El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-16
The Herald's
Daily Short Story
An Engagement In Challupp

I nothing but the clothes she wears
These words set the future town
! secretary to thinking in a way which
would have made his mother angry,
had she been able to read his thoughts.
She mistook his b1ushing and went
on:
Now, there is Kathinka Won Neu.
reuters, for instance
But she is much older than l."
What does that NATTER She will
get a lot of money-3OOO thalers. they
| say"
About the same time Frau Grigo-
leitsche had said to her daughter.
IF 1 ever catch you making eyes
at that long legged fellow Janus. I will
make your ears Jingle. You need not
run after any crippled clerk. With
pretty face like yours all you need to
do Is to sit down mad wait until the
right one comes"
Whom do you mean. mother?" said
the girl in her most innocent voice.
We'll, some days ago Gottlieb
Drusba was here and asked If you
would not come and work for him"
And what did you say?"
THAT you were far too young yet,
and then he began to tell me that his
mother wanted him to marry soon, be-
cause she wanted to turn the farm
over to him 800 acres of fine wheat
soil and no mortgage"
These parental warnings had had no
effect on either Janus or Stepka- The
very next Sunday they met when he
was coming from town and she was
going to church. They shook hands,
looked at each other and both blushed,
while their eyes filled with tears.
What is the matter with you,
Stepka?'
'Oh. mother wants me to marry
Gottlieb Drusba"
Janus turned pale
You must never do that, Stepka."
Her eyes cleaned mischievously.
And why must I not Janus?"l
"Because-because 1 want to marry
you"
But I never knew that Are you
angry at me?"
why, no. Stepka. I did not know
it myself, until mother told me 1 must
have nothing to do with you
He looked cautiously around to see if
anyone was in sight. Then he put his
arm around her, bent down and kissed
her and she threw her arms around
his neck mad whispered into his ear:
Now we are engaged-but it must be
a secret
In the afternoon their fathers were
What Is the matter with our wives,
Grigoleitsche?"
"Oh. nothing but some old woman
nonsense. Mine has just filled my ears
with foolish talk ABOUT your Janus
and my Stepka"
We'll, would that be any harm?'
No, but I feel sorry for Stepka-"
why. is not my boy good enough?"
Sure! But Of course he does not
want to marry her"
And why should he not?"
Because your wife does not want
him to. And mine"
well, 1 like that Are we masters
in our house or a pair of henpecked
pooIs?"
When you look at it that way, it
won't be hard to agree
why. we do agree already. They
are little young. but he is a steady
fellow who has a good living and will
make his mark in thew orld You may
be quite sure OF that. Grigoleitsche."
Yes, and have 200 thalers saved
up. and Stepka will get a good trous-
seau."
Then that is all settled"
In the evening there was quite
squabble in the hotre in which the
two families lived. The men were
furious when their wives objected ITO
their plans. They roared and swore
and their wives cried and howled, but
did not think of giving in. Both Of
them asserted that they would never
give their consent. Janus must give
up Stepka, and Stepka must marry
Gottlieb Drusba, and that was the end
Of It Finally Lebenatusche picked
up his cap and left. Outside the door
he met Grigoleitsche
did you ever see the like of that?
rs your old woman crazy, too? Well,