The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-08-16

her sudden like. | didn't say nothing g
to him about her, and he'll be taken
suddenly. When you see 'em stand.
ing up to be married, you'll allow I
know q thing or two after ALL"
"Ill allow just as | do now-that
you ought to be sent to an idiot asy-
lum."
A dav later the "hero" came. Het-
ty had been posted by her mother and
wasn't bit surprised. Besides hav-
ing two watch chains, the stranger
had a heap of nerve, and he wasn't as
tonished. Farmer Johnson made him
one of the family at once, but the
women folks were only barely civil.
1t transpired after a couple Of days
that Mr.. Meeker, as the wire fence
man called himself, was actually a
hero. He had killed a mad dog and
shot at thief AS be shyly showed
the farmer fifty dollar bill there was
nc room to doubt that he was a mil
lionare as we'll. At the end of
week his job at Testers was finished,
but he said he thought he would take
a rest from his tremendous struggles,
80 he paid another weeks board.
"Didn't l tell you so?' whispered
the farmer in his wife's ear. II tell
you he's stuck on our Hetty, and if
she gives him half a chance he's 60
ing to propose to her within week.
Just think Of having a millionaire
and hero for a son-in-law! | 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?'
"Cou!dn't you manage to tend to
your own affairs if you tried hard?'
tartly replied the wife. Samuel
johnson, l never saw you acting up
as you are now. Are you going to
break out with boils again?'
"But you haint doing anything,
and Hetty hain't doing anything, and
SO you see"-
81 don't see nothing except that
Hetty wouldn't wipe her shoes on no
such man as this Meeker."
"You don't say sol' groaned the
father. "What on earth can the gal
want.
"She wants to be let alone"
Mr.. Meeker stayed on for the third
week. There was no doubt in any
mind that be was seeking to make
favorable impression, but at least two
minds doubted his ability. 1t was
near the end of the third week that
Mrs. johnson saw Mr.. WatteIsen
drive past the house for the first time
since the ''titf' She also saw that be
took notice Of things out of the corner
of his eye and seemed in no hurry to
get out of sight. See knew that Het.
ty hadn't seen him, and with a look
of innocence on her face she waited
ten minutes and then said to the
girl:
"Hetty, you remember that Mrs.
Bascomb borrowed my best tiatiron
last week and hasn't brought it back.
Don't you want to take walk down
there and bring 1T home? Tell her |
didn't have quinsy sore throat, as |
thought to have"
"Down there" was three quarters of
a mile down to the next farmhouse.
Hetty had dressed for the afternoon
and looked as sweet as a peach, and
as she set out the mother ran upstairs
to the garret window, from whence
she could survey every foot of the
road. After one glance she hauled in
her head and said:
"Mr. Wattersen had 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 bad 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 sudden the farmer came
clumping in over the clean floor to
exclaim:
"Well, ma, what'd | tell you? The
hero and the millionaire wants to be-
come our son-in-law. Hes in love |
with Hetty, and he wants to stay and
win her heart. He'll wire fence the |
farm for half price, and be thinks he
can get me $50 off the price of a wind |
mill. I've given my consent to the
marriage, but he wants to know what
you thiuk OF it,.
The wife had her mouth open to re-
ply when the knocker sounded on th e