The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-04-15
FORCED TO
PROPOSE
By ANNA WOODBRIDGE
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

that John Ochiltree. young farmer
living in the county of Kent, met a
lass called Mary Griggs at Maying
and conceived strong passion for
her. He danced with her around the
Maypole and looked at her languisb
ingly. but his modesty and the
strength Of his love tied his tongue so
that he could say nothing to her
Mary had been keeping company
with Richard Doyle, Il maker Of armor,
but the moment he laid eyes on John
Ochiltree. Doyle saw that she was lost
away sulky. thus leaving the field to
the man who had snpplanted him.
The day after the Maying John
waited for Mary to come out Of her
fathers matched cottage and joined
her He managed to wish her good
morning" and said that the crops
promised to be good and that one OF
his cows had calved. but besides this
he said nothing. Mary was girl Of
spirit and would not help him on. She
bdlu W utl SCH tudt uC Sbouib toih "
her like any other man or she would
have none Of him. He continued TO
show her by his expression that he
was enamored Of her, and when he
looked at her his eyes had a melan-
choly expression.
Now. as soon as John got away from
her his tongue was Embossed, and he
could say what he liked. He told his
mother Of his trouble and convinced
her that 1t was impossible that he
should tell Mary his love and ask her
to marry him.
Then" said his mother, MARY
must propose to you"
"She will never do that" sighed
John.
"She must be made to. My son
wishes her for wife, and he must
have her. Besides, Mary is n good
girl and will have a good dowry. ]
wish her for a daughter.in-law. i
have made up my mind that, since you
are unable to ask Mary to be your
wife, she shall claim you for her hus.
band"
"And how will you do that, moth.
erT
Never mind, so that I do it We
women have to get through the world
by exercising our wits. We are not
men, to force our way, so we have to
plan"
Things went from bad to worse be-
tween John and Mary. Determined to
force him to declare himself, she en-
couraged her former sutton. This
made John i'll, and so great was his
ailing that his mother feared he would
die She went TO Mary and. telling
her Of Johns condition and the cause
begged her to do that which was ex-
pectcd of the sterUer seX-aSk John 10
be her husband Mary vowed that
she would he no mans wife who had
not the courage to ask her and
though John might die, she would not
do his part for him.
Not long after this a sheep belong
ing to ueighbor was found in John
Ochiltree'S fold. John was arrested
for sheep stealing and thrown into
prison. The lad has lost his mind for
love of you said Johns mother TO
Mary The lass was secretly troubled,
but tossed her head and said that a
man who was afraid of a girl had 10
mind to lose
John was tried and convicted and
sentenced to he hanged,
Then Mary began to regret that she
had refused to be persuaded. But 1t
was now too late She had driven
John into insanity. for she believed
what his mother said, or she had unin-
tentionally bewitched him so that he
had stolen a sheep. She sat at home
mourning her sad fate at loving Il
man so defective. Johns mother
brought Il request from her son that
Mary would he present at his eXecu.
ton Mary declared that she could
not endure such sight and would
not go. Rut she was Mt last persuaded
to grant this last boon to man she
was now persuaded she had driven Ia
the scatfuld and on the morning OF
the hanging she went there with heI
lovers mother.
A crowd was gathered around the
culprit John. with the rope around
his neck. had assembled Il few steps OF
the ladder He stopped and. seeing
Mary below. said to her;
MARY. save me"
How can | do that, John"
at is the law that if one about to bt
executed he claimed in marriage by
any woman he shall go free"
rs that SOP" Mary asked OF the
sheriff,
IF you claim this man in marriage
dare not hang him"
ooh. Mary" cried John. "have mer
ry on me-"
"Save him." whispered the culprit''
mother.
Mary hesitated No" she said n
last; ''let him hang"
John staggered. then seemed reliev
ed. He climbed nimbly up the othe
rungs of the ladder, and the sheriff
90 ha,