The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-28
MbenCbinss
Durnr1ed
~ -Hmy HarrG
Copyright 1909, by May McKeon

spoke She had arrived from Indiana
for visit with her sister IN Michigan.
and the pair had been talking for the
last hour on the veranda, while Farm
er Henderson was doing up the chores
at the barn.
"what do you mean, Judithy was
asked.
Il mean several things. mean that
1 have never heard Of case Ike II.
Your Minnie has been old enough to
marry for these last three years, and
you've let q feller dawdle around here
and make sleeps eyes at her and keep
all other fellers awayt and yet hasn't
asked her to be his and maybe three
more years doing II. call It mean
shame. When I say that things are
going to hum mean that somebody
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 Mlnniey" pleaded the mother.
That's according. l guess the EN-
barrassment will all be on the other
side, however. Embarrassment Is all
right in girl, Hannah, but 1t shouldn't
be carried too Tar. Both of us were
embarrassed when we were girls, but
we weren't 50 much so as to kill our
prospects OF getting married. We knew
when our beaus had hung around long
enough. Has Minnie ever given this
chap jogT
mercy, nor
.Havc you or Elisha ever given him
q jog"
Newer
.sThen it remains for Judith Wellman
to do 1t, and she's right on deck. with
both elbows stuck out. 1t won't be
week before ven know whether Joel
Davis means business or is just sitting
around like bump on log"
"But you WON'T
Il don't know what I'll do except to
decide the case ore way or other. and
you needn't ask questions. ! don't be-
lieye In folks getting married within a
week, and | don't believe in courting
for half lifetime. A fellow either
wants girl or he don't. If he does. let
him take her. if he don't, let him shy
OF and give some one else chance"
Minnie Henderson was twenty years
old and recognized belle for ten miles
around. Everybody was agreed that
she would mike somebody good wife.
She had been keeping company" with
Joel Davis for nearly three years. Joel
was a bachelor Of twenty-seven, living
On the next farm west He was steady,
sober and Industrious, and everybody
said that he would make some girl
good husband. But Joel was also bash
ful 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 1t would take an
earthquake Or a 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 say word to
Minnie, but now she changed about
and opened fire with:
"well, am astonished! So that's
the feller that has been hanging
around here for half his lifetime and
will probably die Of old age on your
fathers doorstep"
III 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 grasshop-
pers and tater bugs. I am surprised
at you. What can you see in such a
feller to encourage him? I suppose be
knows pumpkins from squashes, but
I'll bet big apple that If you asked
him when the pilgrim fathers landed
he'd fall off the veranda. Minnie Hen
derson, If you are the girl take you
TO be you will send that feller packing
this very evening"
''You misjudge him, aunty. He does
not push himself forward, but / assure
you that
.T've got eyes In my head" snapped
her aunt. ut never takes me over hy'
minutes to size up man. Joel Davii
ts an itr He'll always be ten days be
hind the Fourth of July. It's a wonde
your father and mother have allowet
IT.
Minnie choked down a sharp answe
and went off to her room to cry, ant
Aunt Judith sauntered into the kitchel
to say to her sister:
"There, now, I've got the thing start
cd, and you and Elisha have got t
turn in ana help me. Minnie will or.
and then yet mad and then see Joel
and there'l be a wedding before yo'
know IT, Don't you weaken when III
time comes"
Next day Joel came 10 the house I
bring back bushel basket he had boI
rowed. Minnie was upstairs and Ann
Judith hiding behind the door 50
was left for Minnie's mother to say:
"Joel. I've been wanting to speak I