The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-10-10
state Historical Society

cxcit lows over tivcs watching
; closely" This was evidently COM
municati0n from horse-thief, who was
being watched by detectives. Before
noon rumor had Frank Howard escap-
ing from half dozen different peniten-
;iaries A young man who had stopped
over night at the Home some time ago,
and been unable to pay his bill on ac-
count of his pOcketbOok having been
stolen, was at the time considered dead
heat" but now it was PLAIN where the
missing pocketbook had gone and had the
young man been IN Mearston the citizens
might have got up a subscription for
him. Dick refused to converse with any
one about the affair, and every one no
ticed that he looked anxious and worried.
On account of the friendship between the
two young men Dick would have fur
nished food for scandal as well as Frank
but he was not gone yet, and it was not
safe TO serve him up. In fact, Dick was
pitied good deal for being taken in
by Howard. They were glad that Dick
had not been nabbed by him, and it was
lucky that no one else was, except the
railroad.
Such was the gossip of Mearston all
that day and the next, until the evening
train came in and scared Mearston near
ly out of its senses by landing Frank How
ard on the platform. There was love
ly young girl with him who resembled
him so much that any one could easily
see she was his sister. Before the cOu-
pie reached the Home Mrs. Teagarden
was making another circuit OF the town,
calling every ones attention to the fact
that she had not said that Howard had
run off, but that the new operator said he
had gone and taken all the change with
him. Before shutdown there was not a
single person in Mearston who ever be-
lieved Howard to be a thief
The next afternoon boy was employ
ell by the Nears family to deliver invita-
tiOns to Minnie Mears's wedding. Every
body knew now how the matter stood.
Dick had taken Mrs. Teagarden into his
confidence, and had even shown her his
wedding suit Frank and his sister
were going with them on their wedding
tour. Mrs. Teagarden promised Dick
faithfully that she would not tell a liv-
ing soul; nevertheless all Mearston
knew all that Dick had told her, and
more, too, in less than an hour. When
the hour appointed for the marriage
ceremony to take place arrived, the
Mears mansion was filled with company,
all anxious to see how Frank would
stand his disappointment There was a
noise of feet on the stairs; the hall door
opened, and Frank and his sister came
in, followed by Dick and Minnie. Just
as the justice took up his position, there
was a stir among the young folks. They
appeared to get mixed, and changed
places with each other; but the Justice
proceeded as though there was no mis-
take or misunderstanding. But had the
justice taken Mrs. Teagarden and Brother
Mears by the nape of the neck and
stood them up and married them, he
would not have surprised the company
more than he did, for when he concluded
the ceremony Dick King and Miss
Howard were man and wife, and Minnie
Mears had changed to Mrs Howard
Mrs. Teagarden had to rush out into the
fresh air before she could collect herself
enough to wish the happy young folks
much joy, When the confusion was
over Frank volunteered to dispel the
burden of curiosity which he knew was
consuming the company.
MY friends" he said, "when my
mother died, father sent my sister to q
boarding school, and being minister
himself he determined that l should
study for the ministry. | was placed in
a SCHOOL for that purpose, and of course
my sister anu l did exactly what ouI
father did not want us to do. Annie fell
in love, and 1 ran off with circus show
1 did not find the world as nice as i'm
agined it was by any means l wanted
to go home, Oh, so bad (Brother Mears
mopped his countenance), and finally
mustered courage enough to go. My
, father forgave me and promised if
would break up Annle's love affair, ]
Aeed not make preacher of myself. ]
tried to do so; but Annie taught me the
, most valuable lesson l have ever learn
ed-to attend to my own business. (Mrs
Teagarden coughed) Father had moth
) ing against Annie's lover except that he
was boy of the world, and not inclined
to be religious. When / came to Mears
; ton had never seen Annie's lover When
l got acquainted with Dick, did MOI
blame Annie for liking him. From tnat
! on, don't think girl ever carried OH az
! extensive a correspondence with theil
brother as Annie did with me. Abou
once month l received letter from hel
enclosed in white envelope. These
opened myself; they were never so lengthy
rs / knew the ones in buff envelope.
: were, which l gave to Dick. Well II
make long story short, l received let
ter from father about week ago saying
he was laid up with rheumatism, and
went home on purpose to have my folk
come to my wedding. Father did no
scold as much as / expected he would
OF course he could not come back will
: me, but consented for Annie 70 come
7 and you all know the rest Now, all W,
lack to make US completely happy is til,
( good wishes of our parents"
4 There was a pause, and then Brothe
4 Mears got up and gave Frank his hand
!. When the young folks returned t.
e Mearston from their wedding tour, tn
g old sign of King & Co. was changed I,
), read king 81 Howard" and when
i month or two later the Rev. William
/ Howard visited his truant children a
e Mearston, he found the firm doing sucl
S a prosperous business that Le though
y providence must certainly have had some
/ thing to do with the whole affair, and afte
r all it did not matter so much what Del
sons pretended to believe as what the
z did. OuIIP.
Mr.. Rassam's excavations on the Mt
II Ijelibi mound, in Babylon, have prove
a that this was the site of the famou
e hanging gardens, for in its ruins !,
q found wells, aqueducts, and popderou
masses of stone, all proving that tn
D building had been erected, as the Gree
e writers say, to initiate mountain scenery