husbands already,
and / reckon he thinks she'll take him for the
third He stays there all day; he don't do no
work; he's too lazy"
/ began to tremble again, and when Josh spoke
his voice was full and tender
"See here, sweety," said he; you don't love
that idiot any more, do your?
| shook my head. and sobbed
Don't you think you're going to like me a
sight better?"
! nodded, and stopped crying for there was
something queer in his tone,
'"rhen let us get married this evening, Annie
Louise, lovey, long you set this time in your
mind for it, and the minister coming, and you
shall have wedding thatll be wedding, as sure
as my name is Joshuay Gibson
"Oh, but, JOSH" said /, leaning against him,
and starting to. cry again, "he's- -hes-kissed me
lots of times, and you wouldn't like that"
Josh gave gulp, and then he says
"Well, I'm going to kiss you now, Annie
Louise. I'm going to kiss you for all the rest of
your life, if have good luck so that don't cut
no ice And wen drop that subject for good
and all, for 'tan't healthy. We must go in the
house now and tell Aunt Martha, and you get
your things ready, quick"
"Oh, they ready" said /. l told him
about the travelling dress and bag and about the
journey we were to have made in TO Jersey City,
and from there to Paterson, and Josh slapped
his hand ON his knee and declared that it was
all fine.
Then we went back to Aunt Martha and
broke the news TO her gently; at least we meant
to, but Josh he just called OUT