The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-06-25

on gittin' hitched an that's what
I've cum for. Pete's my hired man,
you know; an s right smart chap
he is tew. He's worked on the
farm putty nigh ever sence the old
man died; an knows jest how
like ter hev things done; an reck-
on 1 couldn't dew better than. ter
hev him." -"es' s
''But where is Peter" inquired
Mrs. Stiles. Gf
"Oh he's cummin' round by the
road in the buggy. Ye see we'd
hev ter cum rite by my darter Sails,
an eff she seen US ridin' by tergethr
er she'd suspect what we was up
tew, and raise jest sech rumpus as
she did when 1 thought of hevin'
old Ben Sykes. So / scooted
across the peraray. She an Dan
(that's my eldes' boy) is dead set
agin my hevin' Pete; but they suit
ed themselves in marryin', an l
reckon I shell" ."@<t 7 -
/ Soon Pete came along. He was
evidently all of twenty years young
er than his intended bride; tall
putty faced fellow, with hair, eyes
and skin all of color. He appear
ed not over bright, but yet had a
sly look in his half-closed sleepy
looking eyes. ~eF ,
4 There was consultation by the
twain; the result of which was
that they concluded to wait until
Mr.. Stiles returned.
This point decided, the bride
elect began to s'slick up a litle," as
she phrased it. Untying the ban
dana from her head, she coolly ap-
| propriated Mrs. Styles comb, and
began, what she not inaptly termed,
to ''hetchel out'' the coarse gray
locks that adorned it.
Having done this to her apparent
satisfaction, she unpinned the par
eel she had brought, and took from
it a cap which defies description. A
double frill of stiff white lace went
around it's face, ending in long
strings of broad plaid ribbon, com
bining nearly every color of the
rainbow. A huge bow of the same
was perched upon the top, while
Others of various shapes and sizes
were scattered promiscuously over
it, generally where one would least
look for anything of the sort, each
with long streamers, and an air of
determination to do busieess on its
own account, without regard TO
what its neighbors might think or
/ do. E'-
Mrs. Martin handed it to US for
examination, receiving with evident
self-complacency our Calculations
of astonishment at its design and
execution. '.- '---e- '.s-s
She then put it on, and going to
the glass regarded its general effect
with a self-satisfied smirk; and it
certainly did have a very striking
effect on the yellow, parchment like
skin, and black vixenish eyes of the
| Wearer.
Happening to think that a mar
riage certificate was necessary, Mrs.
Stiles inquired if the widow had
one
''Safe at the bottom of my red
chist % said Mrs Martin with a tri
umphant air, which was, however,
quickly changed to one of dismay,
when Mrs. Styles assured her that it
would be necessary for her husband
to examine it before performing the
ceremony the law being strict upon
that point. -. %
What was to be done now !?
Pete offered to go back for the nee
ded document; but the widow put
decided veto to this.
''Nobody but myself shell go tew
my red chist!t' she said with a de-
termined air. "a
"Now you remember" she added
shaking her finger at the expectant
bridegroom 'sthat when we're mar
ried you don't never go nigh my red
chistn' ~
Whereupon Mrs. Martin took off
the cap, and tied up her head with
the handkerchief. Then with an
admonition to Pete, mot tew git ter
sleep and fall inter the fire." she
took her way back across the prai-
rie for the certificate; returning in
an indescribable short time, consid-
ering the distance she had to walk.
But she had hardly reached the
house when it began to rain.
The hour at which Mr. Stiles was
expected came, and passed, and yet
he did not make his appearance;
while the storm momentarily in
creased until the rain seemed liter
ally to pour down in torrents. But
still the anxious couple waited evi,
IDENTIFY 10th to depart without the
accomplishment of their purpose 4
1t got to be past nine, when Mrs.
Stiles expressed her opinion that her
husband had put up for the night at
some house on the way. And as
the storm began to lulE just then,
they concluded "they might as well
60" @~
The rest of the story was told us
by Mr.. Stiles, on his return that eve
ming.
The couple had ridden only a short
distance when it began to rain again
as violently as before, until their
garments were soaked through and
through. The soft yielding soil
made the roads very miry, and they
were making but slow progress
through the mud, when, hearing the
sound of an ox-team, Pete drew the
reins. sE
sit that you, Squar' p
swell, it is. Who is it, an what's
wanting ?"
sIt's me an the widder Martin.