The daily Alaskan., 1909-01-08
THE WOOING
 OF ROSYBEL. By KATHARINE K. CROSBY. Copyrighted. 1908, by Associated
 Literary Press.

tuNSL NuN g1AN' AAN 'N'''N - N'
 daughter. Rosybel. to leave the yard, except on Sundays. when she could go to church under his eagle eye.
 It may be that Farmer Johns ideals were rather exacting. Rosybel thought them so anyway. To her there was nothing absolutely wicked about pipe of tobacco, especially If the pipe were of the mkish type affected by young men who had been to college.
 Dick Melton had been to college. h. deed his A. E. was barely a fortnight old. Now he was touring the country after fashion all his own in the search of amusement
 He told his father that he wanted to see something of life before entering upon that glorious political career which his doting parent saw stretching before his eldest born.
 Now, touring suggests a gay and fes- tive motor car, all red enamel and staring brass work, but Dick had es- chcwed such vanities as all too com monplace. He was touring in a hay rack.
 Besides Dick there was in the hay rack a variety of commodlties-a pile of boards of assorted sizes, for in- stance; a couple of canvas contraptions which when you gave them a chance evolved into a cot bed and lounging chair; a nickel plated pail, which could be transformed by some miracle Into a complete chatng dish outfit; small table and. most important of all, a camp organ of the sort carried about by wandering evangelists.
 When Farmer John issued his edict that the young man who had dropped Into church from nowhere at all and walked home from the meeting with hls-daughter Rosybel should not enter his premises on pain of death-via bulldog Towser-Dick was rather pleased than otherwise.
 His vacation bade fair to furnish more entertainment than he had an- tlcipated. Moreover, he was really very much taken with Rosybel, who was not only the prettlest girl whom he had met with in his travels, but was also blessed with a sense of hu- nor. This is an adorable combination hard to resist.
 The afore mentioned edict was pro- nounced on Sunday evening, when Dick again presented himself to see Rosybel home from meeting. On Mon day morning the hayrack drove into the field which was bordered in part by the neat white pallngs of Farmer Johns homestead fence.
 The field did not belong to Farmer John. Quite near the fence, in the shade of big elm tree, the young man proceeded to assemble the boards which he had taken from the hayrack.
 It happened that Rosybers garden had run sadly to weeds over Sunday, and she was obliged to spend consider able time out there on Monday morn ing in consequence.
 As the garden was between the house and that particular part of the fence where the elm tree stood, she could not help seeing what the young man was about. For one thing. he was smoking, except at times when he re- moved the pipe and sang a bacchana- Han ditty about a stein on table, which Rosybel was glad her father did not hear. for he always voted no license
 For another thing, the young man was building a house. which in her part of the country Is not often gone about so casually. There was, how ever. neither bounding of nails nor noise of saw. The birds sang undis- turbed in the branches of the elm tree, and the hang bird in her nest watched him without alarm.
 When Farmer John came in from the fields at noon he snorted at the sight of his new neighbor. By this time the house was nearly done. Dick was hanging the front door, and there remained only the piazza steps to be put in place.
 When Farmer John came in rom the fields at night the camp organ was hard at work on the piazza. Later many couples came stroling by, on the lookout to sec Rosie's new fellow.
 They came to see and remained to dance. The grass had been clipped short. and the strains from the organ invited to Portland Fancy" Lady of the Lake" and kindred measures.
 When they had gone, Rosybel stole down to the fence from the place among the shadows where she had been watching the scene. Dick got to the fence first, and there was neither pipe nor song in his lips.
 By the shine of his eyes you might have guessed that there was whole cycle of songs in his heart. all having for chorus the refrain, "ROSybel, daughter of Johuw It was not long, however. before they were interrupted by the voice of this same John calling loudly for Rosie.
 Ir now became the favorite pastime for lovers, young and old, married and courting, to go down to the Old Mill