The daily Alaskan., 1908-09-03
LAND THE FIRST
 SHALL BE LAST"
loriglnal.l

mon when my wife opened the door She was laughing,
 "There's young fellow downstairs who says he wishes to see you about marrying him." didn't like to break off from the thread of my discourse; but, laying town my pen, went into the parlor There stood the youngster, six feet in height, strong as Sampson, light hair cd. blue eyed, red and brown complex ion, shocky hair His trousers were in his boots and were supported by a pair of country store galluses over a wooden shirt; no coat; felt hat in his hand. He had come in with an OK whip over his shoulder, which he placed on the mnntel Evidently he regarded the furniture as too good to sit on; at any rate, he was standing.
 Be you the parson" he asked.
 q am"
 Say, parson, If I figger roun' today an git things fixed, could come up here long with q gal an git marrlcd?"
 Certainly. I shall be here all the morning. I have some 'parochial du' ties for the afternoon, but if knew the hour you would be here I would be on hand"
 q aln't done 1t all yet. I done 1t except one thing. I got my license. That's already. l got 1t more'n a week ago"
 That's the only really important matter" l replied to help him on,
 "'N you got certificate, hain't youT
 Lots of them, fin blank"
 "Wen, that's two things-the cer- tihcate and the license.'
 You're right; that's two very i'm portant things. one indispensable and the other convenient"
 CIV here's q place to get married ln."
 Has your hancee got her trous, seau"
 What's thcm?"
 "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 moment, then looked up and said with anima- ton:
 By cracky, parson, that's a good idea. Never thought O that"
 Has she got itF"
 "Oh, don't know nothin' bout that. 'Twouldn't be fust rate for me to talk about that 'Twould be dead mean cheap"
 "There are more important things for the man to say, I grant and more becoming"
 "What are they|
 Well, the first thing is the pro posal"
 That's just the trouble with the whole business"
 "Dld you find 1t dlficult?"
 Difficult? You bet. I hain't got through Wllu ll yet
 "Pheww I looked at my wife. She sat behind the young man and was cramming her handkerchief into her mouth to stop an outburSt of laughter, My exclamation was made under my breath, but the youth saw 1t.
 Just you hold on, parson," he said I'm good for 1t yet. Just gimme time. But I'd rather drive my OK team up a stone wall. l would. She's in town today. I seen her in store buyin' some stockln's. That's why l came up here"
 Don't you think you'd have better settled the matter with the girl frst|
 Well" he drowned, there's diifc:, ent ways of doln' things. Ef I'd asked her and she'd said yes what in thun, der would I "a done with nothIn' fxed?"
 Are you suge you have the pluck
 "Now. parson, don't you worry bout that. I'm going right off to find her. YouT be here when get back, will you|
 I'd stay in all day to marry such a fine fellow as you. Go ahead. Remem. Der what General Grant said when he first marched a brigade against the Confcderates,"
 "Whatd he sayT'
 That he remembered the enemy would likely be as much frightened as be-"
 "Oh, she won't be frightened Gals don't skeer worth q cent"
 He grabbed his whip and in a jiEy was out of the house and strlding down the street.
 went back to my sermon and wrote for an hour when my wife threw open my study door, exclalming:
 They're comlngw
 "Who?" l asked, not so readily turn ed from my subject.
 "The young OK driver and his girl Come"
 q went downstairs, and there in the Darlor were the pair. They had just come in. The man looked as if he were In battle and was looking for an enc my and an enemy was looking for him. The girl, little country beauty, was