Wayside Courtships

ng man, with a timid look in his eyes, was almost the last one to get on, and his pale face wore a worri

en here and there by ridges of ugly squat little tenement blocks. Over this landscape vas

ugh to see they were burr oaks, and the young student's heart thrilled at sight

when another young man came down the aisle from the smok

arge and beardless, and he had beautiful teeth. He had a bold and keen

onductor coming through the car, the smooth-faced young fellow put up a car

e younger man said "Goi

es

live there

County Superintendent. I'm looking for a school." He sm

. "Yes, I know the Superintendent. Why not come right up to my boarding place, a

ntry school. It's too late to get a

u might by accident hit on something. I know Mott; he'

rstood this hint and s

s, as if he had forgotten his new

e a country school

d, if nothing b

llars a month; that's ten dollars extra for the scrimmages. They wanted me to teach this winter-my sister teaches it in summer-but, great Peter!

derstand,"

miled at Stacey's disapproving look. "Yes, indeedy; there's where the jar came into our tender relations. Oh, I call on the governor-always when I've got a wad. I have fun with him." He smiled brightly. "Ask him if he don't need a little cash to pay for hog-killin', or something like that." He laughed again. "No, I didn'

asked Stacey, to whom th

nt home! Plug hat! Imported suit! Gold watch! Diamond shirt-stud! Cost me $200 to paralyze the general, but I did it. My glory absolutely turned him white as a sheet. I knew what he thought, so I said: 'Perfectly legitimate, dad. The walls of Joliet are not ga

Now, I can't go up to the boarding place when you do, but I'll give you directions, and y

ituated on the edge of the bank, with its back to the river. It stood al

r, and I'd like to get board here a few days while

. Walk in, sir. I'm pretty full, but I expect I can acco

he said, while t

is way. Supper wi

ficently. The walls were papered in florid patterns, and several enlarged portraits were on th

of politeness, to chat, scanning him keenly. She was a handsome woman, strong, well r

u just

he said, on an impulse of communicat

ls, stopping her rocking in an a

. I've been sick, a

n his way home one day." She stopped, for fear of breaking into a quaver, and smiled brightly. "That's why I always like coll

ked a refined, studious, rather delicate young man, as he sat low in his chair and observed the light and heat

y rushed at him with loud outcry. He was evidently a great favorite. He threw his arms about Mrs. Mills, giving her a hearty hug. The girls pretended to be sho

ls! This wi

damp yellow curls with he

I'll take one on each knee," he sai

thetic embarrassment, and

ls bother me so." He took a seat by the fire and surveyed his wet shoes. "I took a run up to Mott's house-only a half block out o' the way. He said they'd be tickled to

e a chur

you do: you go out with me to-morrow

ke a teacher, and he had full sweep of the table, which was surrounded by bright and sunny faces. The station hand was there, and a couple of grocery clerks, and a brakeman sa

had changed to sleet outside, and hammered at the window viciously, but the blazing fire and the romping young people set it at defiance. The landlady came to the door of the dining room, dish and cloth in hand, to share in ea

miliar form of courtship in Kesota, and an evening filled with such romping was considered a "cracking good time." After the girl, red and disheveled, had given up, Herman sat down at the organ, an

e went up to thei

t on, winking at Wallace comically, "nominally I'm an insurance agent, but practically I'm a 'lamb'-but I get a mouthful o' fur myself occasionally. What

ow in bed and looked at Wallace just as he rose f

ut? I forgot all about i

unicative bedfellow in silence. He did

they were about to go to sleep,

at do yo

Cyene Church. Oh, i

u'd tell m

, you understand, father was the head center, and Mattie is the only girl among the Methodists who can play. The old man has got a head like a mule. He can't be switched off, once he ma

went from bad to worse. They didn't speak as they passed by-that is, the old folks; we young folks didn't care a continental whether school kept or not. Well, upshot is

ed him again. "Say, Stacey-b

es

e chuckled shamelessly, and went