Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-02-19

| Valentine" panied that she should sui
fer, as she complai ned Of doing.
"l'll be thrashed if [ kin tell who sen
it," he muttered, gazing at the missiv'
for the fortieth time. faint Lorent
Harland, Pm certain, fur she j,
engaged to Abe Satterwhite. An
don't think twas Polly Jackson
FUR she is nigh about giddy headed
over Sam Singer. l wonder now j
they wouldn't know who posted it down
at the postofice? I've q notion to &c
down to morrow and see ii Hiram kin
remember! Wish't I'd asked him while
/ was there; but it took me SO sudden
like, never thought of it. I'll 60 down
to morrow morning, sure"
"Who posted that thar Volunteer
Wal. let me think"
Honest Hiram Nutter, the postmaster
scratched his head and che~ed the end
of his penhold-r thoughtfully.
"Oh, yes, now l know who twas, cause
she bought her a stamp. an l offered TO
lick it on fur her; but she said she
wouldn't bother me-"
But who was it?" put in jerome, i'm
patiently.
"Oh! why I'm pretty sure-yee, I'm
right sure-'twas Ruby Fothergay."
Ruby Fothergay! Jerome was more
surprised than ever. He had not thought
of Ruby.
OF course, you won't say nothing to
nobody, Hiram?"
Course not! We never tell tales out
of school. Comic one, Jerome?"
awful comicw
Mr.. Jonquil rode home, wondering
more and more why had never thought
more of Ruby Fothergay.
"She's a nice girl, too-sober and
steddy," he reflected "Not bit like
the tlippi'y flop Widder Tallman, with
her frizzes and bangles, and ruffies and
streamers. A nice, steddy girl, an I'll
bet she's good cook, tool he added.
"Ruby? Where's Ruby, Serepty?"
John Fothergay buried into the kitch-
en-, his honest face shining with unusual
Importance.
what are you maxim sech racket
about?" cried Serep,y, sharply. Il reckon
Ruby'll keep. She's som'eres around"
1--WE got letter for her. From Je-
rome JOnquil, tool" answered John, tri-
umphantly.
EUR mussy sakes! What kin he want
of herr" Mrs. John was quite as excited
as her husband now" "Mebbe they've
sot the weddin' day, an Mrs. JonQuil
that is to be wants Ruby fur a brides
maid"
This satisfactory conclusion was
quickly upset, however, when Ruby had
been called in, and read the letter.
well, what is il?" cried Serepta,
sharply. do they want you to be the
bridesmaid"
bridesmaid" Ruby laughed, excit-
eddy, bushing at the same time like
full blown peony. "N-not exactly"
she stammered. "He-he-Jerome wants
me for bride! He wants me to marry
him."
Marry him! Serepta's eyes grew
as round as saucers. Jerome Jonquil
asking Ruby Fothergay to marry him
She could scarcely credit the assertion,
but there it was in black and white.
And there was Jerome himself, few
hours later, talking away as if he was one
of the family, telling of Huldah SOper's !
tailings in the culinary art, and so excit-
ing Ruhy's sympathy in his behalf that
she agreed to marry him in just two
weeks from that day.
1t was not until the day before the
wedding that Jerome discovered it was
the Widow Tailman who had sent him
the pink satin hart after all.
Honest Hiram Nutter. having forgotten
who did send it, had stretched his imag
ination little, and laid it to Ruby's
charge.
I'm thankful he made the mistake,
ANYHOW" thought the bridegroom ex
pectant. "An' Hiram shill hev whop
PIN big chunk of weddin' cake to pay
fur if -