Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-12-13
WHEN THINGS HUMMED.


"Now, then, Hannah, things are 60
ing to humI'
1t was Aunt Judith Wellman who
spoke. She had arrived from lndi'
ana for a visit with her sister in Mich
igan, and the pair had been talking
tor the last hour on the veranda while
Farmer Henderson was doing up the
chores at the barn.
"What do you mean, Judith 2 was
asked.
II mean several things. l mean
that have never heard of case like
it. Your Minnie has been old enough
to marry for these last three years,
and you We let fellow dawdle around
here and make sleeps eyes at her and
keep all other fellers away, and yet
1asn' t ask her to be his, and may be
three more years doing it. l call it a
mean shame. When Isay that things
are going to hum l mean that some
body has got to toe the mark mighty
soon or get out. You and Elisha
ought to have put your foot down
long ago"
you wouldn't do anything to en-
barrass Minnie ?" pleaded the mother.
That's according. l guess the
embarrassment will all be on the 9th
er side, however. Embarrassment is
all right in a girl, Hannah, but it
shouldn't be carried too far. Both Of
us were embarrassed when we were
girls. but we weren't 80 much so as to
kill our prospects of getting married.
We knew when our beaux had hung
around long enough. Has Minnie ev.
er given this chap jog?"
Mercy, mol"
"Have you or Elisha ever given
him jog?'
Never |"
"Then it remains for Judith Well
man to do it, and she's right on deck
with both elbows stuck ont. 1t won't
be week before we'll know whether
Joel Davis means business or is just
sitting around like "a bump on log"
"But you won't-won't"-
II don't know what I'll do, except
to decide the case one way or the 9TH
er, and you needn't ask questions. l
don't believe in folks getting married
within week, and don't believe in
counting for halt lifetime. A fellow
either wants girl or he don't. If he
does, let him take her; if he don't,
let him shy off and give some one else
a chance.
Minnie Henderson was 20 years
old and a recognized belle for 10 miles
around. Everybody was agreed that
she would make somebody a good
wife. She had been keeping com.
pany" with Joel Davis for nearly three
years. Joel was bachelor of 81.
living on the next farm west. He
was steady, sober and industrious,
and everybody said that he would
make some girl a good husband. But
Joel was also bashful and retiring.
He was in love with Minnie, to be
sure, but that very fact made him
tremble in her presence. A hundred
times over in the last two years he
had resolved to propose, but on each
and every occasion his courage had
oozed out of his fingers ends. He
felt that the time must and would
come, but whether it would take an
earthquake or cyclone to bring it
about he wasn't sure.
1t was three days before Aunt Ju-
dith saw Joel. She liked his looks,
and that changed her plans somewhat.
She hadn't been going to cay word
to Minnie, but now she changed about
and opened fire with:
"Well, I am astonished. So that's
the Teller that has been hanging
around here for half his lifetime, and
will probably die of old age on your
fathers doorstep"
81 don't know what you mean by
hanging around" retorted Minnie,
with a blush and toss of her head.
"Why, coming over here two or
three times a week to talk about
grasshoppers and 'taterbugs. l am
surprised at you. What can you see
n such teller to encourage him? /
suppose be knows pumpkins from
squaahes, bui I'll bet q big apple