The Somerset reporter., 1907-01-24


In reply. After making several vain
attempts be walked of On his way
home he turned aside and climbed the
fence to speak to Farmer Henderson,
working In his field. MIDDe's father
had been posted and was waiting for
his opportunity. Joel had stammered
out that 1t was hot day and that corn
seemed to be looking up and that he
was afraid that one of his cows had
the hollow horn, when Elisha finished
| billing up a hill of corn and slowly
said:
Joel they say that there's going to
be a heap of windmill aud wire fence
men along here this fall, and II any
of 'em want to board with me for a
week or two | shall take 'em in"
"Wwhy?' asked Joel
well, there's Minnie, you know.
It's time she was thinking of getting
married. Some of those windmill fel-
lers are smarter than chain lightning
and well off to boot. I've always kind
err thought I'd like one of them for
son-in-law."
but he had to halt at that. The change
in the attitude of the farmer and his
wife brought great fear to his heart
and started chills up and down his
back
Minnie amt looking for husband,
you know She don't have to do that
but when the right Teller comes along
I hn do A
piano agent the other day asked me II
she was engaged, and | told him there
wasn't anybody around here good
enough Yes, it's purity hot day
Joel and | shouldn't wonder if tomor
rer would be hotter"
Joel didn't do any work the rest OF
the afternoon He simply sat and
thought. The result was that when
evening came he headed for the Hen
derson homestead. He was going to
! see Minnie and find out what had hap
pened. 1t was Aunt Judith who was
at the gate when he came up, and she
! didn't lose any time, saying:
young man, guess you've heard
of me- I'm Minnie's aunt. Walk along
the road with me while ! talk to you.
You don't want to force yourself upon
a family where you are not wanted.
do your"
HAS something happened?" he anx-
iously asked.
/ well, Minnle's father and mother
have got their eyes open at last. She
has been praised so much that they
realize she can make a good match.
don't care to tell you what the sewing
machine man said today, but you can
| bet 1t was something nice. You know
you haint just the sort of man the
/ HenderSons want for Il son-in-law
| Minnie may like you In a way, but
when 1t comes to real love, that's an
other thing. If was you, wouldn't
waste any more time here"
But love Minniem blurted out
Joel. as he was driven to desperation
But If she don't love you what are
you going to do about 1t? Better give
the thing right up and look for some
other girl. Going home, are you? Well,
good night. Try and think have told
you this for your own good"
Next day farmers little girl
brought Minnie a note, and half an
hour after receiving 1t she was down
In the hickory grove talking with Joel.
When she returned to the house. she
l looked pale and acted in a nervous
/ manner, but she was not questioned.
Soon after supper she pleaded n head
ache and went to her room and Aunt
] Judith and Elisha and Hannah winked
at each other. At o'clock the house
was quiet. At 10 Aunt Judith entered
/ the spare bedroom, where husband and
wife sat waiting, and said:
well, It's over with. Joel came to
the gate and whistled softly ten min
utes ago, and Minnie. who was all
dressed, slipped downstairs and Joined
him. He had buggy down by the
barnyard gate"
"And-and"- gasped the mother as
she began to sob.
Hannah Henderson, don't be a
| goose. They'll drive to the preachers
and be married and be back here be-
fore the breakfast dishes are washed.
/ Joel's got wife, Minnie's got n hus-
band, and you've got son-in-law. and
that's all there Is to It,"