The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-07-28

directed her maid to bring the boots from
the lumber room where they had been de-
posted. They were brought-and, al
though they had lost much of their origin
al luster, and were covered, indeed, with a
greensh and unhealthy mold, Sparks
promptly drew out his pocketwallet and
paid for them with the air of a man who
feels that he is doing desperate deed, but
is carried away, in spite of his better judg
ment, by the resistless force of passionate
excitement.
The widow laughed vehemently at the
infatuation Of her supposed victim; and
Sparks laughed too-laughed exultingly,
with the delightful consciousness that he
had outwilted the Widow Blidkinsop; and
he soon obtained the most satisfactory con
frmation of the fact, for when he reached
his lodgings and examined the boots, he as
certained that the toes were crammed full
of bank notes. In fact, the boots had been
the repositories of the deceased Blinkinsop's
treasures, and they actually contained the
bulk OF his fortune-the very hoard which
his mournfnl relict had never been able to
find.
But, unluckily for Jeroboam Sparks-his
Joy on this occasion was not like some joys
we have read of, 'too big for utterance"
On the contrary, he gave such free express
sion to his triumph, and made such pa
rade of his good fortune, that the whole
story soon became public. 1t came at last
to the ears of Mrs. Blinkinsop, whose cha
grin, on account of her thoughtess bargain,
can scarcely be imagined. She peremptori
ly demanded of Sparks restitution of the
hank notes, alleging that she had sold him
nothing but the boots, and that, of course,
he had no right to the contents of them
Jeroboam stoutly resisted this claim, and
the widow betock herself to the law.
Sparks, having great dread and horror
of litigation, became frightened. and propos
ed to compromise the matter by marrying
the widow forthwith. She evidently did
not relish this mode of accommodation, but
rather than lose all the cash, or depend on
the chances of recovering it by legal pro
cess, she finally agrees to accept Jeroboam
for her second husband. BY mutual agree
ment, the nuptials were to take place almost
Immediately.
The company assembled, the services Of
clergyman were solicited, and all other
preparations were made for the solemniLy.
The officiating clergyman was the founder
of new sect called the Hopkinstes, to
which Mr.. Sparks belonged. Mr.. Hop
kins, the primate Of their new religious es-
Enlistment, was great reformer, (as lie
flattered himself and among other improve
ments introduced by him into clerical affairs
he made it an ipyariable rule to require
payment en- Advance for every performance
of the marriage ritual which he undertook
This regulation, in truth, was very good
one in our city of Philadelphia, where per-
sons sometimes get married ''on tick, and
not finding their partners all that they ex-
pected them to be, they revengefully neg
lect to pay the good parsons who are kind
enough to give them credit for the amount
of the wedding fee. But the pastor of the
Hopkinsites, to check all such fraudulent
and wicked practices among his congrega-
ton, never began the wedding ceremony un-
| til the cash was handed in.
| On the occasion to which we now refer,
Sparks presented to the reverend gentleman
five dollar bill which he had taken from
the leathern treasury of the deceased Blink
insop. The clergyman examined the note
and instantly discovered that it was on a
bank which had exploded about six months
before, and eighteen months after Blinhin
sop's death. Mr.. Hopkins returned the fall
lacious paper to Sparks, with the informa-
ton that it was perfectly worthless. Jero-
beam was dismayed at this intelligence, for
| he had noticed that all the bills concealed
| in the boot-toes were on the same bank.
He stood motionless in the bitter anguish
of disappointment, and the bride, guessing
what the posture of affairs mustbe, showed
almost equal discontinue.
| The guests wondered at this ominous
pause. and the pastor. becoming impatient,
gave Mr.. Sparks hint that if he had an
available note, he had better fork it over at
once and allow the august ceremony to pro-
coed. But the sordid and unworthy BRIDE
groom now bluntly declared that eff the
notes wouldn't pass, theold woman wouldn' t
either" and that he ''never had any such
notion as to marry her gratis" With these
words he clapped on his hat and made an
abrupt departure, leaving parson, bride and
guests greatly shocked and Disguised at his
conduct.
Mrs. Blnkinsop could have borne with
all due philosophy the loss of Mr.. Sparks
welded society, but she had purchased for
the nuptial occasion, a new dove-colored
silk dress, white satin bonnet and pair of
fine kid gloves, besides providing pretty
expensive supper for the entertainment of
the company. Not being satisfied with the
losing nature of the game, the widow B.
still endeavored to make profit out of it by
sueing Mr.. Sparks for breach of promise.
and their second lawsuit soon exhausted the
pecuniary resources of both parties so COM
pletely that the lawyers on both sides gave
up the case as ga bad job"
Mrs. Blinkinsop now takes in washing.
and Mr.. Sparks peddles roach and bed
bug exterminator,' both of them ascribing
all their troubles and sad reverses of for
tune to Mr.. Blinkinsop's boots.
A boy is very miscellaneous in his habits.
We emptied Master Smiths pockets the 9th
er day, and found the contents to consist of
the following articles: Sixteen marbles,