The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-28
III. Romantic courtshIp.,

and cropped out constantly in CONVEX
sation
Ills Romantic courtsl,ip.
4 There was romance In Senator Pet
stuss life. When he was a boy six
4 teen years Of age he was wild as
| the elders OF the community expressed
| It.. He did not like books. and play
Ing truant was a fixed habit. The.
i temptation Of the woods and fields and
i streams OF North Alabama wore too
1; much for him, and dog and gun or
i fishing tackle and the trout brook Of
4 ten lured him from the log school
house, where he was supposed to be
4 mastering the three RS. He fell in
} love with a beautiful schoolgirl of
. the ncighborhood, slightly Younger
than himself. For year Senator
: Pettus secretly worshiped at the
? shrine OF his divinity, without being
able to muster courage to declare his
devotion.
Finally one day in s the spring he
!, rode by the home OF his sweetheart
s His heart beat higher as he saw her
], on the porch watering her flowers.
: He rode close to the porch. She had
mover appeared so beautiful, plying the
J; watering pot, her sun-bonnet swing
ing by its strings. while her curls
IL played about her temple.
e "h1ary, will you marry me-" hl,lrted
{ out the youthful suitor, unable to re-
!, strain his love and unable also to
. make a PREDATORY statement.
G NO won't" replied Mary, very
t promptly. You won't go to school.
refusal Drove Him to hooks.
c Young Pcttus rode away without 4
o word. His heart was heavy, but he
. was entirely cast down. Her words
= had given him new view Of life and
3 duty. Hcs.went to school the following
day, and never missed a day for the
rest Of the term. During vacation
he devoted oil his spare time to his
i, now beloved books, and III September
"a he rode away to Tennessee to Gin
A. ton College. I1c had not seen Mary
~ since that day she had refused his
y Offer to make her Mrs. Pettus. The
1 morning after he returned home after
10 lie lad competed the course at Gin
g. ton, he rode over to see his sweet
8 heart. She was out on the porch
- watering her flowers. Pettus rode VI
- close to the porch.
~ ~ Mary, have been to school.
8. He knew his answer wl.aout word:
8 from her. For sixty-odd years Mary
ss was his wife, and only about a yea,
% ago she died. The old Senator neve
fully recovered from the blow tina
took from him his mate and helpmee
OF so many years.
Senator Pettus was man Of TIL
ate old-fashoned Southern type. He tool
drink when he wanted, but neve
(, as drank to excess. He was passionatel
w w fond of a social game, and innumer
~, able stories of his poker experience
Ing while sitting In at game have bee
lay told.
,ss- One summer he and Mrs. Pettus wcr
a. spending few weeks at Tate Srrlnt
In Tennessee. A friend met thet Scr
ers ator one afternoon some distance frol
,n,1 the hotel.
ar, are "where are you going. Senator?
e,n asked the friend
we ITO that little house over yonder
,s,. replied the Senator pointing to
ght, white cottage in the trees.
ar "Why, Senator" exclaimed tt
ON friend, "do you know the men wi
nv. run that game nre the most notoriol
w. sharks OF Mennphis?"
ller 20, yes. know they are rcplit
the Senator, but there amt e san
anywhere around here"
Humorous ssery on Him.
to Mrs. Pettus used to be very lenie
Int regarding her huspnnds weakness
on- ono evening the Senator started o
o to join some friends who had invit
,en- him to quiet game. Mrs. PETIT
BAR opposed his going. but he promis
This no would no back by midnight. We
the q beautiful Jackpot Was about to
lid opened when midnight came. Ofcourl
as he, could not leave. It was we'll
> Of to daylight when the Oh fe1low
less himself In at home, lie removed
the CATERS and softly ascended TO In
will sleeping apartment. Mrs. Pettus W
nile, sleeping, Tho Senator carefully u
,ral dressed and went to bed. He fou
, of Mrs. Pettus occupying the midt
our thereof. lie was afraid to ask her.
ons, move, SO he lay down on the edge. !
hero an hour he lay thus the rail- OF
DEE bod digglng into MS rlpa. ne Wo,
light not move tor rear OF WAKING MS w
,inst FINALLY, when the broad light of {
.tion was anoming IN = through the shuttf
j be het turned ever and looked Mrs.t Pet
nde- in tile face, She was wide awake {
esq laughing,
nticI General ne SAID don you ~