Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-04-22

nave DeSH lOOl HOt W huON IL ~
the last six months What els
should | suppose you wanted-comins
around here as often as you have AM
making a doormat of yourself 70,
Margery and acting as if you likeC
being a doormat?'
ooh, | suppose you love her and al
that" went on the elderly man
Seems to me, after a lifetime of OBJ
, servation, that it would not be diff
: cult task to fall in love with Margery
She's a pretty fine girl, when you
come right down to it,"
You're right there" agreed the
young man, fervently.
"Others have thought 50, too" re-
I marked the elderly man. Several
others But | told them no, right off
the bat, because-well, you see,
Margery had given me a gentle hint
to turn them down"
He paused and brushed some cigar
ash from his sleeve while the young
man looked worried and most appar-
emily had question hanging on his
lips concerning this point in its per-
sonal light to him.
you don't know anything about be-
ing devoted to a grill" Numbered the
elderly man, suddenly abandoning the
cigar ash and TRANSMITTING the young
man with his glare. Il suppose you
think because every time you see
Margery you have to travel six miles
each way on a tolerably comfortable
street car and, when the cars are
blocked, get home at one or two
o'clock in the morning and still must
rise at six o'clock as usual that you
show great selfsacrifice and prove the
depth of your infatuation! Humph!
LET me tell you" went on the ell
derby man, that in my day we did
more than that and never deemed it
worth thinking about! Why after
working like horse from dawn till
dark, when | was your age, real work
with my hands, building houses-I
didn't start right in cutting coupons,
you know-when | was tired enough
to go to sleep over my plate of baked
beans, I'd oil my boots and rub down
the horse and scrub up and hunt out
my best tie and ride Is miles to the
next village where there was girl
with the blacklist eyes you ever saw
and take her to a dance And after
dancing till three o'clock I'd ride Is |
miles back home, and maybe have
time to pour bucket of cold water
over my head before / went to work
again. Yes, sir! Not once, but
many time!"
"You-you must have been hard
nit" ventured the young man, with
l tentative smile.
We'll, | married her." snapped the
elderly man. And If you can beat
Ter eyes to-day I'd like to see you
10 it! And we started housekeeping
n a two-room cottage without all this
lew-fangled kitchen equipment. We
lad fryisg pan and kettle or two
md a tin pan or so, and we didn't
tarve, either"
I'D be willing to DO the same with
dargery,' said the young man, sturd-
Iy.
"Humph!" said her father. "But
iargery wouldn't. Things are differ
mt these days. Oh, you needn't tell
ne that you can give her about as
God as she has at home-I know all
bout you and what your salary is!
What do you think father is for if
OF to keep an/eye on the fellows who
ang around his daughter? Not that
bother looking up very many of
lem!"
The young man stroye to appear in
crested, but his natural Impotence
$ to the outcome Of his quest creased
Is brow
I'D be mighty good to her" he said,
effectively.
Much you know about it," said the
derly man, almost angrily. Life
MT all wedding cake and silk gowns
nd illuminations! It's question
neither when you are so years old
I'd can look back over the, troubles =,
I'd sorrows and misunderstanding
i'd just ordinary everyday vexations
they're the worst-you can say to
,urself that you've always been
lightly good to hertz TIN be a most
lcommon and comfortable state Of
ind you'll be in, my boy. II you cant"
There was q solemn silence, while
q elderly man frowned and smoked
rider and the face Of the younger
an took on more thoughtful lines.
nAlly Margery's father got UP and Il
i both hands on the younger mans b
oulders. 4
4 think" he said, quietly, II think, B
Y boy, you're the mani You see. / III,
y told To say yes to youl And | Il
g You on my own account 3
Thank you!" said the young man N
PIT huskiIy A. they shook handn.
Iicago Daily News.
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