The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-02-11

nest reports. Lemme see." the twinkle
deepening, didn't the gals say yew
was a spectin' somebody terday Law.
amt saw Cap'n Sam1 fer ten year
or more. / guess on these here pop
PIN trips o. his'n he hatn't wastin'
time on no men-folks. But, Blossy.
yew better give me a chance ter talk
to him this AFTERNOON, an mebbe I'll
speak a good word fer yer"
Blossy. not always keen to see
Joke. and with her vanity now in the
ascendent. felt the color rise into her
withered cheek
"Oh. you needn't take the trouble
to speak good word for me. ANY
man who could ever write letter like
this doesn't need to be coaxed- Just
listen:
The man you take for = mate II tho
iuckisst dog In the whole round world I'd
rather be him than king OF all ths coun-
tries earth I'd rather be him than
strike gold mine reaching from here to
China I'd rather be him than master OF
the finest vessel that ever sailed blue wa
ter. That's what would Why. the man
who couldn't be happy with you would
spill tears ALI over heaven
Blossy's cheek was still flushed, but
no longer with pique. Her voice qua
vered and broke; and finally there fell
upon the faded page Of the letter two
sparkling tears.
Abraham shuffied uncomfortably
from one foot to the other; then. NUT
tering something about the "peeky
apple hook" went scufing across the
floor In the direction of the chimney
Blossy. however, called him back.
Il was crying. Brother Abe, because
the man l did take for a mate once
was not happy, and-and neither was
I. l was utterly wretched; SO that
I've always felt l never cared to
marry again. And-Samueps wig Is
always slipping down over one eye.
and l simply cannot endure that trick
he has OF carrying his head to one
side, as II he had a left-handed spell
Of the mumps. 1t nearly drives me-
frantic.
Brother Abe, now tell me honestly:
do you think he would make a good
husband?"
Abe cleared his throat Blossy was
In earnest. Blossy could not be
laughed at. She was his friend, and
Angy'e friend; and she had come to
him as to a brother for advice. He.
too, had known Samuel as man to
man. which was more than any of
the sisters could say.
Stroking his beard thoughtfully,
therefore. he seated himself upon
convenient wooden chest, while Blossy
slipped her old love letter In and out
OF the envelope, with that essentially
feminine manner of weighing and con-
sidering.
'Naow," began Abe at length, this
Is somep'n that requires keerful de-
batin'. Fust OF, haowsomever, yew
must remember that wigs an ways
never made a man yit- Ez l riccolec'
Saml. he was pooty good ez men go.
| should say he wouldn't be any more
of a risk tew yew than l was tew
Angy; mebbe less. He's got quite
leetle laid by, l understand, an
tidy story-an'-a-half house, an front
stoop. an. by golly. can't he cookl
He's a splendid housekeeper."
"Housewifery," remarked Blossy
sagely, as she began to gather her mis-
sives together. lis an accomplishment
to be scorned in a young husband. but
not in an old one. They say there
hasn't been woman inside Samuel's
house since he built it, but it's as
clean as soap and sand can make It,"
Il bet yer" agreed Abe. "Hain't
never been no fly inside 1t, neither,
warrant yer. Fly can't light arter
, SAINTS cleanin' up nohaow; he's got
ter skate"
He says he built that little house
for me-" said the old lady, as she
closed down the lid of the trunk. There
was a wistful note in Blossy's voice.
which made Abraham declare with
burst of sympathy:
'Tain't no disgrace ter git married
at no time of life. SamT's good per-
WIDER; why don't yew snap him up
terday? Well miss yew lot; but"
Here's the apple picker right over
your head" interrupted Blossy tartly.
and Abe felt himself peremptorily dis
missed.
Scarcely had he left the attic, how
ever than she, too, FASTENED down the
steep, narrow stairs. She spent the
remaining hours before train time In
DOMINIC her beautiful lace gown, and
/ - At%~AN&<%, NAc VOA4chh WAtnll IL ab
young and ravishing as possible. And
lovely. indeed. Blossy looked this day,
with a natural flush of excitement on
her cheek, new sparkle in her bright
dark eyes, and with her white hair ar
ranged in a fashion which might have
excited young girls envy.
The hour for the train came and
went, and. lol for the first time in the
history of twenty years Captain Darby
did not appear.
Blossy pretended to be relieved, pro-
testing that she was delighted to find
that she would now have an extra
hour in which to ponder the question.
But the second train came and went.
and still no Captain Darby.
All the afternoon long Blossy wore
her lace gown. thinking although there
we're no more trains from the east
ward that day, that Samuel would still
find his way to her. He might drive.
as he usually did In June, or he might
even walk from his home at Twin
Coves, she said.