The chronicle=news., 1912-12-04
STEVE'S LUCKY TUMBLE
Oy OSCAR DAWSON,

sAtion turned on courtship: and at my
request the old gentleman told me an
Incident In his own love affairs, which
give In his own words:
"Wall. seeing It's you, / don't mind
telling you about scrape that hap
pcned to me when l was counting
Nancy here. That are 10 something
that mover tell anybody. But ye shall
have H."
mo. don't Steve!" broke in tho old
woman. II should think you would
be ashamed OF yourself telling your
love scrapes to every rybody"
"lf you can't abear to hear It," said
Steve. you may go out OF doors! So
here GOES.
"Whsn was nigh about twenty-onc
I came up here alone and built me
cabin.
II hadn't q naber nearer than fvc
miles. 10 70 see didn't quarrel much:
but - II grew to be near winter ! got
kinder lonesome. and begun to think
ought 70 have . woman to keep me
company: % one morning I started
down TO Lenway to take n look at the
girls. 70 SEQ II l could ind one to suit
me-"
when got down to the village l
asked . young chap II he knew OF n
girl that wanted TO get married. and he
told mo that he guessed that Nancy
Knox did. and II wanted wife hud
better Try and hitch on with her: md
he said that II was agreeable he
would 90 to old Knox's and make me
acquainted with Nancy. and he was
~ good - his word: and 'twasn't IN
hour before Nancy and were ON the
best Of torms.
"Afore night had hired out with old
Knox for two pounds month with
board and lodgin'. and l was to work
all winter. ...,,..
wall, for about two months felt
- neat a. q mouse in q new cheese
I courted Nancy every Sunday night
nsd ] was determined before another
month to pop tho question. and hadn't
q bit Of doubt but what Nancy would
be overjoyed ut becoming my bosom
companion.
%all, about this time there came .
fellow from London to keep school
and he hadn't been there more'n
week afore found that no had nat
ural hankertng arter Nancy.
wall. one Sunday night. Bill Smith
for that was tho critters name. cams
In Jest 1t dusk. aud when the CLOCK
struck nine ho didn't secm ready &c
90. Old Mn. knsx and tho yount
'uns all went OF to bed. and there wers
mono left but old Knox. Bill. Nancy,
and !, and there We sat. round tho fire,
without saying . word.
Always aiore old Knox had gone
OF to bsd cd left the coast clear for
Nancy and ]. and kept 'spectins ev.
cry minnit that he would tell Bill tc
clear out. but he did no such . thing:
but Jest as tho clock struck ton be
ris up.
".steve.' says he. let's go to bed.
for we must bo up bright and airly.
WANT that . hint. chr looked
at Nancy. but she turned away her
he'd. and at this up and marched
out into the entry. and up tho ladder
10 bed. was boiling over mad with
creation-Bill. Nancy. and old Knox In
particular. got into bed and kivered
myself up. but felt 20 bad that
couldn't go to sleep. Like rs not, the
schoolmaster was kissing Nancy down
In the kitchen. and l couldn't shet my
eyes for the life Of me.
wall. all at once Y occurred TO me
that there was some big cracks In the
floor over the kitchen. and I could
watch and SEQ all that was going on
below: 20 out Of bed I got. and crawled
along close to the Chimney on all
fours. and finding . big crack I looked
down through. Bill and Nancy were
sitting about two feet apart. though
every now and then Bill would hitch
his chair . little nearer to her. How
could have Choked him then!
'Hwall. I watched them for about
quarter Of an hour. and by that time
was near about frose. a. It was an aw.
full cold night. But I wouldn't 20 tc
bed, for l was bound to know II
Nancy was true to me. By.and.bye
Bill hitched up bis chair little closer
and l could see that he had made up
his mind and was Just going to kiss
her. -...
How It riled mel But was bound
to SEQ It through. so I moved a little
to get better view. and that minnlt
the plank was on tipped up. and
down I went right atween Bill and
Nancy.
"Bill thought for once that Old Nick
had come. and he bolted out O. doors,
and started out Of the kitchen az
quick rs you could say 'scoot. and as
I was going up the ladder heard old
Mr. Knox holler. Nance. scoot the cat
down. or she will break every dish on
the dresser
The next morning. when we went
to milking. popped tho question to
Nancy. and sho said she would have
mo, for she didn't caro- for Bill Smith.
and we have been married forty years
cum June"