Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-01-21
lions n which I would save lean from
Ill kinds Of disasters

.--~
lions Ia which would save Jean from
al kinds Of disasters
Next morning found me none the
worse for my experience; indeed my
dip over the dam already seemed a
more or less vague recollection. After
breakfast ! made a journey to the
big pine which grew at. the very end
OF our little farm-a surviving mon
arch OF the forest that In some way
had escaped the locust cloud Of ak
men which had swarmed through the
country twenty years before.
Perhaps It was as lay under the
great pine on that sunny summer
morning and watched the filmy clouds
float gently overhead that caught
my first glimpse. shyly, wonderingly
through the golden gates Of romance
It was vision of Jean; vision which
has remained with me through the
years, growing. thrilling In my mo-
ments of happiness fading In my
hours of darkness. but at no time
quite obscure. Perhaps 1T was my
first glimpse of that vision which
brought me on that morning to my feet
where the great pines swaying lace
work Of sun and shadow patterned
the green grass and set my heart Tilt
Ing with the Joy of being alive.
/ was about to shape my lips for
whistle when became conscious of
q presence. 1t was Jean, her golden.
locks held together by a midget sun
bonnet. save for some vagrant, curls
which nestled against the peach-pfnk
bloom Of her cheeks; her chubby bare
feet seeking cover in the grass.
Il saw you going to the big tree"
she explained. $50 coined too"
"Uh-huh," ! commented cautiously.
being gripped with sudden sense
that this young woman had led me
into difficulties only a day ago. Men
cannot be too careful.
She sided toward me. "Do you know
what yoa have to do for yesterday"
she Queried.
"No," said, with some misgiving,
thinking that possibly my behavior had
been reported to the Lanes to my dis
advantage.
"Gwandma says when young lady
saves young gentleman. he-has-to-
>mawwy-her," she said, speaking very
slowly at first, but finishing her
sentence with little. run. $50 you
have to mawwy me-"
She was beside me now, and her
face was radiant with the excitement
of her secret.
"But can't marry youl Only
grownups do that !" protested.
"Won't we be gwownups some day."
~ guess So" | admitted. And then
with a sudden burst of resolution
added. "And then I'll marry you"
She held her face up to me and
leaned over and kissed 1t shyly. Then,
hand In hand, we retraced our way
down the cewpath, along the rows of
sprouting corn, by the stables and
past our house. Jean Ied~me to her
own home, which was next to ours,
down the road.
"You have to ask mamma" she said,
as our little figures dropped their
shadows across Mrs. Lanes kitchen
fioor.
This was more than had bargained
for. was beginning to discover that
Miss Jean was a young woman Of ac-
ton as, well as decision. But I was
game.
MRS. Lane" / said, bracing my
legs for the ordeal, "I-want-to-marry
Jean"
Jeans mother looked at me with a
smile that broadened until 1t broke
into open laughter.
II am afraid you are very preco
cious children" she remarked. ]
didn't know what that meant, but she
gave us each a doughnut, and we went
away happy, Jean twirling hers on her
finger for wedding ring.