Catoctin clarion., 1918-05-23


ncphews an nelces that just couldn't
do without me-"
Don't you believe 1t. I bet II tho
truth was knowed every one of them
wishes you'd tend to your own busl-
ness and let them alone"
"What" cried Miss Dinah, aghast.
"YOu don't think any of them would
wish that?"
"That's what mean"
"Why, some of my nephews and
neces think that belong to them,
and I'm sure 1t would be wrong In me
to go on and marry when they need
me so much"
"Thcy amt like other young folks
then. But that's neither pro nor con.
I tell you solemnly that the Lord never
made as fine a woman as you be and
intended her to be single. You amt
exactly a old woman, but you're get.
tin along. gettin' along Where's your
home? Amt got none. You air jest
livin' round fust one place an then
the other No, Stree, you're too good
n woman for that sort Of thing. You
need a solid, steady old man for hus
band. who will give you home tC
boss and who will take care OF you.
know you could get handsomer men. J
amt perfect igger I'm little short
my feet are too IA, amt, ~" hnAd's moi
proper shape, hut there's nothin' the
matter with my heart It's sound as a
dollar, Miss Dnah and every heart
beat in II Is for you"
"TShaw. How you do talk" said
Miss Dinah. hluShing and then hurryin2
to get back to the argument There's
another reason why vou shouldn't mar
ry, Judge. Think of your children. Ev.
cry one of them would be furious with
me as we'll as with You. 7 can't I'm.
agine what put this marryin' notion In
your head. In the first place every.
hody'll be laughing at you If you
should marry again. Then there'll he
howl from the children and lastly
you are too old and have got too many
mortgages on you. And YOU ought to
he thinking about religion, too. and
rreparin' yourself for the hereafter
instead Of filling your old head with
all these here loveSirk notions"
"You talk mighty hard, Miss Dinah,"
said the Judge, who was vishly dis
couraged and who, as he sat in the
moonlight. did look very old and lone
ly. "If YOU jes' knowed how hard 1t
was to me to Kill time on my place
with nobody hut the servants there,
you'd change your idee about my bein'
so silly: but I've laid the case before
YOU and II YOU won't give me no de-
ciSlon tonight, I'll ask you to consider
II and give me an answer when I come
again
every WELL I'll do that hut in the
meantime you had better consider
what I've been a-sayn' to You before
YOU come again. You Just take about
week and stcddy It over"
As she went into the house the pic
ture Of her aged suitor. departing sad
" to his desOate home. remained with
her: and in her room she spoke to her
sister-inlaw in this vein: "Yes; he
asked me to marry him, hut I didn't
give him no answer He's too old to
marry. and I'd be goose II did: hut
then he does live a lonesome kind Of
life. That old man certainly does
need helpmate; and then he set me
TO thlnkln' about myself. Here | am
nearly fifty years old without home,
and I've been forcin myself very like
ly on lot Of young people that didn't
want me- 7 suppose It's time for me to
quit It. Well, Jonadab-I mean the
iudge--wnnts me to be hiS'n. OF course
7 give the best advice I could and told
him he was q fool to think Of marry
ing: and I'VE done full duty | never
let on to him about II. Maria, hut
Jonadab has actually convinced me
that 7 ought to git married and I'd
lust as soon marry him ms any other
man I know; and he's a soft-heart"d
critter. too, and so I guess I'll take
him. He's "A powerful close reasoner,
Jonadab Is. and he's got me persuaded,
though he don't know 1t yet"
On the evening when the judge was
to have returned for his answer Mis-
Dnah had arrayed herself with a 1T
tie more than her usual care In antir'-
patton Of the visit. After supper size
took her seat upon the porch which,
by wise provision, had been surren-
dered to her, and she was enjoying the
halminess of the night and mpditatinr
upon her best plan Of surrender wh"n
the barking Of little terrier at the
front gate announced the arrival Of
negro hoy. He brought with him a let
ter for Miss Dinah, 1t was from de
jedge, an dar warn't no answer"
Miss Dinah took the letter into the
house, thinking It was anything hut
what It was, for this Is what the judge
wrote:
Dear Miss Dinah-I have been
thinking over what you said to me IT,
other night. l have went over tn
pnts seriathim, as the lawyers say,
and your argument Is like yourself
perfect. You have convinced me that
am an old fool and that amt got
no business with new wife at my
time Of life. l amt got so much reiE
ion as I oughter have and I'm a-goin
to get some more. You are right. Mis-
Dinah, and you've convinced me that
was wrong. If you ever need friend
call on the undersigned. I hereby with
draw my suit for the hand of the most
sensible woman know. Yores to
command,
"JONADAB BOGGS,
"Justice of the Peace"
"Well" remarked Miss Dinah to her
self, as she tore up the letter. "He-
never will know that he persuaded me