Mohave County miner., 1888-09-29
MIR. POTfER'S JOKE.

x0u nave mAne Ine very naPPy, Tcuys
and s'pose we set the day for ChristmaG."
Miss Polly Perkins looked lovingly into
his eyes and answered affirmatively by
leaning her head upon his shoulder.
They were sitting In the pretty parIcr
of cozy cottage on the outskirts OF
Glenville. Their courtship had not l,ecn
. long one--in fact, II had been short,
earnest and decisive. and when Mr.. Peter
Potter parted with his betrothed that
Sunday night he considered himself a very
lucky man in securing such . prize as
Polly Perkins. the prettiest lass In Glen.
Vile, who had eaten more philopenag and
broken more chicken breast bones than
any maiden for miles around.
True, sho was only 20. while Peter was
bachelor away up In the thir.ies: but
be was man Of property and carried on
thriving grocery business In tho village;
and there were some girls In Glenville
II they had overheard the engageraent
words spoken that Sunday night.
Christmas was now only two months off
and Polly at once began to procure her
wedding trousseau She was q poor girl
Who made her living by working in 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-
sion, she could be as tart as vinegar.
Mr.. Peter Potter was queer mental
compound. He wss phenomenAlly un.
stable In his views on religion and pol
itics; 30 much 90, in fact, that he had
won the nickname Of Peter Change.
shout" and no one moro 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 ho was an ardent Democrat; the next
year he was o Republican, and ones he
figured as a bright and shining local light
In tho ranks Of the Independent party.
Peter Potter was man well liked by
the people Of Glenvilie. He was not
stingy. He was foremost In woriss 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
q 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 practical joke, even II
he himself were the victim of 1t. III this
respect be could give and take with equal
satisfaction to his risibilities In either
case. .
Now, when the news got around that
he had engaged himself to Miss Polly
Perkins the gossips made all sorts Of re-
marks about the matter not at all compli.
mentary to Mr.. Peter Potter.
"I'll bet a watermelon TO p,inkin
seed" said Bill jackson, the postmaster,
ss41,k D<<k bn<~ ha,. 81 I,>xtx
the time comes. OF course he now thinks
be smitten with the charms Of Sallie
Susie Timkins before Thanksgiving
nice q body TO be trifed with and made
the jest and jeer Of all the girls ir this
town" ...... +, ..
And this was the popular view taken Of
the situation, and some OF tho gossips
were not dilatory In saying 80 much TO
Miss Perkins. Nevertheless she had faith
the busybodies without allowing her good
nature to become ruffled for moment.
"Why," said she to neighbor one day,
''do you suppose I'm going. to 60 crazy u
he don't keep his word? Oh, mol There's
lu6L 10 RUOd U5tl III Sut Sc1 10 CNcE van
caught, you know" and then she laughed
most heartily and went tripping along the
roadside humming CHEEKY air.
the ears Of Mr.. Peter Potter, who, how
ever, went about his business as usual
and was not at all affected by the coldness
the sewing society manifested when he
49, xhn S4r oko ohrrpe1, Ao
for the gentlemen--those fellows who had
| declared that his engagement to Polly was
merely one Of his practical 1okes--hc
| EN- q Joke yet thatu make en- laugh on
the other side Of the mouth"
Well, 1t was now within o week Of
Christmas Invitations to the wedding
| had been sent out with the request thai
the recipients be at Miss Perkins Aunt
| Betsy's residence at o'clock of that day
| to witness the ceremony.
1t was a conventional gathering OK vii
| lage society that met there that day.
Even the gosaips who had been most In
| dustrious in criticising Mr. Peter Potter
were there. The Rev. Philip Thompson
arrived q few moments before the up.
pointed hour--he was to be master of
| ceremonies and when the old clock
| struck 8 there was only one absentee.
| Miss Polly Perkins, prettily attired in
white silk, white kids, white tule veil
| and orange blossoms, was standing by Q
window In close conversation with Aunt
Betsy. Ten minutes passed, and then
low mutterings were heard from kaots OF
guests In the parlor. ...s .s-
II told You So" said Postmaster Jack.
son. Peter Potter Is stu entitled to the
nickname Of Peter Changeabout.' Now,
/ renew my bet of watermelon to pun
kin seed that Peter won't be here. He's
most cruelty Tilted Polly Perkins. You
bet"
These remarks were addressed 70 young
Lawyer Tom Kent, whose conversation
with q long haired, bashy whiskeYed and
heavily mustached gentleman had been
interrupted by them. $751;. ... :
ITS too bad-too bad" returned the
lawyer, "but here, Mr.. Jackson, let me In.
troduce you to my friend, Mr. Max Spiel
ler. . ...
The bushy whiskeredman md the post
master shook hands and then the three
entered into whispered conversation
about Peter Potter's non-appearance.
"He vos goot failiow, umf' queried
Mr. Spieller.