Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-10-23


doubt that he was millionaire as well.
At the end of a week his job at Les
ter's was finished, but he said he
thought he would take rest from his
tremendous struggles, so he paid an
other weeks board.
Didn't tell you so?' whispered the
farmer in his wifeS ear. II tell you
he's stuck on our Hetty, and If she
gives him half a chance he's going to
propose to her within q week Just
think of having a millionaire and hero
for a son-in-law! l could probably get
the whole farm wire fenced at half
cost. Can't we manage to leave him
and Hetty together on the piazza in the
EVENING""
Couldn't you manage to tend to
your own affairs If you tried hard?"
tartly replied the wife. Samuel John.
son, l never saw you acting up as you
are now Are you going to break out
with boils again?"
But you hain't doing anything. and
Hetty hain't doing anything. and SO
you see
II don't see nothing except that Het-
ty wouldn't wipe her old shoes on no
such man as this Meeker."
"You don't say sou groaned the fa-
ther. What on earth can the gal
wantY
"She wants to be let alone"
Mr.. Meeker stayed on for the third
week There was no doubt in any
mind that he was seeking to make a
favorable impression, but at least two
minds doubted his ability. 1t was
near the end of the third week that
Mrs. Johnson saw Mr. Watterson
| drive past the house for the first time
since the tiff" She also saw that he
took notice of things out of the corner
of his eye and seemed in no hurry to
get out of sight. She knew that Hetty
hadn't seen him, and with look Of
childish innocence on her face she
waited ten minutes and then said to
the girl:
"Hetty you remember that Mrs. Bas-
comb borrowed my best flatiron last
week and hasn't brought it back. Don't
you want to take walk down there
and bring it home? Tell her didn't
have qunsy sore throat, as / thought
was going to have"
"Down there" was three-quarters Of
mile down to the next farmhouse
Hetty had dressed for the afternoon
and looked as sweet as a peach, and as
hn hA hnx ai 30
the garnet window, from whence she
could survey every foot of the road
After one glance she hauled In her
head and said:
"Mr. Watterson has turned around
and is coming back. and they are
bound to meet at the crab apple tree.
Providence will take care of the rest"
She had not been downstairs ten
minutes when things began to happen.
The husband was working down in
the turnip field, and Mr.. Meeker had
gone there an hour ago. All of a sud-
/ den the farmer came dumping in over
the clean floor to exclaim:
well, ma, whatd l tell you? The
hero and the millionaire wants to be-
come our son-in-law. He's in love with
Hetty, and he wants to stay on and
win her heart. He'll wire fence the
farm for half price, and he thinks he
can get me $50 off the price of wind
mill. I've given my consent to the
marriage, but he wants to know what
you think OF It."
The wife had her mouth open to re-
ply when the knocker sounded on the
front door, and woman was in wait
ing to ask IL Mr.. Meeker was stop
ping there. The question had hardly
been answered when a second and a
third drove up and the last announced
that the wire fence man was skating
for the woods. Each Of the three
claimed him for her hero and million
aire husband, and all were talking at
once and berating each other when
Hetty and Mr.. Watterson quietly en-
tered. and the latter as quietly said:
"Mr. Johnson, I have the honor of
asking your consent to my marriage
with your daughter"
1t was several hours later, when a
calm had settled down and Farmer
Johnson was doing the milking. that
he muttered to himself:
'Ho, now, but what you about, you
one horned critter! Dang it, but can't
help but think of that ERE Meeker and
that ere Watterson and the old wo-
man and Hetty and the three wives!
There's another. but he's too big fool
to think of, and that's me, and If this
Internal old cow don't stop switching
her tail I'll chnn II Off with an axW