Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-08
A METHODICAL
GIRL
By MARY P. WILLARD
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

was barely fourteen she laid out
course for herself and pursued it to
The letter. She proposed to marry by
the time she was twenty and to have
her own farm. From the time she
was seven she had eschewed candy,
dolls and toys, putting the money she
might have expended for such trifes
in an old wooden stocking When she
was sixteen she heard her father say
that a farm in the neighborhood was
to be sold under foreclosure Of mort
gage and if he had but $500 he would
buy it. Virginia told him she had
$50. which she would like to buy
farm with. so he scrapcd together the
balance and bought the farm for
81 500, making the first payment
Within two years Virginia had paid
her father the money he had ad-
vanced. and she owned the farm.
Virginia's plans. of course, included
husband. and the man she wished TO
fill that position was Cyrus Barker.
Cyrus didn't have a farm or money,
but he suited Virginia, and she set her
cap for him. Cyrus was rather indif-
ferent at first. but Virginia always
continued to make him feel at home.
and that's what most young men wish
| for when they so to other peoples
houses. Then one evening when they
were sitting side by side looking over
some pictures their cheeks, being very
close together. somehow touched. Cy's
arm was resting on the back of the
sofa on which they sat- and he let it
drop on Virginia's waist Virginia
didn't make any objection to this. and,
| their cheeks remaining contiguous, Cy
turned and kissed her.
Virginia, who had planned all this,
felt sure that it was the beginning of a
courtship that would end in marriage.
She was nineteen and a half years old
and, having planned to be married and
go to live on her farm by the time she
was twenty. had six months in which
to snare the man for whom she had
laid her trap She was making little
money here and there. with which she
was reducing the mortgage on her
farm. so that no great sum of interest
would stand in the way Of her mar
riage.
While Cyrus Barker continued his
calls and his caresses-the latter only
when especially tempted-he got no
further in his courtship. month
passed, then another and another. with
no progress toward matrimony. Vir-
ginia did not worry. She had made up
her mind to be married on or before
her twentieth birthday. and she never
for a moment doubted that the cere
mony would be performed.
One afternoon Cy called to take Nir-
ginia out TO drive in n borrowed
wagon. To his astonishncnt she sent
word asking to be excused. She vas
busy sewing and would be thus en-
ployed for some time to core. This
was the first time she led ever re-
fused to see him, if even for q few
minutes. There was something jar
ring in the matter. Like other men. he
was controlled by habit. and his habit
was to see Virginia whenever he liked
A whole afternoon was spoiled lie
drove the horse back to the barn. IN
harnessed and-didn't know what to
do with himself. He sauntered in at
the store to buy cigar.
Reckon yer goin' to be married"
said the proprietor as Cy lighted his
cigar.
What makes you think that"
WAL, the gal y been keepin' COM
her weddin' outfit"
Cy took his cigar out of his mouth
and looked at the man aghaSt. So this
was the explanation Of the sewing
What did she buy?" he asked
WAL. she bought twenty yards O
white satin"
Twenty yards! Does it take as much
as that to make a dress?"
Reckon it do when they have a
train to it."
What else did she buy
oh, bit o. lace for the bridal veil.
| reckon"
Cy put his cigar back into his mouth.
gave a few quick puffs. threw it away
and hurried out Of the store Making
a bee line for Virgnia's home. he sent
up word that he must see her immedi-
ately. if only for q minute. Virginia
came down. Cy pndeavored to discern
an emotion Of some sort in her face,
but her features were cxpresSionless.
He began TO upbraid her for what he
called throwing him over for some one
else. She asked him TO explain. He
said that he had loved her Il long
while and had been waiting only to
make some money TO enable him TO ask
her to be his wife, To this she re-
piled that they were rapidly growing
old and people who waited to get rich
who waited for the corn to ripen be-
fore harvesting the wheat. They usu-
ally died unmarried and childless. She
would rather marry him than any one
else. but
That was as far as she went-as far
as she intended to 20. Cy did the rest.
He begged her to throw over the other
fellow and marry him. She then told
him that there was no other fellow
and explained that. having considered
him an honorable man. she had con-
cluded that he would certainly ask her
TO marry him. Presuming thus upon