Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-06
Romance at
Last

w men IndL is SdlQ, II lS W D0 unacl-
stood that she had never had lover.
1t must be further understood that
Nancy wasn't ravishingly handsome
and she didn't have form to remind
one of a willow bending this way
and that in a half-gale.
Living in the country as she did,
and knowing many hired men as she
did, some folks thought it queer that
Nancy Bafins had not entangled one
of them. But the old maids romance
came at last. Steve Croker came to
work for Farmer West, the next
neighbor on the north, and within a
week he was in love.
It might be said that Steve had
sized himself up before sizing Nancy.
He was bow-legged. He was lop-
shouldered. He had but one good
eye. He was little deaf in one ear.
He had red chin-whiskers, and If he
didn't look out for it, when he talked
he found himself stammering. No
Steve Croker was no Apollo, and he
knew it. For years he had realized
that unless he found and fell in love
with a homely woman there could be
no happy f1reside for him.
II have found her at last" he said
to himself after his first peep at
Nancy, And from that hour on there
was a song in his heart,
Just as soon as they were engaged,
which event took place after Steve's
sixth evening call, she began to
poster him. That is, she asked him
If he was willing to die for her.
II dunno about that" was his
doubtful reply. you see, if should
die you'd lose me and I you"
Nancy was disappointed in Steve.
He wasn't hero, and evidently
didn't want to be-
you don't love me-" said Nancy.
eyes, l do. l love you oceans and
oceans"
But if there was an elephant after
me?"
"A big one?"
big as a haystack."
Eyes, yes"
Say, Nancy, I'd walk up to him
and kick both his tusks off and then
boot him into the next county,"
That satisfied the old maid for a
day or two, and then she got to think
ing how remote such a contingency
was, and she found herself on the
edge of a crouch. She didn't sigh for
an imaginary hero, but one on the
spot-an up-to-date one.
A few days later Steve came over
to help her pick cherries. He had
climbed to the top of tree when
Nancy called up to him:
Steve, do you love me?"
GAS much as all the water in Lake
Erie!" he answered.
Then be a hero. Let go and come
tumbling down."
"And break my dinged neck! No
stree! I've got to have neck on
me after We get married"
There was another pouting spell
and Nancy didn't throw kisses after
the nonhero as he climbed the fence
and started for home. 1t does seem
as If male lovers ought to be more
obliging, but take them as they run
and they are a selfish lot. Nancy re-
, allied it and was offish for a week
1t might have been for longer had
not Steve come to say:
81 don't know anything about this
hero business you talk Of, but I'll
tell you what I'm willing to do for
your sake"
"Oh, Steve, you are nice now!"
1--WE have lost a pitchfork in the
horse pond and are going to drain
the water off tomorrow. I'll wade
through it first, if you say So"
"Will you?"
81 surely will. There's two feet OF
water in it."
"Only two feet?"
"And as much as foot of mud. !
may get mired and lose my life"
ooh, but you WON'T know you
won't! Steve, 1t isn't a bit heroic for
a man to wade around in a horse
pond"
Then what in thunder am I going
to do?"
The poor girl couldn't tell him,
and her pillow was wet with tears
that night. Steve was good, but he
was so unromantic and unheroic.
Why couldn't he be just little diff
ferent?
There was another "off" spell with
the lovers, and then one day as Steve
was hoeing the corn he had planted
when he first fell in love, he saw
Nancy driving into town with the old
white horse. She had passed by a
quarter of mile when he heard the
below of Bakers old bull on the
highway. He ran to head the animal
off and turn him back and presently
was in the middle of the road and
waving the hoe and calling out. Then
the bull seemed to come for him, and
he knew no more for three days. AS
he opened his eyes a tear fell on his
cheek. 1t was a tear from Nancy
Bafin's left eye, and she clapped her
hands and exclaimed:
HE lives! He lives!"
"Of course l live" replied Steve,
"but what has happened?"
why, you are a hero!"
"How?"
"You faced Bakers old bull for my
sake and let him break three of your
ribs and an arm and we are going to
get married as soon as you are we'll
again. Brave and gallant chevalier,