Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-03-24

woman like 'er is a desp'rate character.
IT we hever git hashore she might be
for Juggling me to the church and mar
rying me by main force
"'Then you'll have to marry her, for
all l see," says l. You shouldn't be so
fascinating
THAT made him mad, and he went
off jawing to himself.
"The next day we got the schooner
patched up and off the shoal and long
side Lazarus old landing wharf by
the shanty.
After dinner Hammond went down
to Inc spring after some water, and
Lobelia 'Ankins went along with him.
l laid down in the shade for q snooze
but l hadn't much more than settled
myself comfortably when I heard a
yell and somebody running. l jumped
up just In time to see Hammond come
busting through the bushes, lickety
smash, with Lobelia after him, yelling
like an Injun. Hammond Want yell
ing. He was saving his breath for
running.
"They want in sight more n a min
ute, but went smashing and crashing
through the woods into the distance.
Twas too hot to run after 'em. so l
waited a spell and then loafed Off in
a roundabout direction toward where l
see 'em go. After I'd walked pretty
nigh a mile l heard Hammond whis-
tie. l looked. but didn't see him no.
where's. Then he whistled again. and
I see his head sticking out of the ton
of a palm tree.
"1s she gomez says he.
eyes: long ago. says I. Come
down.
"'Edge,' says he, I'm a lost man.
That ere 'orrible 'Ankins houtrage is
either going to marry me or kill me.
Edge he says, awful solemn, she
tried to kiss me! S'elp me, she did,
"Well. | set back and laughed. is
that why you run away? l says.
"'No,' says be. When l wouldn't
let 'er she hups with a rock as big as
my 'ead and goes for me There was
murder in 'er eyes. Edge; l see it
That's it. says he; 'larf at a Teller
critters sufferings. I honly wish she'd
try to kiss you once, that's all!'
swell, l couldn't make him bulge,
so l decided to go back and get the
lay Of the land. Lobelia had q big
stick in her hand and looked savage. ]
was a little nervous.
"''Ammond!' says she, printing to-
ward the woods.
Eyes says l. 'Hammond's taking a
walk for his health
"''Ammond!!' says she, louder and
shaking the stick.
"'Now, Lobelia,' says I, smiling
smooth as butter, do put down thai
club!
"'Ammondv she fairly hollers
Then h went through the most blood.
curdling pantomime ever was, l reck
on. First she comes up to me an6
taps me on the chest and says Edge.
Then she goes creeping round the room
on tiptoe. Printing out of the winder
all the time as much as to say she was
pretending to walk through the woods
Then she p'ints to one of the stumps
we used for chairs and screeches
hammond! and fetches the stump ar
awful bang with the club. Then she
comes over to me and kinder snuggles
up and smiles and says Edge and
tries to put the club in my hand.
my topknot riz up on my head
Good Lord!! thinks I. She's making
love to me SOS to get me to take that
club and go and thump Hammond
with it.!
"'Now, Lobelia,' says 1, don't be-
"''Ammond! says she.
CHOW. Miss 'Ankins, don't be
hasty. r
"''Ammond!
well I backed faster and faster,
and she follered me right up till at
last l begun to run. Round and round
the place W. went, me scarf for my
life and she fairly frothing with rage.
Finally l bust through the door and
put for the woods at a rate that beat
Ham1nond's going all boiler. I never
stopped till / got close to the palm
tree. Then l whistIed and Hammond
answered.
when l told him about the rumpus
he set and laughed like an idiot.
"''Ow d'you like Miss 'Ankins' love-
making?' he says.
"'Youll like it less N I do I says,
If she gets up here with that club!''
"After a spell we decided that our
only chance was to sneak down to the
schooner in the dark and put to sea,
leaving Lobelia alone in her glory.
"Well, we waited till IL o'clock or
so, and then we crept down to the
beach, tiptoeing past the shanty for
fear of waking Lobelia. We got on
the schooner all right, hauled up an
Choir. h'isted sail and stood out of the
lagoon with a fair wind. When we
was fairly to sea we shook hands.
".Lawd,' says Hammond. drawing
a long breath, L never was so 'appy
in my life. This ere lady killing bust
hess amt in my line
"He felt SO good that he set by the
wheel and sung 'Goodby, Sweet'art.
Goodby.' for an hour or more.
I'm the morning we was In sight of