Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-05-31
A SENSIBLE
LOVER
By c. B. L EW / s
Copyright, 1906, by Homer Sprdglie


had come out from the city TO stay
with her Aunt Jane in the country for
n month while her parents made hur-
ried trip TO England. 1t was the last of
February, and there was snow on the
ground.
The next farm to Aunt James was
the Rossiter place, and Mrs. Rossiter
was also widow. A hired man named
Jim Williams plowed, planted and
reaped for her. When Jim heard that
a 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
n washboard and shook her small one
vigorously.
How are ye? Nice winter weather
we're having be 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 snuGbed, and he wouldn't
take Il hint
When the subject of music was re-
ferred to he volunteered TO sing bal
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 it's 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 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 il he came again lie would get
setback to last him all his life.
Aunt Jane tried to soothe her. "Oh
the country As Jim has fallen in love
with you at first sight he will
"W-h-a-tr' exclaimed the Mortified
girl.
why, couldn't you tell that he had
fallen in love with you?"
"Of course not How dare he do such
a thingw
II don't see why you make such a
fuss over it. If you don't want to
marry him you can say so when he
asks you"
When Jim had retired that night he
got to thinking things over. "Pm Jim
Williams he soliloquized. I'm as
stout as bull and have an appetite
like Il horse. I'm twentyseven years
old and have 5000 in the bank. There
amt no flies on me, and I'm 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, but I'm willing to take my
chances. Well take in Niagara falls
on our wedding trip, and If she wants
candy at 80 cents box she shall have
it. I'll give her week to 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 to sleep, and
he saw no 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 a
COW would consume in the winter
When Minnie stuck to her room and
refused to come down h. had Green
ing apples ana other messages for her
and continued to grow more deeply in
love. About the tst OF March the ma
pie sugar season opened. The making
of the sugar WAS a 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 chin
The snow disappeared. the spring
birds began 40 appear and the ground
was getting dry underfoot when Min
ME started out one afternoon for
walk She wandered over field and
into a piece Of woods. hoping to find
the first spring flower, and or a sudden
sue felt ehills sweep over her and the
atmosphere grew dark. A blizzard had
stolen upon the country rs softly as n
thief in the night. In her sudden alarm
the girl became turned around. She
was hurrying 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 q collapse.
She did not realize what was happen
ing VLen lim Williams came feeling
flls way through the storm, took her In
his arms and carried her to the sugar
bush shanty forty rods away.
1t was a blizzard long to be renem-
bered. The thermometer went down to
zero, and a foot or more of snow fell,
ana 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
1ave 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 |
Steps, but be nad TO keep the fire going |
10 prevent his freezing to death.
He had plenty of time to think. The |
wind howled, the snow flew, and the !
cold made the trees pop like musketry,
and Jim's great fear was that the girl |
would freeze to death before morning.
It was glad relief to him when he
heard her voice calling him soon after
daylight
The sky had lightened up, but the
blizzard was still booming away. Jim
made coffee and fried bacon and
warmed up Tie frozen bread and in
vited Miss Stacy to breakfast. She had
passed the worst night of her life and
lost her appetite. What she wanted
was to reach her Aunt James in the
quickest time possible. jim listened to
her request and then shook his head.
"We've got to wait awhile for this
blizzard to let up" he replied. I'VE
couldn't go ten rods without being lost.
and being lost would mean being dead.
Lemme tell you how bull throwed me
over the fence two years ago and chirk
you up bit"
The girl refused to be chirked. She
sat swathed in horse blankets like a
Tot