Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-29

When a man is fgurin' his assets,
it's better to add ten dollars than 10
subtract Million" said Abe. "That's
about as simple as adding up the
weight o. three small hogs"
What a well of wisdom you are.
Abe" said Kelso. DO you know any.
thing about this young Missourian
who is shining up to BimY'
Il only know that he was a drink
ing man up to the time he landed here
and that he threatened Traylor with
his whip and got thrown against the
side Of a barn-plenty hard. He's a
kind Of American king, and 1 don't
like kings They're nice to look at,
but generally those that have married
EN- have had one HI of a time"
Kelso rose and went home to sup
per.
Soon after the supper dishes had
been laid away in the Kelso cabin,
young Mr.. Biggs raped on its door
and pulled the latchstring and entered
and sat down with Mr.. and Mrs KEEL
so at the freside
Il have come to ask for your daugh-
ters hand" he said, as soon as they
were seated. 81 know it will seem
sudden. but she happens to be the girl
I want. I've had her picture in my
heart always. 1 love your daughter.
I can give her a handsome home and
everything she could desire"
KeIso answered promptly: "We are
glad to welcome you here, but we n
not entertain such a proposal, hatter-
ing as it is. Our daughter is too
young to think Of marriage. Then,
sir. we know very little about you,
and may I be pardoned if I add that
it does not recommend you?"
The young man was surprised. BE
had not expected such talk from a
ladder climber. He looked at Kelso,
cropping for an answer. Then
perhaps not" said he. 81 have
been a little wild. but that is all in
the past. You can learn about me
and my family from anyone in st.
Louis. I am not ashamed of anything
I have done. May not hope that you
will change your mind?"
mot at present. Let the future
take care of itself"
81 generally get what I want" said
the young man.
"And now and then something that
you don't want" said KeIso, bit net
tied by his persistence.
"You ought to think of her happi-
ness. She is too sweet and beautiful
for a home like this"
There was an awkward moment OF
silence. The young man said good
night and opened the door.
"Tll 90 with you" said Kelso.
He went with Mr. Biggs to the tav-
ern and got his daughter and returned
home with her.
Mrs. Kelso chided her husband for
being hard on Mr.. Biggs.
"He has had his lesson, perhaps he
will turn over a new leaf" she said.
81 fear there isn't new leaf in his
book" said Kelso. They're all dirty"
He told his wife what Abe had said
in the store.
"The wisdom of the common folk Is
in that beardless young giant" he
said. 1T is the wisdom of many gen
erations gathered in the hard school
Of bitter experience. I wonder where
1t is going to lead him."
As Eliphalet Biggs was going down
the south road next morning he met
BIN on her pony near the schoolhouse'
returning from the field with her COW.
They stopped.
I'm coming back, little girl" ne
said.
.What for?" she asked.
ITO tell you a secret and ask you
question. May I Gomez"
81 suppose you can-if you want
to-" she answered. -.
'Tn come and I'll write to you and
send the letters to Ann"
Mentor Graham, the schoolmaster,
who lived in the schoolhouse, hsd
come out of its door.
"Good-byv" said young Mr.. B1ggs, as
his heels touched the TANKS OF his
horse. Then he went flying down the
road.