The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-11-10
AN OLD
MAIDS HERO
By Nj QUAD
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

U
| Abe was an old bach.
1t was fate that kept Amanda an old
maid. 1t was fate that brought Abe
all the way from Indiana 1t was fate
that finally brought the two face to
face. Abe had hardly got through
asking Amanda for the loan of hoe
when he found his heart tunking with
q strange funk.
Two weeks after the Hoosier's ap-
pearance band of gypses came along
! the road. and in return for some cold
victuals one of the women told Aman-
da's fortune
You will marry" she started Off
ut seems impossible"
But the stars say so, and they are
never mistaken"
What sort of husband will he be-"
blushingly asked the old maid.
"A hero You will not know that
he is a hero for some time but it will
suddenly come to pass. He will save
your life from indignant insects /
cannot say whether they will be grass
hoppers or not
| The next time Abe called Amanda
looked him over and decided he was
no more of hero than the gatepost
| He didn't look it nor talk it. and there
fore when he told his love and asked
for her hand she replied:
81 shall never marry any one but a
hero"
But I'm one. fit into the Spanish
war. and. lands save you. but how
moved 'em 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 he
couldn't give her the information. He
had never seen a beetle or a grass
hopper mad. but he had never poked
either with stick. The HooSier had
arrived in the early spring. In May
he renewed his offer of matrimony.
He had an afectionate disposition and
500 in his trunk.
You are as good as any one around
here. Abe" replied Amanda. "but the
stars have settled it for me-"
THE stars be hanged. The stars
have about as much to do with mar
riage as the June bugs"
But he is to be a hero"
"Well. ding it. amt | one? I've new
er Dragged much about how | moved
the Spanish down. but I'll say to you
right here and now that | killed sew
enteen of EN-
why. that was brave Of you"
Il should remark. but I'm not boast
ing of it. If the battle had lasted
little longer Id have made the mum
Der twenty"
But the gypsy said it would be some
one who would save my life. I'm kind
er liking You. Abe. but dasn't go back
on the stars and the gypsy"
Abe came over on dozen occasions
in June and said nothing further. al.
though he was more determined :hsn
ever 1t was the first of July before he
got around to say:
You might as we'll be bridal tower
ing around as washing taters here.
What's the use of fooling about thing
of this kind:''
''The hero may be along any day
now" was the reply.
Say. Manda. that gypsy must have
meant me. She sure did I've been
counting UP since | told you had
killed seventeen Spaniards. and | find
the number was twenty seven. ! add
ed them up wrong. Do you want any
bigger hero than tbat?'
Lands. Abe. but how you must
have fit,,''
Fit. Well. l guess yes. | was
there to do it. and l moved EN-
Lemme get the preacher tomorrer"
Nope. I've got to go by what the
stars say"
There weren't any stars out next
when Amanda started across the
meadow to gather cowslips at the
pond. Swinging basket in her hand
and humming tune. she walked right
into a bumblebees' nest. The hero
was right over ia the next lot giving
the corn "a second hoeing. He heard
screams. He heard yells He heard
vans LII hSip. LIZ iuu ~ tuc ltuCS
and saw Amanda hopping and run
ming and lodging and using her sun
bonnet as weapon.
"Humphr" grunted Abe as he out
with his knife and cut a thick topped
bush. There's the indignant insects.
and by gum If here hain't the hero.
Amanda Perkins. you are mine"
There were half hundred BUNDLES.
They were thoroughly indignant.
They made it lively for Amanda. and
they had plenty left over for Abe but
hero always conquers. The suffer
ing hero picked the suffering heroine
up in his arms and toted her to the
house and dropped her on the floor to
say:
There. If you are looking for any
more heroes and indignant insects I'll
take you back!'
"Oh. Abe. am l rescued" was
walled
Eyes. the biggest part of you. and
don't you try it again. AS soon as
these Jumps go down it's the preacher
for u.s.