Bisbee daily review., 1910-09-02
ASKING FOR
 HER
 By OSCAR COX
By OSCAR COX
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
 Association.


 her skirts to her knees. Her hair had sallen down her back. and her straw Rat hung from her neck over the hair. She was as pretty piece of human flesh as l ever saw. 1 fell in love with her right away and. luckily for me. didn't have much trouble getting her consent to ask her father to give her to me.
 The old man owned a stock farm Among the animals on 1t was bay Ally. pretty as a picture. that very much wanted. That was at the same time l wanted his daughter. He set great store by Lucy. and l knew that 1t would break him all up to lose her. It's no fool of job to go to man and ask him to give up the girl he's raised from babyhood. and l didn't have any fancy for if l rehearsed all woui9. say to Farmer Hodges. | would in- ,roduce the subject ny asking If he would sell the ba, lilly. praise her to the skies. then o@ him a big price for her This woui put him in good humor. taking advantage of which 1 would ask him for Lucy.
 I parted from Lucy at 10 o'clock on a moonlight night at the gate. il be- ing arranged that should go up the next evening after supper when her father was smoking his pipe on the porch and then and there put in my application. I didn't say anything to Lucy as to my intentions with regard to opening the subject. for when we separated I hadn't thought anything about that just told her was go- ing to brace up and ask for her.
 It was a hot evening when l called. and the farmer. instead of sitting ou the porch. had put his rocker on the grass before it, where he could get more air. He asked me to have a chair that stood beside him. and l sat down for the hardest job of work l ever did in my life.
 '.Sellin' much stock just now. Mfr. Hodges?'' asked
 "Oh. get rid.of a few animals HOW and then, but I can't say I'm doin' very much
 Reckon 1 can take one of 'em of your hands if you and l can agree on price I've taken shine to that iit- tie bay lilly with one white foot and T white spot on her forehead"
 You mean Lucy, 1 reckon"
 "I was speaking of the bay lilly" 1 stammered suspeetipg he had fore stalled my real object.
 She's Lucy. I've called her after my daughter. She's rattiin' fine ami mal''
 7 -You bet" hastened to chime in res turn.
 "kind and gentle as a suckin' dove. DO mean tricks about her. easy goin'. obedient to the ribb3ns-in fact. she's the best little girl I've got GU the place"
 That's just the disposition l want. wouldn't like any baking or kicking or anything like that. I don't believe in using the whip, but if there's any thing vicious l think 1t ought to be laid on well'
 Il wouldn't mind putin her through her paces to show you what she can do.
 ''0h. 1t isn't necessary. I've seen her going. She's mighty well put up too. What do you want for herT' At that moment. looking up. saw Lucy herself-the real Lucy-at the window. Her fathers back was To- , ward her. so he couldn't see her. l faced her. She wore a very peculiar expression. Indeed, she looked mad enough to bite through a nail. What 1 had occasioned this alteration in her | since the last time l had seen her l couldn't for my life imagine. The ap- | partition threw me completely out of my reckoning
 If you want Lucy" the farmer re- | piled. with the deliberate twang of one selling horse. you can have her to try. If you like her you can keer her on any terms satisfactory to you If you don't like her you can turn her back on me"
 How much of this my love heard didn't know. for before 1t was finished she ducked.
 You'll have to excuse me just now. continued the old man. There comes man to make a dicker for some o my racin' stock. Do as you please about Lucy"
 It was a terrible disappointment tt get no further in the matter. or. rather not to get 10 the real object of my
 visit. but a man came in at the gat, and the farmer went to meet him.
 looked up at the window where m, 1 girl had appeared. but she was no there. I waited till there was nobod!
 about. when she came down and,
 marching right past me. made for th'
 road. I followed and called to her: Lucy! For heavens sake whats th' matter?"
 What do you mean by talking & about me-"
 About youT'
 "Yes. heard you. So you're goinl
 to apply the whip. are you? Not oI me-
 sBut Lucy"-
 And father. What has come ove . him? To think of his saying that i ! you don't like me you can turn m
 back on him.
 + present dulDness and all holders ( F securities must have patience unt ] the market becomes active again