The Washington herald., 1907-04-01

For good many years people had said
that Farmer Johnson's wife was head
Of his house. but that he was great
incumbTance TO her They had a farm
just outside a thriving town and, had it
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 IL
came to outside matters. the husband
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 business and made money:
she went into poultry and made money.
1t was said that there was not half a
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 at
tended school in town in the winter and
helped about the housework in summer
Up to the time of the fathers death. the
mother had not suffered aspirations" re-
garding Prue's future. It was tacitly
understood that she would marry some
young farmer and settle down to the
humdrum life. But after the mother
had become a business woman, there
were other plans for the girl. She was to
be educated in music and other arts and
made a lady OF.
Just how Prue Johuson and Darius
Livingstone first met is Of no great con
sequence. Ee mas twenty-five. and had
graduated as a lawyer and settled in the
town. He was a slab-sided young man.
tan, and angular, and ungainly. There
were few people who said that he
might know more than he showed. but
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 majority it was rather singular
that the young lawyer should have come
driving out to the farm one June day 10
inquire for her She was upstairs at thr
time, and it 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 music. and went
upstairs and said to Prue:
There's a bean-pole down stairs asking
for you. l never saw such gawk He
says his name is Livingstone Hes
enough to scare a setting hen off the
nest. Did you ever hear of any such
fener?"
Why, ma, he's a lawyer in town. and
We have met three or four times, "a
piled Prue, as her face flushed scarlet.
A lawyeT-humphl If you was to put
a club in his hands he wouldn't know
enough to pound sand. What's he here
loP?"
'Why-why, he said he might call some
y. ] don't see why you call him home
ly I've heard lots Of folks say that he
reminds them of Abraham Lincoln"
The mother shifted her contempt and
turned away. Prue went down and re-
eeiYed her caller, and though Mrs. John
son was rather busy around the house
and yard she saw and heard enough to
satisfy her that the young man was lin
terested-' He remained for an hour or
so and then left, and while his back was
yet in sight Prue was properly warned
/ shall have to have son-in-law some
day, added the mother, but I want one
whose looks won't sour all the milk, and
who knows cabbage-head from an oid
gander- Lawyer! Lawyer, Why the
poorest lawyer we've got in town would
make your young man look like a bob
tailed w0odehuek If they had a case in
court"
Prue ran away without talking back.
and things quieted down for "a week.
Then the mother came home from town
one afternoon to blurt out:
Do you know what I heard this after
noon? At least half a dozen people told
me that you and that scarecrow young
lawyer were in love"
"Oh. mamar
You needn't-'oh. mama" me. IfI
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."
We are not in love- stoutly protested
Prue.
Then what are you looking so red for?"
Becauss-beeause we are simply
friends. That is. he's awfumy smart
when you come to talk with him. I've
been reading the life Of Lincoln, and its
wonderful how much alike they are
-f''a N9--- -ADN A-itlSoiN was
smarter'n whip as a lawyer"
But Darius is going to be if he ever
gets case"
Ever gets casei I'd like to know
who'd trust him with a cases'
The young man called again in about
a week, ostensibiy to make inquiries con-
eerning tfa 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 ne didn't
seem al all put out aggravated her, and
but for a business engagement taking up
her attention she would have had much
TO say 70 Prue. -Four days later she came
into the house to say
Wei, when ! dreamed of black hogs
one night last week knew that trouble
would come. I've got a lawsuit on hand
II seems that those three COWS bough.
over IN Deievan last week had a chatlel
mortgage on them ] must either pay OF