Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-01

arter night, and shufles by like a
grounding, without raisin' your eyes
tc all these yer-these yer fair young
flowers" he added. with a touch of
parental poesy. Which one is it,"
"Ain't you takin' it too much for
settled?" asked young Mr.. Hopper.
I'm a man of few words" Holle-
vents raised his gun carelessly to the
level. Here's nine gals all OF a row.
Which is it,"
MI. Hopper bowed gracefully to the
young ladies on the veranda. Any
one of EN-? l amt worthy of it,
Deacon
Amy one of EN-. You amt wor-
thy, but it's the best l car do for
EN- said the Deacon. firmly.
"Which?"
They were girls whose beauty would
AVE g%laddened the hearts of an an
chorite.
Young Mr.. Hopper surveyed them
carefully, then turned to Tollevents.
See here" he said. severely. Amt
you 'shamed of yourself, Deacon, to go
putin such a slight on EN-? If l
married one, what will the eight 9TH
ers dor
You leave tina, to me. Which,"
o~minously repeated the deacon.
"'Tain't no business Of yours"
Young Mr.. Hopper walked down the
veranda, feeling that Tollevents' u
covered his manly back. Cant l go
home and think 1t over?' he asked,
when he had come to the end of the
row.
You can go home, and tax a load
of buckshot with you, if that Ill help
you to think" said Tollevents.
Young Mr.. Hopper came back to the
top of the row. then shook his head.
They're all too much alike. I'd git
mixed up and never know t'other from
which. Tain't fair, Deacon"
Il don't want to shoot you in a
hurry" said the Deacon. mo one
can't say l amt a Just, reasonable.
tender-hearted, God-fearing, help-my-
neighbor kind Of man. 'Tain't my fault
they're all alike; but you've got to
take one of EN-"
Young Mr.. Hopper shook his head.
Cant be done. l don't mind marry
in, but l can't get mixed up like this.
It's wuss'n bigamy."
Tollevents took deliberate aim at
him. I'm sorry to have to do It," he
said, gently, "and your mother, bein'
a wilder, ill curse me for removing
my neighbours landmark, so to speak;
but I've got to make an example of
you"
J,n -nc q wild ShrtAl nc Sa1ino
threw herself between them. Guess
you'll have to hit me first" she CRIED
choking with laughter and tears. You
you ant go wastin' young men like
this. Dad"
Stop a minute" said Mr.. Hopper,
with affected deliberation. How dare
you try such a put-up job or me?"
Il don't understand" faltered
Tollevents, confused by this sudden at
tack.
why you might ha' known that a
shy man like me couldn't make up his
mind with nine gals all 'zackly alike.
This settles it. Here's a dark one.
I'll take her"
There was a chorus OF "Oh!" from
the veranda. Tollevents looked irres-
olute, for Selma was his ~favorite. Its
beginnin' at the wrong end" he said,
doubtfuliy.
Don't you worry about that. Any
way, it's a beginning" urged young
Mr.. Hopper. That's all you've got to
do, 'cept put down that gun. 1t might
so off; and he Coroner's a friend O
mine. He'd say things. Now you
can take off your store clothes, n
make yourself comfortable, father-in-
law that is 20 be-"
Tollevents put down the gun, and
young Mr.. Hopper, linking Selina's
arm in his, strolled along with her to
the pines. A bend In the road him
them from the house.
Selma could feel him trembling as
they wandered along in the odorous
dusk.
"You-you do mean it, Selina?" he
uuavered. "Cause if o don't, he
can shoot all he wants to; n I'll be
glad of it. / amt afraid of him; but
| am of you"
Selma hesitated. Young Mr.. Hopper
turned back. Stop" she called after
him in alarm.
"Well?" queried Mr.. Hopper. Il
knew how it 'ud be. Let him fill me
up WITH
Wont l do instead?" queried Sc.
lima.
What! With buckshot?"
"N-no. K-kisses!"
And in the blissful silence which
ensued a man might have heard his
microbes gnaw, so sweet, so pure the
heavenly night, with the great stars
| shining out, the silent river flowing
to the sea, their young hearts beating
Observation-Disclosures Telegraph.