The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01
In His Own Coin.

it notp"
"Ye-yes, MISS" stammered the drum
mer. He wasn't in the habit of playing
pitcher in this kind of match, and the
position of catcher didn't fit him as
tightly as his pantaloons.
''Nice weather for travelling" contin-
ued the girl, ''much nicer than when it
was cold. Are you perfectly comforta-
blep"
''Oh, yes, thanksr' murmured the
drummer.
"Glad of it," returned the girl cheer
fully. you don't look so. Let ME put
my shawl under your head, won't youp
Hadn't you rather sit next to the win
dow, and have me describe the land
scape to you?"
mo, please" he muttered. Tim
doing well enough"
Cant / buy you some peanuts or a
bookp Let me do something to make
the trip happy. Suppose ! slip my arm
around your waist! Just lean forward
trifle, so can"
"You'll-you'll have to excuse me-"
gasped the wretched drummer. Ell
don't think you really mean itr'
"You look so tired" she pleaded.
"Wouldn't you like to rest your head
on my shoulder No one will notice. =
Just lay your head right down, and I'll
tell you stories"
"No-no, thanks! l won't to-day!
Pm very comfortable, thank your and
the poor drummer looked around help
lessly.
''Your scarf-pin is coming out. Let
me fix it. There!" and she arranged it
deity. "At the next station I'll get you
a cup of tea, and when we arrive ut our
destination you'll let me call on youp'
and she smiled an anxious prayer right
up into his pallid countenance.
II think I'll 60 away and smoke"
said the drummer, and, hauling down
his grip-sack, he made for the door,
knee-deep in the grins showered around
him by his fellow passengers.
''Stranger' murmured the girl to the
lady in front of her. II only did with
him just what he was making ready to
do with me, and, big and strong as he is,
he couldn't stand it. really think
women have stronger stomachs than
men, and besides that, there isn't any
smoking-car for them to fly to for refuge.
1 don't understand this thing"
But she settled back contentedly all
the same; and at convention of drum
mers, held in the smoker that morning,
it was unanimously resolved that. her
seat was engaged, so far as they were
concerned, for the balance of the season.
A Curious Oourtship.
The two thousand Choctaws still liv
ing In their ancestral homes in Missis
sippi retain in their pristine vigor, says
the Natchez Democrat, many Of the us
ages Of their ancestors. Among these
are the methods employed in conduct.
ing courtship and the marriage cere
mOny. When young Choctaw. Of
Kemper or Neshoba county, sees q
maiden who pleases his fancy, he watch.
es his opportunity until he finds hel
alone. He then approaches within a
few yards Of her and gently casts peb.
BILE toward her, so that it may fall al
her feet. He may have to do this two
or three times before he. attracts the
maiden's attention. If this pebble
throwing is agreeable, she soon makes
1t manifest; If otherwise, a scornful look
and a decided ''ekwah' indicate that
his suit is in vain.
When a marriage is agreed upon, the
lovers appoint time and place for the
ceremony. On the marriage day the
friends and relatives of the prospective
couple meet at their respective houses
or villages, and thence march toward
each other. When they arrive near the
marriage ground, generally intermedi-
ate space between the two villages
they halt within about a hundred yards
of each other. The brothers of the, ivom-
an then 60 across to the opposite party
and bring forward the man and set him
down on blanket spread upon the
marriage ground. The mans sisters
then do likewise by going over and
bringing forward the woman and seat
ing her by the side of the man. Some
times, to furnish little merriment for
the occasion, the woman is expected to
break loose and run. OF course she is
pursued, captured, and brought back.
All parties assemble around the ex-
pectant couple. A bag of bread is
brought forward by the woman's rela-
tives and deposited near her. In like
manner the mans relatives bring for
ward q bag of meat and deposit it near
him. The mans friends and relatives
now begin to throw presents upon the
head and shoulders of the woman.
These presents are of any kind that the
donors choose to give, as articles of
clothing, money, trinkets, ribbons, etc.
AS soon as thrown they are quickly
snatched off by the woman's relatives
and distributed among themselves. Dur
ing MI this time the couple sit very
quietly and demurely, not a word spok-
en- by either. When all the presents
have been thrown and distributed the
couple. now man and wife, arise, the
provisions from the bags are spread
and, just as in civilized life, the cere-
mony is rounded off with festival.
The festival over, the company dispense
and the gallant groom conducts his
bride to his home, where they enter up
on the tolls and responsibilities of the
future.