The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-02-20
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IT FINALLY CAME
BY L. A. CLAY.

have hesitated minute.
If farmers bull had broken out of
pasture and was on the rampage
through the village, George Shoemak-
er would have been the first to seize
MIN by the tail and swing him over a
fence.
If the village cooper shop had been
found ablaze some midnight, it would
have been George Shoemaker who
would have plunged into the fiery fur
mace to save the kegs and firkins.
There wasn't the least doubt Of the
young mans physical courage, but
when it came to moral courage he
was sadly lacking.
They couldn't get him to dance,
Sunday school excursion, straw ride,
or a spelling school. He would go to
a circus, but he'd take a top seat
where no girl would be to the right or
left of him. Now and then he attend
ed church, but he waited until the
congregation was seated, and then
lodged in and took back seat.
There are lots OF men that are moral
towards so far as the other sex are
cor cerned. That's why there are olf
bachelors. Just how they reason 1t Is
hard to say. In fact, they don't reason
at all II a woman is born to fear
mouse she fears him, and that's all
there is to 1t. George realized his fail
ing and had tried hard to overcome 1t,
but had arrived at the age Of twenty
FIVE and was still as bashful as
young gosling. Then two important
things came tumbling into his life
He was chased up tree by mad
dog, and when he had come down
again he found himself thinking Of the
opposite sex from new standpoint.
The bashful man didn't stop to ask
himself II the scare had brought about
the change, but went right on and let
another take place. He was twenty
five years old and ought to get mar
ried. His feet began to grow cold at
the thought, but he took run around
the school house and came back to
hug the idea. Yes, he ought to have
wife and home. AS the idea
broadened and enlarged he found him
self musing:
Now, there is Fanny Desbro. She
is very plain looking, but 80 am for
that matter. She Is called a very
steady girl and ought to be a good
housekeeper. Dang my buttons, II
don't get up the courage to court
herr"
II was a month later when George
Shoemaker walked home with Fanny
Desbro from prayer meeting He
didn't ask her consent, and she didn't
drive him away. He was surprised to
find himself there. and she was sur
prised that he had broken loose, as It
were. They walked side by side for
half mile and all he said was
Il wonder If that is the same moon
they see in Africa?"
And all she said was:
81 am glad there are no wolves In
Spooner county. should hate to be
eaten alive"
A week later the bashful man stop
ped to talk with the girl at her
fathers gate. He wanted to talk, and
she wanted to talk, but all he could
think of to say was:
They say that later bugs are
mighty plenty this year"
And all she could think Of to say
was:
II hear that Deacon Jason's dog bit
old Mrs. Rodman's COW yesterday"
Was that George Shoemaker out
there?" Miss Fanny's mother asked.
Yes"
Getting brave all at once isn't he p
Seems like It,"
We'll, he's good steady chap and
girl might fare farther and dc
worse
He ought to marry dumb girl tC
match himself"
That makes me think | was read
ing in a paper the other day that {
quiet, bashful man like George wa,
entirely cured of his ailment uy
sudden great shock Perhaps he'll ge
one"
One evening a fortnight late,
George came counting, That is, 1
was what he called counting. He sa
on the edge of his chair and looked
up at the ceiling and observed:
That doctors had found a new cur,
for indigestion.
That there we're more toads aroun,
than he had ever seen before.
That some folks thought the steepl
of the Methodist church was out O
plumb hut he didn't.
That a stranger had arrived at tn
village hotel and taken a room for
week, and 1t was evident that busi
ness boom was about to set In owe
the whole country
On her part Miss Fanny observe
that she had been told that the school
house was to be reprinted.
That some tramp had burned hay
stack for Farmer Johnson.
That a rat had run over Mrs. RAY
burns bare foot and made her fain
away.
That Grandpa Stivers was alread
predicting that next winter would b
aaIa aoo,,uI 10 fraa1a tha hi,,oo. -