Catoctin clarion., 1918-06-27
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With Abe
o0
BY c. B. LEWIS
BY c. B. LEWIS
(Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

In the country, when young man
and young woman are courtng, 1t Is
referred to as "settin' up together"
Abe Wright and Polly Andrews had
"set up hundred nights in her fa-
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 young man
dwelling in town. There may not be
as much formality between them, but
they look upon matrimony more seri-
ously.
There are a score of object lessons
daily before their eyes. A farmer, to
succeed, must be ever rising early and
toiing 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 If 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 village and
vet not enter it once year. He may
be subscriber to county paper, and
yet she cannot spare the time to read
its contents.
The two young folks saw and cXpe-
rlenced all this and much more, and
vet the instincts and sentiments Of hu.
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 some:
times she thought she didn't. She had
never been ten miles away from home.
The only men che had ever come In
contact with had been Of her class, or
agents or peddlers. She knew there
was Il big world outside of hers. but
she had never peeped nt it. She had
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 Il farm of his own. Therefore,
ne whisted as he went about his work.
He had heard that girl sometimes
went back on her pledge, hut he was
as sure of Polly Andrews as he was
Of the sun.
n,,n do, n II ~ tn
Waldron's on an errand. She found
strange young man there, who was
introduced 10 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 drudgcr Of
the soil-the other to gentleman OF
the world, who had gold filling in his
teeth-who wore creases in his trou'
scrs-who disdained paper collars; and
socks at ten cents pair were not for
him. Mr.. Brian Montgomery, from
New York. Chicago and Boston, rs he
announced, must surely be one of those
brave and gallant men she had read
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 steady young farmer, and
you mustn't be the cause of n quarrel
between them"
"Oh it will be a mild--a very mild
Irritation" he laughed in reply. "llow
can put in a month here and not tlirt
with the only girl for a mile around?'
And 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 fresh?" was
asked in reply.
"Why, how can you say that? 1t Is
simply that he has self-contidence."
"One would think that he had known
us for year."
"But he was trying to put us at our
ease"
"Well, l dunno how Abe will take
it,"
"But don't see where he can find
any fault? He might talk with dozen
girls and shouldn't raise row with
him about it,"
Abe heard that there was young
man visiting the Waldrons, but he
hadn't seen him. Neither had he
learned that the said young man was
making himself very much at home
at the Andrews farmhouse, The
mother had said to Polly:
II don't believe that Abe knows that
Mr.. Montgomery is hanging around
here, and you'd better mention it."
"Why do you call it hanging
aroundY" was demanded.
Because 1t looks like T. to me. Mrs.
Waldron must have told him you were
engaged to Abe"
"NIr Montgomery comes here to help
pass the time away. He Is an interest
ing talker, and has Travelled all over
the world, and I am glad to listen to
him. Yes, l suppose he knows that I
am engaged, and that will prevent him
from talking any nonsense to me-"
"But If you don't tell Abe he'll think
there is something wrong about it,"
"If I've got to be afraid of Abe
Wright I'll break the engagement"
Two days later Abe was working In