The bee., 1909-01-21
FIRST SHALL
BE LAST

There's a young fellow downstairs
who says he wishes to see you about
marrying him."
l didn't like to break off from the
thread of my discourse; but, laying
down my pen, went into the parlor.
There stood the youngster, six feet In
height, strong as Samson, light
haired, blue-eyed, red and brown com
plexion, shock hair. His trousers
we're in his boots and we're 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 mantel. Evidently he
regarded the furniture as too good to
sit on; at any rate, he was standing.
BE you the parson?" he asked.
Il am"
Say, parson, IL fgger roun' to-day
an git things fixed, could l come up
here long with a gal an git marriedT
Certainly. ] shall be here all the
morning. l have some parochial
duties for the afternoon, but If / know
the hour you would be here would be
on hand"
'T amt done It all yet. / done It ex-
cept one thing. got my license
That's already. got It more'n q
week ago."
That's the only really important
matter" replied to help him on.
an you got a certificate, haint
your"
Lots of them, in blank"
well, that's two things--the Ger.
tificate and the license"
You're right; that's two very i'm
portant things, one indispensable, and
the other convenient"
IN here's a place to get married
In"
HAS your fiancee got her trous-
seau?"
whats 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
i wedding for such articles"
He stood thinking for a moment,
then looked up and said with ANNA
ton:
by crackey, parson, that's a good
idea. Never thought Of O. that?"
HAS she got it?"
"Oh, don't know nothin' bout that
'Twouldn't be fust rate for me to talk
about that 'Twould be dead near
cheap"
There are more important things
for the man to say, grant, and more
becoming"
What are they?"
swell, the first thing is the pro
posal."
rThats just the trouble with thu
whole business"
ibid you find 1t difhcult?"
Difficult? You bet. haint go
through with it yet"
"Phewl" / looked at my wife. Sh,
sat behind the young man and wa
examining her handkerchief into he
mouth to stop an outburst Of laughter
/ My exclamation was made under m
breath, but the youth saw It.
4 "Just you hold on, parson," he said
I'm good for it yet. Just gimm
time But I'd rather drive my OK tear
up stone wall, would. She's i
town to-day. seen her in a stor
buyin' some stockin's. That's why
came Hp here"
4 Don't you think you'd have bette
settled the matter with the girl first
We'll" ne frowned, there's diffel
ent ways of doin' things. Eff l.
asked her and she'd said yes wha
in thunder would i n done with notl
In fixedg'
Are you sure you have the pluck
Now parson, don't you worry bou
that. I'm going right OF to find hel
You'll he here when l get back. Wi
your"
I'D stay in all day to marry such
fine fellow as you. Go ahead. Re
member what Gen. Grant said whe
he first marched a brigade against tn
confederates."
'What'd he say?"
"That he remembered the enem
would likely be as much frightene
as he"
ooh, she won't be frightened. Gal
don't skeer worth a cent"
4 He grabbed his whip and in a fin
was out of the house and stridinl
down the street.
went back to nay sermon AM
wrote for an hour when my wife threw
open my study door. exclaiming:
They're coming!"
'WhoT' asked. not so rsAdil!
turning from my subject
The young OK driver and his girl
Come"
went downstairs, and there in tn,
parlor were the pair. They had just
come In. The man looked as II hi
were N a battle and was looking foI
an enemy and an enemy was looking
for him. The girl. a little country
beauty. was all smiles and blushes
with struggling tears.
II done Il, parsOn," said the OF