The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-01-09
STEVE'S LUCKY TUMBLE
BY OSCAR DAWSON.


l give in his own words:
wall, seeing it's you, 1 don't mind
telling you about a scrape that hap
pened to me when l was counting
Nancy here. That are is something
that never tell anybody. But ye shall
have it,"
NO don't Stevel" 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 go out of doors! So
here goes.
When l was nigh about twenty-one
came up here alone and built me a
cabin.
Il hadn't a naber nearer than five
miles. so ye see didn't quarrel much !;
but as it grew to be near winter 1 got
kinder lonesome, and begun to think |
ought to have a woman to keep me
company; so one morning l started
down to Lenway to take look at the
girls, to see If could find one to suit
me-"
When l got down to the village I
asked young chap II he knew of a
girl that wanted to get married, and he
told me that he guessed that Nancy
Knox did, and If wanted a wife had
better try and hitch on with her; and
he said that il l was agreeable he
would go to old Knox's and make me
acquainted with Nancy, and he was
as good as his word; and 'twasnt an
hour before Nancy and | were on the
best of terms.
"Afore night had hired out with old
Knox for two pounds a month with
board and lodgin', and l was to work
all winter.
Wall, for about two months l felt
as neat as a mouse in a new cheese.
| courted Nancy every Sunday night,
and | was determined before another
month to pop the question, and hadn' t
a bit of doubt but what Nancy would
be overjoyed at becoming my bosom
companion.
Wall, about this time there came a
fellow from London to keep school.
and he hadn't been there more'n a
week afore found that he had nat
ural laundering arter 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 I, and there we sat, round the fire,
without saying word.
Always afore old Knox had gone
OFF to bed and left the coast clear for
Nancy and l, and l kept speeding ev-
cry minnit that he would tell Bill to
clear out, but he did no such q thing;
but jest as the clock struck ten he
ris up.
Steve says he let's go 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 l up and marched
out into the entry, and up the ladder
to bed. l was boiling over mad with
creation-Bill, Nancy, and old Knox in
particular. | got into bed and kiyered
myself up, but l felt so bad that I
couldn't go TO sleep. Like as 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 it occurred to me
that there was some big cracks in the
floor over the kitchen, and l could
watch and see all that was going on
below; so out Of bed got. and crawled
along close to the chimney on all
tours, and finding big crack l 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!
Wall, watched them for about a
quarter Of an hour and by that time
was near about froze, as it was an aw-
full cold night. But I wouldn't go to
bed, for l was bound to know if
Nancy was true to me- By-and-bye
Bill hitched up his chair little closer
and l could see that he had made up
his mind and was Just going to kiss
her.
How it riled me! But was bound
to gee it through, so I moved a little
to get better view, and that minnit
the plank | was on tipped up. and
down I We right atween Bill and
Nancy.
Bill thought for once that Old Nick
had come, and he bolted out O. doors,
and l started out OF the kitchen as
quick as you could say 'scoot,' and as
was going up the ladder l heard old
Mrs. Knox holler Nance, scoot the cat
down, or she will break every dish on
the dresser
The next morning, when we went
to milking, l popped the question to
Nancy, and she said she would have
me, for she didn't care for Bill Smith.
and We have been married forty years
cum June"
Electric Light Canes.