The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-20
STEvE'S LUCKY TUMBLE.
BY OSCAR DAWSON.

! once called on my Old friend, steve
Collard. and while there the CONVEX
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 a scrape that hap
pened to me when was counting
Nancy here. That are is something
that never tell anybody. But We shall
have it,"
NO. don't Steye!" broke In the old
woman. Il should think you would
be ashamed of yourself telling your
love scrapes to everybody"
If you can't abear to hear It," said
Steve, you may 60 out Of doors! So
here goes.
When l was nigh about twenty-one
| came up here alone and built me
cabin.
Il hadn't a naber nearer than five
miles, SO We see didn't quarrel much;
but as it grew to be near winter ! got
kinder lonesome, and begun to think
ought to have woman to keep me
company: SO one morning ! started
i down to Lenway to take look at the
girls, to see II could find one to suit
me"
When ! got down to the village
asked young chap if he knew OF
girl that wanted TO get married, and ne
told me that he guessed that Nancy
Knox did. and il wanted wife had
better try and hitch on with her; and
! he said that if ] was agreeable he
would go to old knoxs and make me
acquainted with Nancy, and he was
as good as his word; and twasn't an
hour before Nancy and were on the
best of terms.
"Aforc night had hired out with old
Knox for two pounds a month with
beard and lodgin', and was to work
all winter.
Wall for about two months ] felt
as neat as a mouse in new cheese.
and WAS determined before another
month to pop the question, and hadn I
bit of doubt but what Nancy would
be ovcrioycd at becoming my bosom
companion.
Wall, about this time there came q
fellow from London to keep school.
and he hadn't been there more'n a
Week aiorc fouAu that he had nat
ural hankrring url,r Nancy.
Wall, one Sunday night. Bill Smith
for that was The critters name. came
in jest at dusk, and when the clock
struck nine he didn't seem ready to
go. Old Mrs Knox and the young
'uns all went off to bed, and there were
none left but old Knox, Bill. Nancy
and |, and there we sat, round the fire
without saying a word
Always afOre old Knox had gone
off to bed and left the coast clear fol
Nancy and |, and kept 'specting ev
cry minnit that he would tell Bill tc
clear out, but he did no such q thing
but jest as the clock struck ten he
ris up.
Steve says he. let's 60 to bed
for we must be up bright and airly.
WANT that hint. Ell? looked
at Nancy, but she turned away her
he'd. and at this up and marched
out into the entry. and up the ladder
to bed was boiling over mad with
creation-I,ill, Nancy. and old Knox IL
particular. | got into bed and kiveret
myself up, but felt so bad that
couldn't 60 to sleep. Like as not. thu
schoolmaster was kissing Nancy dowr
in the kitchen. and couldn't shet m,
eyes for the life of me.
Wall, all at once it occurred to M
that there was some big cracks in thu
floor over the kitchen, and coul,
watch and see all that was going OF
below; SO out Of bed got and crawlet
along close to the chimney on al
tours, and finding big crack locke,
down through Bill and Nancy wer'
sitting about two feet apart, though
every now and then Bill would hitcl
his chair little nearer to her. How
could have choked him then!
Wall, | watched them for about
quarter of an hour, and by that time
. was near about froze, as it was an aW
full cold night But wouldn't 20 L
bed, for | was bound to know
. Nancy was true to me. By-and-bl
Bill hitched up his chair little clos :
and could see that he had made
his mind and was just going to k
her.
How it riled me- But | was boun'
to see it through, so | moved liitI.
to get a better view, and that MINI
the plank was on tipped up. a..
down l went right atween Bill an
Nancy.
"Bill thought for once that Old Nj.
had come, and he bolted out O. door
and | started out OF the kitchen u
quick as you could say 'scoot. and ~
| was going up the ladder heard oil
Mrs. Knox boiler, Nance. scoot the ca
down, or she will break every dish Of
the dresser