The Somerset reporter., 1907-01-24


Now, then, Hannah, things are go
ing to hum
1t was Aunt Judith Wellman who
spoke She had arrived from Indiana
for visit with her sister in Michigan.
and the pair had been talking for the
last hour on the veranda, while Farm
er Henderson was doing up the chores
at the barn.
What do you mean. Judith" was
asked.
Il mean several things. mean that
| have never heard of case like it.
Your Minnie has been Old enough to
marry for these last three years, and
you've let Teller dawdle around here
and make sleeps eyes at her and keep
all other fellers away and yet hasn't
asked her to be his and maybe three
more years doing It, l call 1t mean
shame. When | say that things are
going to hum | mean that somebody
has got to toe the mark mighty soon
or get out. You and Elisha ought to
have put your foot down long ago.
you wouldn't do anything to EN-
barrass Minnie?' pleaded the mother.
That's according. / guess the en-
barrassment will all be on the other
side however Embarrassment IL all
right in girl. Hannah, but it shouldn't
be carried too far. Both OF us were
embarrassed when we were girls. but
we weren't so much so as to kill our
prospects Of getting married We knew
when our beaus had hung around long
enough. Has Minnie ever given this
chap a jog?"
Mercy, no.
Have you or Elisha ever given him
jog?'
Never
Then 1t remains for Judith Wellman
to do it, and she's right on deck, with
both elbows stuck out. 1t won't be a
week before we'll know whether Joel
Davis means business or Is just sitting
around like bump on a log"
But you won't-won't'-
~ don't know what I'll do, except to
decide the case one way or other, and
you needn't ask questions. | don't be
leye in folks getting married within Il
week, and | don't believe in counting
for half lifetime. A fellow either
wants girl or he don't. If he does, let
him take her; if he don't, let him shy
off and give some one else a chance"
Minnie Henderson was twenty years
old and recognized belle for ten miles
around. Everybody was agreed that
she would make somebody a good wife
She had been keeping company" Will
Joel Davis for nearly three years. joe
was a bachelor of twenty seven, living
on the next farm west. He was steady
sober and Industrious. and everybody
said that he would make some girl q
good husband. But Joel was also bash
full and retiring. lie was in love with
Minnie. to be sure, but that very fact
made him tremble In her presence. A
hundred times over in the last two
years he had resolved to propose. but
on each and every occasion his courage
had oozed out of his fingers ends. He
felt that the time must and would
come, but whether 1t would take an
earthquake or cyclone to bring II
about he wasn't sure
1t was three days before Aunt Ju
dith saw Joel. She liked his looks and
that changed her plans somewhat She
hadn't been going to say a word tc
Minnie. but now she changed about
and opened fire with:
We'll, | am astonishedl So that's
the Teller that has been hanging
around here for half his lifetime and
will probably die of old age on your
fathers doorstep"
81 don't know what you mean by
hanging around" retorted Minnie
with a blush and toss of her head.
why, coming over here two or three
times week to talk about grasshop
pers and later bugs. | am surprised
at you. What can you see In SUCH a
Teller to encourage him? | suppose he
knows pumpkins from squashes, but
I'll bet big apple that if you asked
him when the pilgrim fathers landed
he'd fall Off the veranda. Minnie Hen
derson. if you are the girl take you
to be you will send that Teller packing
this very evening"
You misjudge him, aunty He does
not push himself forward, but assure
you that
1--WE got eyes in my head" snapped
her aunt. at never takes me over five
minutes to size up a man. Joel Davis
is an it, He'll always be ten days be-
hind the Fourth Of July It's a wonder
your father and mother have allowed
it."
Minnie choked down a sharp answer
and went off to her room to cry. and
Aunt Judith sauntered into the kitchen
to say to her sister:
There, now, I've got the thing start
ed and you and Elisha have got to
turn in and help me. sMinnie will cry
and then get mad and then see Joel.
and there'll be a wedding before you
know it, Don't you weaken when the
time comes"
Next day Joel came to the house to
bring back n bushel basket he had Dor
rowed Minnie was upstairs and Aunt
Judith hiding behind the door. so II
was left for Minnie's mother to say:
Joel, I've been wanting to speak to
you for some time | don't think you
ought to come here as often as you do"
"W-whatw gasped the lover as he