The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-12-29
AN OLD
MAIDS HERO
BY M QUAD
Copyright. 1910. BY Associated LIT
erary Press.

WIQoWef. took her Tor bis h0ufekcep
er Abe Smith came to work as d
hired man for an adjoining farmer
Abe was an old bach.
II was fate that kept Amanda an old
maid Il was fate that brought Abe
al the way from Indiana. II was fats
that inally brought the two face 70
face. Abe had hardly eot through
asking Amanda for the loan Of a hoe
when be found bis heart tnnking with
a strange funk
Two weeks after the Hoosiers ap.
pearance q baEd Of gypsles came along
the road. and IN return for some cold
vicfuals one Of the women told Aman-
da's fortune.
You win marry" she started on
1T seems impoesible.T
~But the stars say 90. and they are
never mistaken
rWhat sort Of husband VIII be beT'
blushlnely asked the old maid
"A hero. You will not know that
be is hero FOR some time. but Il viii
suddenly come 70 pass. He viii save
your life from Indignant insects
cannot say whether they wiz be grass
hoppers or not"
The next time Abe called Amanda
looked him over and decided be was
20 more Of q hero than the gatepost-
He didn't look Il nor talk t. aud there
fore when be told his love and asked
for her hand she replied:
= shall never marry any one but
hero"
But Tn one. Of into the Spanish
var. and. lands save you. but how
moved EN- down.
But Abe was thrown down. Aman-
da's brother liked him. but that didn't
count She had asked Ben what par
ticular insects got indignant. but be
couldn't give Der the information He
had never seen a beetle Or a grass
hopper mad but he bad never poked
either with a stick The Hoosier had
arrived IN the early spring. In May
be renewed bis Offer Of matrimony.
He had an aifectionate disposition and
500 IN bis trunk
-iou are as good as any one around
here. Abe" replied Amanda. but the
stars have settled Il for me-"
The stars be hanged. The stars
have about a. much 10 do with mar
rage as the June buEs!"
''Buf he Is 70 be a hero"
well. ding II. amt I onef I've new
er braTgcd much shout how moved |
the Spanish down. but III say 10 you /
right here and now that killed sov-
enfecn Of EN-"
why. that Was brave Of you"
II should remark. but I'm not boast
ing Of H. II the battle had lasted
little longer ia have made the num-
Der twenty
But the gypsy said 81 would be some /
one who would save my life. I'm kind
CT liking you. Abe. but Qasn't 20 back
on the stars and the gypsy
Abe came over on dozen occasions
IN June and said nothing further. al
though be was more determined than
ever Il was the erst Of July before be
Eof around to snrA
''You might as well be bridal tower
ing around as washing tnters here
what's the use Of fooling about thing
Of this kindr
THE hero may be along any day
now was the reply.
Say. Mazda. that gypsy must have
meant me. She sure did. I've been
counting up since told you I had
killed seventeen Spaniards. and End
the number was twentyseven. I add
Cd them up wrong. 20 you want any
bigger hero than thaty'
"Lands Abe. but how you must
have CTR
FIT. We'll. guess yesl was
there 10 do. Il. and moved 'em.
Lcmme get the preacher tomorrer."
Nope I've got to 80 By what the
stars say
There weren't any stars out next
afternoon and no gypsics around
when Amanda started across the
meadow to gather eowslips at the
pond. Swinging basket In her hand
and hummlng a tune. she walked right
into a bumblebees' nest. The hero
was right over IN the next lot giving
the corn a second hoeing. He heard
screams. He heard yells. he -
walls Tor help. he ran to the
and saw Amanda hopping and
ming and lodging and using her y
bonnet as a weapon AZ
"Humphr grunted Aba AZ he out
with his knife aud cut a th'tk topped
bush. There's the indignant insects,
- -. $3.50. 10 f..4.. I..f..t# Tho nnFnI