Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-10-15

L lolke yo better than him."
"She thinks [ have hired her," thought
poor Mr.. Budd.
Aloud he said:
I'm sorry for the mistake, my friend.
have no work for you. I'm bachelor"
"Toime is fleet at passing" she answered.
"It's niver long before shirts come to
patching, and I'm good at that-roight
good"
And still she never offered to move.
Mr.. Budd went to the door of the kitchen
and called his landlady.
"Fm afraid I've got into some kind of a
mess, Mrs. Wimplin," he said. 81 think
the good woman in there believes that ]
have hired her for a servant. We don't
quite understand each other"
"Ah, we'll, quoiet yorself DOOM" said
she appeared in the "house- place."
care 70 seekinga service place." asked
the farmers wife.
1--WE no call to seek the loike," said the
woman. "1'm just buyed bya new man.
Him yonder.;
"Aye, the old mon were batin' l., said
the woman, "and yon chap took notion
to and sived he a suvrin for I. And twas
bargain fair and square; both agreed, SO
I followed on. Where he bides 1 must
bide, for I'm none O your light behaved
folk, but a Chrsten wumman.
"lo see he's Merrican, yon chap, and
don't know, said the farmers wife.
"Merrican or no Merrican. bargain is a
bargain" said the woman. He's buyed 1,
and I'm his wolfe"
GOOD gracious, woman!' shrieked Mr..
Budd. Il took no notion toyou. gave
that husband OF yours sovereign not to
beat you, and he promised not to do it.
That was all Ii don't want wife, and
we're not married. Ministcrs-clergymen
marry folk, you know. You can't buy a
wife"
SAyc, aye, sir. said the landlady, "you
can't III Merryky, but doom here, if q mon
chooses, he may sell his wolfe. It's an old
custom. There's not many does the lolke.
The old wolfe knows the ways Of her mon,
and what way he loikes messcs cooked the
best and yo get used to folk, but moo and
then one does it, and the bargain holds.
Oh! I'll not stand by and see yo take
one mon away from a woman, and not give
her another, when 70 bought her with a
sovereign and all.
MIR. Budd sat down in chair and folded
his arms i'll despair.
The landlady continues:
go and put your buds away, lass, and
wash Your face and redd your hair-for it
needs it-and come help get your mons
supper, for you're moan above It,"
MIR. Budd groaned horribly, and threw
himself about in his chair
II can't say but pity yo, maistcr," said
the landlady, after the woman had gone
out; "but 20 should look before 70 leap,
and why liver o buyed lass noane fair in
the face, and fond of drink, it's hard to
tell, but justice is justice, and I knows my
Christcn dooty."
Poor MIR. Budd, he saw the supper made
ready, and he was forced to eat some of it.
His bargain did not think of sitting down
with him, as he had expected, but stood
and served him as his landlady stood and
served her husband at his meals After
ward she retreated to the fireplace, where
she ate her portion from plate on her
knee. To wash it down she applied to a
little black bottle which she took from her
pocket, and which, when uncorked, filled
the room with the odour of old rum.
Il see why t'ether selled her." said the
landlady aside to him, as he stood beside
the door in disconsolate mood, which led
him to thoughts of suicide. 81 see why.
But when she gets too much inside of her
just bate her we'll. It's the only way. And
a mon is i'll the roight to do it,"
But poor Mr.. Budd could not answer.
Soon his bargain fell asleep over her plate
and bottle, and having been aroused, was
escorted up stairs by the landlady; and
Mr.. Budd. who had been wondering what
he could do to escape this dilemma, boited
across the road and up the steps of the
PRETTY parsonage that stood beside the
great church like dwarf beside giant.
The clergyman was in his study when
Mr.. Budd's card was handed TO him, and
he knew it to be that of Mrs. Wimplin's
American ledger. He babe the servant
usher his guest in, and assumed mildly
amiable expression suitable for the occa-
sion.
What was his establishment, then, when
instead of entering with proper bow and
smile, his guest appeared pallid and hor-
ror- stricken, and without any preface flung
at him this question::
"Sir! How do people get married here?'
"Just rs they do in any other Christian
countries, sir, replied the clergyman.
"You can't buy wife for sovereign,
them" asked Mr.. Budd.
"Sir, is it possible l hear person Of
your social position ask such question:
cried the clergyman. "Do you dare to hope
thus to set aside the laws of G cd and man?'
"'Tisn't legal, them" cried Mr.. Budd.
mo, Sir; certainly not" replied the
clergyman. "You can't bring your Ameri.
can principles here"
81 never was SO relieved in my life,'
cried Mr. Budd. "Then both women are
crazy" and with this remark he began tho
true story of his own adventure and hi:
| bargain.