Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26
MR.. POTTER'S JOKE.

his eyes and answered afirmatively by
leaning her head upon his shoulder.
They were sitting In the pretty parlor
Of cozy cottage on tho outskirts Of
Chenille. Their courtship had 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 prize as
Polly Perkins, the prettiest lass in Glen
vile, who had eaten more philopenas and
broken moro 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 man Of property and carried on
. 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 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 was phenomenally IN
stable in his views on religion and pol
tiles; 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 your 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 Republican. and once he
figured as a bright and shining local light
in the ranks Of the Independent party.
Peter Potter was 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
Chenille was considered complete with
out his presence And he WAS very pop
ular with the gentler sex Moreover he
greatly enjoyed practical joke, even if
he himself were the victim of it. In this
respect he could give and take with equal
satisfaction to his risibiities in either
case
Now. when the news got around that
ne had engaged himself to Miss Polly
Perkins the gossips made all sorts of re-
marks about the matter not at all comph-
mentary to Mr.. Peter Potter.
"I'll bet watermelon to a punkin
seed," 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
h. ha Ia. ~ oil ia
Tweedle next week, and with those of
Susie Timlins before Thanksgiving
comes. Poor Polly Perkins, Shes too
nice body to be trifed with and 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 afianced. and received the tattle OF
the busyboties without allowing her good
nature to become rufiied for moment.
why" said she to neighbor one day.
"do you suppose I'm going to go crazy if
he don't keep his word? Oh, no! 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
OF course much of this gossip reached
the ears of Mr.. Peter Potter. ~ho. how
ever, went about his business as usual
and was not at all affected by the coldness
which some of the manageable girls of
the sewing society manifested when he
met them on the street or at church. As
for the gentlernen-those fellows who had
declared that his engagement to Polly was
merely one OF his practical jokes-he
said Let EN- have their fun I'll show
EN- a joke yet that'n make EN- laugh on
the other side Of the mouth"
Well, it was now within week of
Christmas. Invitations to the wedding
had been sent out with tie request that
the recipients be at Miss Perkins Aunt
Betsy's residence at 8 o'clock Of that day
TO witness the ceremony.
It was . conventional gathering of viii
lage society that met there that day.
Even the gossips who had been most in
dustrious III criticising Mr. Peter Potter
were there. The Rev. Philip Thompson
arrived a few moments before the ap-
pointed hour-he was 70 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 tuue 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 knots OF /
guests in the parlor-
4 told you so, said Postmaster Jack I
son Peter Potter il still entitled to the 1
nickname Of Peter Changeabout.' Now, /
renew my bet Of q watermelon 10 pun 1
kin seed that Peter won't be here. Hes /
most cruelty Tilted Polly Perkins. you
bet"
These remarks were addressed to young !
Lawyer Tom Kent, whose conversation /
with long haired. bushy whiskercd and /
heavily mustaehed gentleman Had been i
by them
IT'S too bad-too bad returned the /
LAWYER, but here. Mr.. Jackson, let me In /
troduc> you to M friend, Mr.. Max Spiel |
Ter
The bushy whiske-ed man and the post
master shook hands and then the three
entered into q whispered conversation !
about Peter Potter's non -sppearanoe-
He yos q goos fAiIov. ur1?' Quer.et !,
Mr. Spieuer.
On YES. Peters good enough fellow.
sa-1 Mr. Jackson. bat you So 10 nas a.
WAYS been q very changsable EsAn-shittr
tnr from one idea 10 another about az
lively as 8 fea-and be has Long been con
s,dsred The boss practical joker Of this
,owu reckon that tbs IN ons Of his
Jokes saving which the postmaster
Looked orer toward the hr1de tia. was 20
hare been. and then. turning 70 Mr. Spiel
le- and LAWYER Kea.. be said. laying nis
hand upon NJ SpAeiier's shoulder. Il Pity /
that giriI'
he vcs VOC p-aetikesl ahokz. rm-
Dat ,ur.ht hAt mi. I'm !