Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-06-21
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With Abe
@0
BY C. a LEWIS

Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate)
In the country, when a young man
and a young woman are counting, It is
referred to as "settln' up together"
Abe Wright and Polly Andrews had
"set up" a hundred nights in her IA
theirs farmhouse kitchen before they
became engaged. The son or daughter
Of a farmer is not as apt to rush into
love and matrimony as a young man
dwelling In a town. There may not be
as much fOrmality between them, but
they look upon %matrfmony more seri-
ously.
There are a score Of object lessons
daily before their eyes. A farmer, to
succeed, must be ever rising early and
toiling late. His horses or his oxen
get more rest than he does. He can
know very little Of the comforts and
pleasures of life and see to his acres
as well.
And IL he works long hours his wife
works longer ones. Her work must be
done on time as well as his. She may
live within five miles Of a village and
yet not enter Il once. a year. He may
be a subscriber to a county paper, and
yet she cannot spare the time to read
its contents.
The two young folks saw and expe-
rienced all this and much more, and
yet the instincts and sentiments Of hui
manity brought them together. They
would marry, as thousands Of others
In their situation had done, and hope
that their future might work out bet.
ter.
Miss Polly said "yes' to the proposal
Of marriage, but the very next day she
admitted to her mother that sometimes
she thought she loved Abe and m
times she thought she didn't. She had
never been ten miles away from home.
The only men she had ever come in
contact with had been of her class, or
agents or peddlers. She knew there
was a big world outside of hers, but
she had never peeped at It. She had a
BIT Of romance about her, and some
times she longed to see the brave men
and fair women that the books told
her about.
Abe Wright was going to marry and
acquire a farm of his own. Therefore,
he whistled as he went about his work.
He had heard that a girl sometimes
went back on her pledge, but he was
as sure of Polly Andrews as he was
Of the IN.
One day the girl ran over to Farmer
Waldron's on an errand. She found a
strange young man there, who was
introduced to her as Brian Montgom-
cry. Even If he hadn't been good
looking and had taking ways with
! him, his name would have won her
! favor.
How did the name Of Abe Wright
} compare with that Of Brian Montgom-
| cry!
The one belonged to the drudger of
, the soll-the other to a gentleman of
: the world, who had gold filling in his
. teeth-who wore creases in his trOu.
! lers-whO disdained paper collars; and
. socks at ten cents a pair were not for
him. Mr.. Brian Montgomery, from
/ New York, Chicago and Boston, as he
announced, must surely be one of those
brave and gallant men she had read
3 and dreamed of.
When Miss Polly had departed for
> home, Mrs. Waldron said to the cousin
: "NOw, Brian, you must not set out
: TO turn that girls head. She Is en-
gagged to a steady young farmer, and
: you mustn't be the cause Of a quarrel
: between them"
. "Oh, 1t will be a mild-a very mild
Irritation" he laughed in reply. "How
? can l put in a month here and not flirt
, with the only girl for a mile aroundT'
: And a day or two later the young
man came over to the house of Farmer
: Andrews and introduced himself and
. made himself very much at home
= do you like him, mother?" some
what anxiously queried Polly, after
! their caller had departed.
isn't he what they call fresh2" was
!, asked in reply.
"Why, how can you say that7 It IS
! simply that he has self-conhdence."
4 zone would think that he had known
n US Tor q year,
"But he was trying to put US at oul
. ease"
"Well. I dunno how Abe will taxi
|, It,"
4 "But I don't see where he can fine
4 any fault? He might talk with a dozer
4 girls and 1 shouldn't raise a row Will
4 him about It,"
Abe heard that there was a younl
r man visiting the Waldrons, but HI
1 hadn't seen him. Neither had hC
learned that the said young man was
making himself very much at home
at the Andrews farmhouse. Th'
a mother had said to Polly:
81 don't believe that Abe knows tina.
Mr.. Montgomery is hanging around
hare and youtd hoftop mantfon e. -