The Meeker herald., 1913-02-15
When Things
Hurnn1ed
After the Ball Was Started
II Rolled Rapidly.
sy AMY HARRIS.

luk "
1t was Aunt Judith wellman who
spoke. She had arrived from Indians
for visit with her, sister in Michigan.
and the pair had been talking for the
last hour on the veranda. while Farmer
Henderson was doing up the chores Al
the burn.
what do you mean. Judithr' wai
asked.
81 mean several things. mean that
/ have never heard Of q case like 1t.
. Your Minnie has been old enough to
marry for these last three years, and
you've let a Teller dawdle around here
and make Sleeps eyes at her and keep
all other fellers away and yet hasn't
asked her to be his. and may be three
more years doing 1t. call 1t mean
shame. When say that things are
going to hum l mean that somebody
has got to toe the mark mightSiroon OF
get out You and Elisha ought 70 have
put your foot down long ago"
"You wouldn't do anything to embar
rass Minnie?" pleaded the mother.
That's according. guess the EN-.
barrassment will all be ON the other
side. however. Embarrassment IL all
right in girl. Hannah. but 1t shouldn't
be carried too far. Both Of us were en-
barrassed when we were girls, but we
weren't 80 much 20 as to kill our pros
poets Of getting married. We knew
when our beaus had hung around long
enough. Has Minnie ever given this
chap jogY
Mercy. nor
Have you or Elisha ever given him
a jogT"
.Never!"
..rhen it remains for JUDITH wellmap
to do 1t. ind she's right on deck, with
both elbows stuck out. 1t won't be q
week before we'll know whether Joel
DuvIs means business or II just sitting
around like bump on log"
'.But you won't-won't'-
~ don't know what I'll do. except to
decide the case one way or other. and
you needn't ask questions. don't BE-
lieve in folks getting married within =
week. and don't believe in counting
for half Il lifetime. A fellow either
wants girl or be don't II be does
let him take her: II b. don't vt him shy
OF and giye sons ono slss = chance"
Minnie Hendersoa Wa twsaty ysars
old and 4 rscoGnias1 belie ~ ~ nlles
around Evseybedy was agrtsA INT
she would make sousebofy 8 god wics.
She had been .kssping company" with
Joel Davis for nearly Tires ysafs. Josi
was bachelor Of tweuty-aeven, living
on the next farm west. He was steady.
sober and industrious. and everybody
said that he would make some girl a
good husband. But Joel was also bash
full and retiring. He was In love with
Minnie. to be sure. but that very fact
made him tremble In her presence. A
hundred times over in the last two
years he had resolved to propose, but
on each md every occasion his courage
had oozed out Of his fingers ends. He
felt that the time must and would
come. but whether 1t would take an
earthquake or \ cyclone to bring It
about he wasn't sure.
II was three days before Aunt Ju-
dItl saw Joel. She liked his lo6ks. and
tlni change.I her plans somewhat She
hadn't been going to say 4 word to
Minnie. but now she changed about
and oiened fre with:
"Weli. am astonished! 30 that's
the Teller that has been hanging
arclnd here for half his lifetime and
will probably die OF old age ON your
fathers doorstep-'
II don't know what you mean by
hanging around" retorted Minnie,
with n blush and toss Of her head.
"Wby. coming over here two or three
times ii week to talk about grasshop-
pers and later bugs. ! am surprised
Mt you. What can You sse in such q
Teller to encourage himf ! suppose be
knows pumpkins from sQuashes, but
I'll bet big apple that II you asked
him when the pilgrim fathers landed
he'd fall or the veranda. Minnie Hen
derson. II you are the girl take you
to be you will send that Teller packing
this very evening"
"You misjudge him. aunty. He does
not push himseif forward, but
1--WE got eyes In my head" snapped
her. aunt. ut never takes me over I'VE
minutes to size up man. Joel DAVIS
IL mn it!' He'll always be ten days
behind the Fourth Of July. It's q
wonder your father and mother have
allowed it."
Minnie choked down sharp an
swer and went OF to her room to cry,
and Aunt Judith sauntered into the
kitchen To say to her sister:
There. now. I've got the thing
started. and you and Elisha have got
to turn in and help me. Minnie will
cry and then get mad and then sec
Joel. and there'll be 4 wedding b.
fore you know 1t. Don't you weaken
when the time comes-"
Next day Joel came to the house to
bring back a buahei basket be had
borrowed. Minnie was upstairs and
Aunt Judith hiding behind the do0e,