The Jasper weekly courier., 1876-09-15

timable prize as Joe Chickweed.
Joe made il a special pro- Sc IN his
proposal that they should DC married
privately the day before the marriage
of Sparks with the widows daughter,
and that it should be kept II secret till
the wedding had taken place. To this
the widow readily agreed, although il
was "A hard task sometimes for her TO
restrain the enjoyment she experienced,
and prevent the secret being discovered.
The evening before the nuptials of
7 Sparks and Melinda at length arrived,
and all preparations for the ceremony
on the ensuing day were completed.
When darkness had fairly set in, while
Melinda was SO occupied with the CON-
pany and conversation ofher soon-to-be
| husband as to be oblivious 10 all else,
Mrs. Martin cautiously left the house,
and meeting Joe near az hand, she
/ hastened with him to the residence Of
/ the ,Chickweeds. The minister, who
\ had been duly admonished 10 secresy,
was in attendance, and in less than half
/ an kour Joe was a married man and
/ the no longer widow was on her way
back home, parting with Joe with
single but very enormous kiss, with
which he was content TO satisfy him.
self, considering what was TO follow
from so doing on the morrow.
The wedding passed off next day 70
the entire satisfaction of all parties
The affair took place in the morning at
the residence of the bride, and at the
hour of noon all the guests, with the
exception Of Joe Chickweed, who had
been formally invited, had departed.
Why he remained so long it puzzled
the newly married pair to surmise, as
they had not supposed he would be
present at all. Joe took il very easily,
however, and seemed quite unembar-
rassed with the occasional banterings
of the happy Sparks.
al 'spose you'll take up your resi-
dence in the village right away" said
Joe, addressing himself 10 the newly
made husband, as they were assembled
in the parlor together; "buy you nice
house and live comfortable.
"Oh, no, replied Mr.. Sparks-"don't
know as / shall"
"Whatl Well, now, calculate you
don't have any idea OF settling on a
farm? You amt used TO that work,
you know"
"Don't know but may" said Sparks,
assuming acareless air and tone; ''com-
ing on hot weather, you know, and liv-
ing in town is bore in summer. Yes,
! think | shall try the country life for
while; | amt in the best of health, and
a farm life may improve me-"
"Well, " responded Joe, deliberately,
"can't saw that I'm sorry that you're
going 10 stay with US. | think myself
that il would be to your benefit TO work
on a farm for q while, and We'll try 20
make it as comfortable as possible for
you"
Mr.. Sparks looked at his wife; they
looked At one another and laughed.
"No doubt" remarked Mr.. Sparks,
''you'll make an agreeable neighbor,
very agreeable, indeed"
"Oh, well De nearer than neighbors,
I a good sight-of course we will" said
Joe, glancing with look of intelligence
I towards the former widow.
Again Mr. and Mrs. Sparks glaneed
at each Other, but this time they didn't
laugh.
"what do you mean?' they asked
simultaneously.
"Oh, excuse me; / forgot that YOU
didn't know what had transpired. The
fact is. the widow and myself, taking a
mutual liking TO each other, were mar
ried last night. We should have invit-
ed you 10 the wedding, but we knew
you were so much engaged.
"What married?' cried Mr..
Sparks, springing TO his feet, while a
look of horror overspread his features.
His wife sat pale as a ghost, utterly un-
able 10 speak word.
Certainly, married." said Joe,
coolly.
"ls this SOP" he inquired, turning to
the late widow.
You may rely on all he says" she
replied.
"Then have been swindledl-im-
posed upon-deceived And you knew
Of this also, and led me on" he con-
tinued in a violent tone, addressing his
wife. "You worked to get me, while
this internal cheat gets the property"
No-it's not so," exclaimed Melin-
ia, bursting into tears; knew moth
ing Of it. And Thought you married
me for myself, and not for money-you
pretended to have enough of that your
self"
Reuben Sparks smiled a sickly and
scornful smile.
ITS even as thought; his moneys
so deep in the bank that he'll never be
able to dig it out" remarked Joe.
You scheming rascal" gasped
Sparks, looking as if it would be the
height Of pleasure 10 eat him entirely
up, body and bones.
"Oh, fire away il don't hurt any,
! and I've gnt a long lease of the far-''