Milford chronicle., 1888-11-09
MR.. POTTER'S JOKE.

MISS EOlly Aouh0Q LOVINGLY Lllo
his eyes and answered afirmatively by
leaning her head upon his shoulder.
They were sitting in the pretty parlor
of a coy cottage on the outskirts of
Glenville. Their courtship hal not been
long one-in fact, it had been short,
earnest and decisive, and when Mr.. Peter
Potter parted with his betrothed that
Sunday night he considered himself very
lucky man in securing such a prize as
Polly Perkins sthe prettiest lass in Glen
vile, who had eaten more philopenas and
broken more chicken breast bones than
any maiden for miles around.
True, she was only 20, while Peter was
bachelor away up in the thirties; but
he was a man Of property and carried on
a thriving grocery business in the village;
and there were some girls in Glenville
who would have felt very much put out"
if they had overheard the engagement
words spoken that Sunday night.
Christmas was now only two months of
and Polly at once began to procure her
wedding trousseau. She was poor girl
who made her living by working in a cot
ton factory, and she had no relative in the
world except an old maiden aunt with
whom she lived. She was bright girl,
somewhat pert in manners, and, on Occa-
/ IL
Mr. Peter Potter was q queer mental
compound. He was phenomenally un-
stable in his views on religion and pol
ltics; so much so, In fact, that he had
won the nickname of Peter Change
about. and no one more faithfully OBJ
served the maxim, when you're among
Romans do as the Romans do, than he.
In politics he was equally tickle. One
year he was an ardent Democrat; the next
year he was a Republican, and once he
figured as a bright and shining local light
In the ranks of the Independent party.
Peter Potter was a man well liked by
the people of Glenville He was not
stingy. He was foremost in works of
charity and many poor family. to which
enforced idleness or sickness had brought
privation, was the recipient of substan-
tial gifts from his store. He was always
cheerful man, and no social party In
Glenville was considered complete with
out his presence. And he was very pop
ular with the gentler sex. Moreover he
greatly enjoyed a practical joke, even if
he himself were the victim of it. In this
respect he could givetand take with equal
satisfaction to his risibilities in either
case.
Now, when the news got around that
Perkins the gossips made all sorts of re-
marks about the matter not at all compH-
mentary to Mr.. Peter Potter.
"Ill bet q watermelon to a punkin
seed" b" said Bill jackson, the postmaster,
that Peter Potter won't be on hand when
the time comes. OF course he now thinks
he loves Miss Perkins, but he's likely to
be smitten with the charms of Sallie
Tweedle next week, and with those of
Susie Timkins before Thanksgiving
comes. Poor Polly Perkinsl She's too
nice a body to be trihed with aud made
the jest and jeer of all the girls in this
town"
And this was the popular view taken of
the situation, and some of the gossips
were not dilatory in saying so much to
Miss Perkins. Nevertheless she had faith
in her affianced, and received the tattle of
the busybodies without allowing her good
nature to become rufied for a moment.
"Why," said she to a neighbor one day,
'do you suppose I'm going to 60 crazy if
he don't keep his word? Oh, moi There's
Just as good fish in the sea as ever was
caught, you know" and then she laughed
most heartily and went tripping along the
roadside humming a CHEEKY air.
Of course much of this gossip reached
ever, went about his business as usual
and was not at all affected by the coldness
which some of the marriageable girls of
the sewing society manifested when he
met them on the street or at church. As
for the gentlemen-those fellows who had
declared that his engagement to Polly was
merely one of his practical jokes-ho
said: Let em have their fun. I'll show
EN- joke yet thRtn make 'em laugh on
the other side of the mouth.
Well, it was now within a week of
Christmas. Invitations to the wedding
had been sent out with the request that
the recipients be at Miss Perkins Aunt
Betsy's residence at 3 o'clock of that day
to witness the ceremony.
It was a conventional gathering of vii
lage society that met there that day.
Even the gossips who had been most in
dustrious in criticising Mr.. Peter Potter
were there. The Rev. Philip Thompson
arrived a few moments before the ap-
pointed hour-he was to be master of
ceremonies - and when the old clock
struck 3 there was only one absentee.
Miss Polly Perkins, prettily attired in
white silk, white kids, white tulle veil
and orange blossoms, was standing by
window in close conversation with Aunt
low mutterings were heard from knots of
guests in the parlor,
Il told you So" said Postmaster Jack
son. peter Potter is still entitled to the
nickname of Peter Changeabout.' Now,
renew my bet of a watermelon to a pun
kin seed that Peter won't be here. He's
most cruelty Tilted Polly Perkins, you
bet"
These remarks were addressed to young
Lawyer Tom Kent, whose conversation
with long haired, bushy whiskered and
heavily mustached gentleman had been
interrupted by them.
"It's too bad-too bad" returned the
lawyer, but here, Mr.. jackson, let me in
troduce you to my friend, Mr.. Max Spiel
Ter.
The bushy whisl1ered man and the post
master shook hands and then the three
entered into a whispered conversation
about Peter Potter's non-appearance.
He vos gOot faillOw, umT queried
Mr.. Spieller.
"Oh yes, Peters good enough fellow"
said Mr.. jackson, but you sec he has al
ways been very changeable man--shift-
ing from one idea to another about as
lively as a fiea-and he has long been con-
Bidered the boss practical joker of this
town reckon that this is one of his
Jokes" saying which the postmaster
looked over toward the bride that was to
have been, and then, turning to Mr.. Spiel
Ter and Lawyer Kent, he said, laying his
hand upon Mr.. Spiellers shoulder, Il pity
that girlP
"He vos Won practikeel shoker, um,
meinheer2 Dot mustn't haf matt i'm a
ferry funny faillow, umf' said the man
with the bushy whiskers.
"Yes, you bet he was, and"-
At this instant the attention of the
three was diverted to a group of young
women who had surrounded Miss Perkins
and were mingling expressions of sympa-
thy for her with their denunciations Of
her delinquent betrothed. Pollys face
was buried in Aunt Betsy's lap and she
seemed to be weeping
'Mishter Kent, viii you acquaintance