Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-06-20
Lincoln NO.2:
By GRANT LESTER.
Copyright, 1897. by Mary McKeon.


said that Farmer Johnson's wife was
head of his house and that he was a
great incumbrance to her. They had a
farm just outside thriving town, and
had 1t been left to the wife there were
many promising speculations she would
have entered into. She was allowed to
boss things around the farm, but when
1t came to outside matters the hus-
band would take no risks. When his
death finally took place, people looked
to see Aunt Betty, as she was called.
though only forty years old carry out
some of her ideas and make things
hum. They were not disappointed.
She went into Strawberries and made
money; she went into the dairy bust
ness and made money; she went into
poultry and made money. 1t was said
that there were not half dozen men
in the county who had her business
sense.
Aunt Betty had a daughter nineteen
years old, by name Prue. Prue did not
run to business She was simply a
sweet tempered and lovable girl, who
attended school IL town in the winter
and helped about the housework in
summer. Up TO the time of the fa-
ther's death the mother had not "suf-
fered aspiration regarding Prue's fu-
ture 1t was tlcitly understood that
she would marry some young farmer
and settle down to the humdrum life.
But after the mother had become a
business woman here were other plans
for the girl. She was TO be educated
in music and other arts and made a
lady Of
Just how prue Johnson and Darius
Livingstone first met is of no great
consequence. He was twenty-five and
had graduated rs a lawyer and settled
in the town. lie was a slab sided
young man. tall and angular and un-
gainly. There were Il few people who
said that he might know more than he
showed. lut the majority were of the
opinion that he didn't know whether
potatoes grew in the ground or on
trees If Prue held with the ma iority,
it was rather singular that the young
lawyer should have come driving out
10 the farm one June day to inquire
time, and ii was her mother who re-
ceived him. At the first glance she
thought him the homeliest young man
she had ever seen. After the second
she took him for some peddler of mu-
sic and went upstairs and said 10
Prne:
There's bean pole down stairs ask
ing for you. never saw such a gawk
He says his name is Livingstone. He's
enough 10 scare setting hen off the
nest Did you ever hear of any such
fcller?"
"Why, ma. he's Il lawyer in town
and we have met three or four times
replied Prue as her face flushed scar
let
put a club in his hand he wouldn't
know enough TO pound sand What's
he here forT'
''Why-why, he said he might call
some day. l don't see why you call
him homely. I've heard lots of folks
say that he reminded them Of Abraham
Lincoln"
turned away. Prue went down and re-
ceivcd her caller. and, though Mrs.
johnson was rather busy around the
house and yard. she saw and heard
enough to satisfy her that the young
man was interested" He remained
for an hour or so and then left, and
while his back was yet in sight Prue
was properly warned.
II shall have to have a son-in-law
some day" added the mother, "but |
want one whose looks won't sour all
the milk and who knows cabbage
head from an old gander Lawyer!
Lawyer! Why, the poorest lawyer
we've got in town would make your
young man look like bobtailed wood
chuck If they had a case in court"
Prue ran away without talking back,
and things quieted down for week.
Then the mother came home from
town one afternoon to blurt out:
do you know what | heard this aft
ernoon? At least half dozen people
told me that you and that scarecrow
young lawyer We're In love"
oh mammal
you needn't oh, mamma! me. II
you've fallen in love with any such
man, I'm ashamed of you. Why, that
red headed, cross eyed Sue Williams
wouldn't look at him.
I'VE are not in love" stoutly pro-
tested Prue
"Then what are you looking SO red
forY'
"Because-because we are simply
friends. That is, he's awfully smart
when you come TO talk with him. I've
been reading the life of Lincoln, and
it's wonderful how much alike they
are"
Wonderful bosh! Abe Lincoln was
smartern a whip as a lawyer"
But Darius Is going to be II he ever
gets a case"
Ever gets a case! I'd like to know
who'd trust him with caseP'
The young man called again in about
q week, ostensibly to make inquiries
concerning the strawberry pest, and,
while Mrs. johnson didn't order him
off the farm, she gave him what she
called a chilling reception. The fact
that he didn't seem at all put out ag
gravated her, and but for a business
engagement taking up her attention
she would have had much to say to
Prue. -Four days later she came into