Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-07-31
"AND THE FIRST
 SHALL BE LAST
[Orisinaln

She was laughing.
 s'There's young fellow downstairs who says he wishes to see you about marrying him.
 I didn't like to break of from the thread of my discourse; but, laying down my pen, 1 went into the parlor There stood tue youngster, six feet in height, strong as Sampson, light halr- ed. blue eyed. red and brown complex {o1. shocky hair. His trousers were i'd his boots and were supported by 8 pair of country store galluses over q woolen shirt; no coat; a felt hat in bis hand. He had come in with an OK whip over his shoulder which he placed on the mantel. Evidently he regarded the furniture as too good to sit on; at any rate he was standing. ssBe you the parsOn:' he asked.
 'I am"
 eSay, parson, if I figger roun' today an git things fixed, could l come up here long with gal an git married?' Certainly 1 shall be here all the morning l have some parochial du
  the hour you would be here l would be on hand"
 q ain't done it all yet. I done it except one thing. 1 got my license. That's already 1 got it morc'n q week ago
 .sThat's tue only really important matter" I replied to help him OF.
 "'N you got certificate, hain't your
 'sLot's of them, in blank"
 tt:WelI, that's two things-the cer tificate and the license"
 E:You're right; that's two very im- portant things, one indispensa ble and the other convenient"
 ON heres a place to get married in
 ''Has your fancee got her trous- seau?'
 NWhals them?"
 '"The first means sweetheart. the second the clothes brides usually get together so they won't have to call on their husbands for some time after the wedding for such articles"
 He stood thinking for a moment, then looked np and said with anima tion:
 'By cracky. parson, that's good idea. Never thought O that"
 Has she et it:
 ''Oh, 1 don'l know nothin bout that 'TWouldn't he fust rate for me to talk about that. 'Twouid be dead mean cheap"
 'sThcre are more important things for the man to say, grant and more becoming"
 What are they:"
 "WelI, the first thing Is the pro posal
 'That's just the trouble with the whole business
 Did you find it difficult:"
 "Difficult: You bet. hain't got through with il yet"
 "Phew.. I looked at my wife. She sat behind lhe young man and was cramming her handkerchief into boz mouth to stop an outburst of laughter My exclamation was made under my breath but the youth saw it.
 Just you hold on, parson," he said I'm good for it yet. Just gimme time. But I'd rather drive my OK team up q stone wall, l would. She's in town today. seen her in a store buyin' some stockin's That's why I came up here
 Don't you think you'd have better settled the matter with the girl frs, .''
 Well' he frowned, there's ,iiGle-- ent ways of doin' things. Eff I'd asked her and shed said yes what in thuu- der would l "a done with nothin fixed:"
 Are you sure you have the pluck
 NOW, parson don't you worry bout that I'm going right off to find hcr You'll be here whcn l get back. will you?"
 ld stay in all day to marry such a lhe fellow as you. Go ahead Remcn. Der what GeAoral Grant said when hc flfst marched d brigade against the ConfederateS'
 "Whatd he say?'
 That he remembered the enemy would likely be as much Frightened as he"
 '''N No.i bt lilSIbtntu. tIilS oon Skecr worth a cent lie grabbed his whip and in q jiny was out of the house and stridinr down tho street. went back to my sermon and wrote LOT an hour when my wife threw open "y study door, excaiming: They're coming"
 Who:' l asked, not so readily turn eu from my subject.
 1he young OK driver and his girl. Come"
 went downstairs, and there in the pafior were the pair. They had just .onle ln The man looked as if he were Au battle and was looking for an enc I'M, nny anu an enemy was looking for him. tue slri' little country beauty, was ai' smiles and blushes, with struggling