La Junta tribune., 1907-01-26

vhat yoa are going to ssy. fou want
hss O'Dany yea. and you haven't gos
tAe sDaak to aak her-"s~-
II uss Jabss's turn to look surpFis
- ''How-how did you guess it:-
Mary laughed for . full minute
How did ! guess il: There wasn't
any guess about IL. Ill bet B0ssy
knows II and would tell Jon IL she
wasn't q COW"
well. I don't zee anything 50 funny
about IT," Jabez paussd and mesiits-
lively scratched bis short sids whisk-
ers. the only hirsute sdSrnment he
permitted upon his judicial eounte-
nance. 10 you-think-l stand any
shOwy' Then. ~ Mary appeared to
he suspiciously ready With her answer.
he continued: You know. she gets -
. week teaching our district school IL
winter aud ~ In summer. These self
supporting women aln't usually In
very big hurry to marry
Hurry snorted Mary. Il don't call
il being In = hurry when \ woman gets
to the age Of thirfy-seven- You are
one Of the most prominent men In this
part of the country. You can support
. woman all right. and believe you'll
make good husband II you'll only
shave on those things you call Burn
sides aud dent try to Interfere with
my running of this house when you
bring a wife home. Take my advice
don't ask her unless you mean II. for
! believe she'll snap you up 50 quick
it'll take your breath away. Who
wouldn't marry into the Hunker fam
lily. anyway. It's the oldest family
around these parts"
you may be right" Jabez retorted
wickedly. but take your own case. for
Instance. Nobody seems to have been
particularly anxious TO get into the
Hunser family in that direction"
"Oh. I've had my chances. and lots
OF 'em that you knew nothing about.
Bur you asked my advice. You've got
it. and I'm going back TO my work"
Hold on n minute. Mary. I didn't
have the spunk to ak her. What you
said was true. SO wrote her n letter"
and then. AS Mary looked anxious
(which l amt goln: to let you see
There's something In IL about Christ
RES, and. as that 8, tomorrow. she
couldn't get II in timc unless the rural
carrier took il with him when he went
along today. ran rfter him awhile
ago, but the confounded snow Is so
heavy that couldn't catch him and
couldn't even make him hear me. Sc
the letter is still In my pocket. ! was
thinking Of taking II to her myself this
afternoon"
Then you would be nice loon. ia
bez Why don't you mail the letter
tomorrow and let IL go at thatr'
THAT won't do" doggedly retorted
Jabez. .'She must get II by tomorrow
morning. SO she can
Mary impaticntiy arose. while Jabez.
resting his elbows on his knees and
dropping his head. began again to
cnrcss his "Burnsisie~."
After few moments he called out to
Mary. "i'm goIn' over TO Miss Givens'.
but I'll he back before dark"
He clapped on his cap. coat and tip
pct and within five minutes was trudg
ing along the road In the direction Of
the Givcnses' farm. tive miles distant.
As Jabez was about TO turn into the
gate leading into the Givens dooryard
he stepped behind large butternut
tree and put his hand In his pocket
He thought he would once more read
the letter II was important. In his
cooler moments II might seem little
impetuous and undignified. and II there
was one thing upon which Jabez prid-
ed himself II was his dignity. As his
hand reached to the innermost recesses
OF the capacious inner pocket OF his
IA ttch sfarf
that the snow banked ON his shoulders
came tumbiIng down his length. Ike
shower Of downy white feathers. The
letter was not there. He retired lit
tie farther down the road and made
more careful examination, but the
missing epistle could not be found.
Deciding that he must have left the
precious missive upon the table mt
home and accepting that fact as an
omen. Jaben continued to the Civens
home. where he spent = most delight
fui two hours with Miss Amanda. who
happened 10 lie alone. the rest Of the
family having gone TO the village To
make the Anal Christmas purchases.
dosen times when Miss Amsnds smiled
graciOssiy and. ss Jabex thought. en-
coura gingly he started 90 .peak right
ont, but each time he thought her e.
pressloa changed and he refrained.
On his way home Jahes passed Adam
wheeler. q neighboring farmer. on his
way 10 the village. He had come from
the direction Of Jabes's house ssd was.
~ always. whistiing. even while his
bad was bowed 10 the awful snow
storm. lie started when Jabea hailed
hin with . CHEEKY "Heiie. Al Hope
you and the folks II have q merry
Christmas tomorrow"
Same 20 you. Jabex.- he replied and
0asmnu4