The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-23
Too Many Weddings.


Pacific Railroad, I noticed that after we
left Omaha the man in the seat in front Of
me appeared to have something upon his
mind. He would scowl drcadfully for Il
moment, then he would gaze with far
away look out Of his window. Then H..
would draw huge bowie knife from his
Govt pocket, and, after strapping it upon
his boot, he would run his thumb along the
edge. After scowling few minutes more,
he would take out q revolver. examine the
chambers to assure himself they were
loaded, mutter a few vigorous sentences,
and put 1t away again.
watched him day or two, and at last
he saw me looking at him. Hc said
81 reckon you think am excited about
something's Well am am going up
to Salt Lake to kill a man."
"Indeed, How terrible! What's the
matter7"
well, you see-by the way, do you
know jim Stcphcns7"
'No, no; think moi"
"Well, this is the way it came about
Twelve years ago Jim and were friends,
and when got married jim made mo a
present of tho most splendid silver cake
basket you over saw in your life"
"Thats not what you are going to kill
him for, IL it 2" =,
"Of course not And felt 80 grateful
that took him by the hand, and said.
Jim, I'll get you cake basket as hand
some as that whenever you are married, as
sure as my name Is Jonathan Lockwood.
Made him solid pledge, you know"
did he marry subsequently,"
''Marry2 O thunder! Let me tell you
aboat ii. About year after he went to
Utah and became a Mormon. Within a
month he sent me cards for his wedding to
Hannah Watson. So / went out and
bought sublime cake basket, and for
warded 1t by express. Two weeks later he
wrote to say that Hannah's sister, Ethel
botta, had been sealed to him, and he asked
me out to The wedding"
sDid you go3'
"No; but sent him another cake basket
But hardly had fortnight elapsed when
Stephens telegraphed to mo that as old Mrs
Watson, Hannah's and Ethclberta's g mother,
seemed 80 lonely now that the girls were
gone, he had concluded to annex her, also.
He promised to send full particulars by
meil. That night third resplendent cake
basket went west in charge of the express
company" r~ ",
"You have paid three to one, then"
'"rhree9 Wait till get DONE Well, l
heard nothing more from him for a year or
more, when one day cards came for his
marriage with Louisa G. Carboy. I was
p-evty poor about that time, and hardly
able to make presents to anybody, but
had pledged my word; so out went another
imposing cake basket"
''Did he get q"
"He wrote and said his darling Louisa
thought It was beautiful, and he added q
postscript In which he mentioned that he
had arranged 70. further consolidation on
the following Thursday with Helene Blk
ersham, rellct Of old Bilkersham the popular
hatter."
'Did you respond2"
81 did I borrowed some money from a
friend, and forwarded the most stupen-
dous cake basket I could find. At the
same time wrote to him and asked him
If he didn't think 1t most time to knock off.
He replied and said he was sorry I had
such narrow views about matrimony, par
ticularly as he had everything ready for an
other marriage on the following Tuesday
with Mary Jane Wilberforce, charming
girl OF properly"
"YOu didn't send one to her, did you 2"
sfOf c0ursel Couldn't break my word |
She got the most impressive cake basket I
could lay my hands on. We'll, Stephens
didn't stop there. That was two years ago
He has married eight times since, and I
have come to time promptly with the cake
baskets. Three days ago received notice
that he was going to marry again"
"Agsinlo
eyes, again. That, You know, let's him