Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-06-30
A SENSIBLE
LOVER
by C. n. LEWIS
Copyright iae. nv Homer Spra9us

Miss Minnie Stacy. twenty years old.
had come out from the city TO stay
with her Aunt Jane in the country for
a month while her parents made n hur-
ricd trip To England. II was the last OF
February, and there was snow on the
ground
The next farm 10 Aunt James was
the Rossitcr place. and Mrs. Rossiter
was also IA widow \ hired man named
Jim Williams plowcd. planted and
rcapcd for her. When Jim heard that
city girl was stopping with Aunt
jane he went over 10 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 yc? Nice winter weather
were 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 10 bc highly entertaining He
refused to be- snuhbcd. and he wouldn't
take II hint
When the subject of music was re-
4 IL, I
lad or two. and when 10 o'clock came
he took his hat. held out his hand again
and departed after saying
well. Minnie. don't know when
I've spent a more interesting evening.
and its all owing to you. I'm not one
of these stuck up chaps. I'm jest plain
Jim Williams. and you'll find me a
yard wide aud all wool every time. I'll
run Ia quite frequently and cheer you
up"
Miss Minnie had many criticisms TO
make after the caller had left and as
serted IL he came again he would get
setback To last him nll his life.
Aunt Jano tried to soothe her oh.
You mustn't mind our ways out here In
the country A. Jim has fallen in love
with you nj first sight he will
"W-h-a-t" exclaimed the Mortified
girl
why. couldn't you tell that he had
fallen In love with your
'Of course not. How dare he do such
thing"
Il don't see why you make such
fuss over IT, II you don't want TO
marry him you can say so when he
asks you"
When Jim had retired that night he
got Ia thinking things over I'm Jim
Williams" he soliloquized. I'm as
stout as Il bull and have nm appetite
Ike horse. I'm twenty seven years
old and have $500 in the bank There
amt no flies on me, and I'm n good
nuff match for any gal that lives. I'm
In love with Minnie Stacy don't
know what sort of Il farmers wife
she'd make Int I'm willing 10 take my
chances Well take In Niagara falls
on our wedding trip. and II she wants
candy nj 30 cents box she shall have
Ii. I'll give her week 10 sort o. get
acquainted. and then I'll pop the ques-
ton"
II was all settled In his mind when
he turned over and went 10 sleep and
he saw no clouds on the horizon as he
awokc In the morning. Thereafter for
nine or ten nights he was regular
caller NJ Aunt James house. If he saw
Minnie he tried 10 interest her In
snakes. mud turtles. frogs and other
novelties of farm life aud gave her In
tcresting statistics OF how much hay
COW would consume In the winter
When Minnie stuck 10 her room and
refused 10 come down he had Green
ing apples ana other messages for her
and continued 10 grow more deeply in
love. About the LIST OF March the ma
pie sugar season opened. The making
Of the sugar was part OF Jim's spring
work. and from the first run Of sap he
sent the city girl some maple wax on
n clean. white maple chip.
The snow disappeared the spring
birds began Ca appear and the ground
was getting dry undcrfOot when Min
nic started out one afternoon for
walk She wandered over field and
into a piece OF woods. hoping TO find
the first spring flower and of n sudden
she felt chills sweep over her and the
atmosphere grew dark 4 blizzard had
stolen upon the country as softly IA
thief IN the night. In her sudden alarm
the girl became turned around. She
was hurrying through the woods when
the wind rose. the mir filled with snow.
aud she clulched the branch of bush
and shrleked her alarm.
She kept NJ her shrleks for half an
hour and then sank down In n 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 10 the sugar
bush shanty forty rods away
II was blizzard long Ia be remem-
bercd. The thermometer went down 10
zero and foot OF more Of snow fell.
and for two or three days the farmers
were imprisoned Ia their houses The
girl recovered her senses soon after