The Prescott daily news., 1913-03-01
STEvE'S LUCKY TUMBLE
By OSCAR DAWSON.

Wall, seeing its you, I don't mind telling you about a scrape that hap pened to me when I was courting Nancy here. That are is something that l never tell anybody. But ye shall have it!"
 No, don't Steve" broke in the old woman. T should think you would be ashamed of yourself telling your love scrapes to everybody"
 If you cant abear to hear it." said Steve, you may go out of doors! So here goes.
 When l was nigh about twenty-o l came up here alone and built me a cabin
 T hadn't naber nearer than five miles, so ye see didn't quarrel much; put as It grew to be near winter I got Kinder lonesome, and begun to think ought to have a woman to keep me company; so one morning I 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 l asked young chap if he knew of girl that wanted to get married, and he told me that he guessed that Nancy Knox did, and if l wanted a wife I had better try and hitch on with her: and he said that if 1 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 I 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 I felt as neat as a mouse in a new cheese l courted Nancy every Sunday night, and l was determined before another month to pop the question, and hadn't 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 moren a week afore found that he had nat ural hankering 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 I, and kept 'specting ev. cry minnit that he would tell Bill to clear out, but he did no such a 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, eh? I looked at Nancy, but she turned away her he'd, and at this I up and marched out into the entry, and up the ladder to bed. 1 was boiling over mad with creation-Bill. Nancy, and old Knox in particular. l got into bed and kivered myself up. but I felt so bad that couldn't go to sleep. Like as not, the schoolmaster was kissing Nancy down in the kitchen, and couldn't shet my eyes for the life of me.
 Wall, all at once 1t occurred to me that there was some big cracks in the floor over the kitchen, and 1 could watch and see all that was going on below; so out of bed got, and crawled along close to the chimney on all fours, and finding big crack 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, I 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 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 could see that he had made up his mind and was just going to kiss her.
 How 1t riled mel But was bound to see 1t through, so I moved little to get better view, and that minnii the plank I was on tipped up, and down l went right atween Bill and Nancy.
 Bill thought for once that Old Nick had come, and he bolted out O doors, and I started out of the kitchen as quick as you could say 'scoot,' and as I was going up the ladder heard old Mrs. Knox holler, Nance. scoot the cat