Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-03-04


much worried; but, as Jack now for the
first time acknowledged, "the boy could
take care of himself"
Jack and l talked it over during the
day, and he expressed a good deal of re-
gret, thinking, however, that Nettie had
decided for herself, and that Shorty had
no one to blame for his failure. "lf it had
been different" he went on, "and Percy
had preserved and won | would have given
in and | think Parker would too, for next
year Percy will come into about fifteen
thousand. You see, I've never told him of
it, because | wanted him to grow up on
his merits and be sclf-relant | think
it has been for the best. Joe never
knew, until he was of age, that he had
anything, and we didn't tell Percy of it
then, because he was only seventeen. Joe
put his money into the ranch here and
kept quiet about it.
He sat silent for a minute. then COntin-
ued: "Of course, this is between ourselves.
But-do you know, wish the boy had
won. He's a good deal of man, and, now
| come to think of it, the affair has hit him
hard. They could have waited a couple of
years. you know And Jack walked off,
slowly taking long whffs at his pipe
Several weeks passed, during which
saw Nettie Parker several times. She
seemed different. Her laugh was not the
Jolly laugh had been accustomed to hear,
and she seemed pensive at times. Was it
her approaching wedding, or-Shorty? |
hoped it was Shorty. But, somehow,
when people pine. they seem to lose color
and get thin, and Nettie Parker did Meth
err And still no word from Shorty, and
the day for the wedding only "A week
away.
1t was Wednesday of Thanksgiving
week, and there had been great prepare
tons at Parkers. The people for miles
around were invited to the wedding, which,
old Sam 'lowed,, would be 9TH bang
uppest thing they ever he'd in tn kentry.'
| rode into town to buy, ON behalf Of Jack
and myself, something to present to the
bride-eect. In the post-oilice some one
tapped me on the shoulder. | turned.
1t was Shorty Fleming shorty, with a
handsome mustachc and smiling quite
happily.
"How long before you're going out?" he
asked.
Right now"
"Bully! Faber, 90 and borrow a horse
until to-moTow-tell EN- yours is lame,
and you'll have to lead him. Nobody has
recognized me back of this overcoat-collar
and the hirsute adornment, and ! don't
want EN- to. I'll walk out and head up
the road. Hurry up with the horses"
In about twenty minutes was following
him, riding horse | had borrowed from
my friend the doctor, and leading my own.
| soon caught up with Shorty, and we hur-
ried on. Shorty showed me a letter sign
ed "Nettie,' and proceeded to unfold a
plan he had in mind, which, for the quail
ty of pure "nerve," l had never heard sur
passed.
There was nobody at the house but Man
uel, the cook, and Shorty soon had him
sworn to silence, after which he proceeded
to camp in the cold little upstairs store
room off my den, where nobody could find
him. Jack was not to know of his pres
ence, he said, because Jack is so thunder
ing honest and persnickety and would squal
or spoil the job
The half-hundred guests at Parker's had
been enjoying Thanksgiving day to the
full. All of Mrs. Parker's good things
had been slowed away where they would
do the most good. The minister from
town was getting ready for the ceremony,
and the guests were bustling about, amid
some confusion, trying to find the best
points for observation. Nette Parker,
pale for once, stood near the front door,
pulling her fingers nervOusly, waiting, sup.
posedly, for her father.
Some one knocked at the door. Nettie
pulled it open, gave little cry, grabbed a
mans hat from the back of a chair and an
overcoat from peg near by, and rushed
out, slamming the door. Everybody who
saw the performance stood still, dazed.
Then, as we heard horses hoofs clatter-
ing up the road, there was a rush for the
outside. Up the road, disappearing fast, were
two horses, whose riders were evidently in
a hurry. There was another rush-this
time for the stables-led by old Sam Park
er. But, somehow, the doors would not
open. They had been nailed up, very Sc
curely by a person who was at that mo
ment making hypocritical efforts to get
one of them open.
When they finally succeeded in mounting
two or three men for pursuit, the runa-
ways had three or four miles start. At
this jncture, Cottrell, as cool as if he had
never thought of attending his own we'd
ding, came up and spoke quietly to old
Parker, who was so daZed that he had not
opened his mouth so far.
The old man started. by CORY, Nor
ris, mcbbe thet's erect. No use yowlin'
over split milk. Come OH boys" And
they rode off, but not very rapidly.
81 told the old gentleman" remarked
Cottrell to me, as we turned toward the
house, THAT it was no use trying to head
them off. They'll be married inside of an
hour Then, in tone that contained no
trace of bitterness, he continued:
sit is far better to have happened now
than-than later. And-as it isl think
maybe there will be only one unhappy per-
son, instead of three" That was Morris
Cottrell-philosoph and man.
Mr.. and Mrs. Percival Fleming were met
at the Justices Office by old Sam Parker,
who remarked: "Wa-al, swow! Yew air
a nervy boy! Amt We both ashamed
On't?'
No, they were not and, after Nette had
had a good cry in her fathers arms, the
runaways We're escorted back to the Parker
ranch to receive the congratulations of
their friends, foremost among whom was
Morris COttrell.