The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-06-17
WINNING A WIDOW.
EVERYBODY WAS AT THE WEDDING
EXCEPT MISS BECKETT.


EXCEPT MISS BECKETT.
A story Of village Courtship fron In
dIana-The wedding Excited Zeal Of
Interest Because the Groom Was an
Undertaken, who Had Buried Many.
Undertaken Samuel Payey and Mrs,
Sarah Milliken, who has been known in
Aristotle, Ind, for twenty-five years as
Achilles or Kill Milliken's widow, were
married recently in the presence Of
everybody in this village except old Miss
Beckett. Miss Beckett would have been
present IT she had not left her sick
bed last week to call ON Mrs. Milllken
and inquire into the particulars Of the
engagement. After this imprudenee she
had a relapse and has been unable to
leave her bed. She was propped up at
the window all the afternoon, however,
and saw everybody that went in or out
of church. -..- ..-..t
Undertaken Pavey has buried all of
the dead here for the past sixty years.
He is now q tall, thin man, with close
cropped white hair and smooth shaven
face, and always dresses in black, as be-
comes an undertaken, Only the Oldest
citizens can remember when he looked
any different from the way he looks
now. His wife died forty years ago,
and he has kept shy Of all lnaidens and
widows ever since. Years ago he was
abandoned by the most persistent match
makers as hopeless case.
The widow of Kill Millken is an esti-
mable lady, great maker Of cakes for
the church festivals and clever at Gro
cheting worsted tides, with q large
number of which the chairs and the sofa
in her front parlor are adorned, As
there has been q good deal of curiosity
about her engagement and marriage,
she has consented to public statement.
She is short, fat woman, with hair of
a peculiar shade Of yellow, which she
got by using the hair dye which was ad-
vertised extensively in connection with
her picture and letter of recommends
tion. She says that Mr., Pavey had never
shown any signs of preference for her
whatever, nor had she thought of him
as the successor of Kill until ten days
before the marriage.
About that time he knocked at her
front door at half past II in the morn
ing. 1t was Wednesday and thu
Widow Milliken was deep in the dough
as that is baking day through this who'll
town. She looked out through tn
blinds of the window next the from
door and saw who it was. AS she ha(
known Mr.. PaVey 80 many years shC
just wiped the -four off her hands upoI
her apron and opened the door.
Mr.. Pavey went into the parlor anC
sat down in the Caneseat rocker witt
the green worsted tidy with blue rib
bons through it. He set his tall ha
carefully ON the floor beside him an(
then said:
Good morning, Sarah Milliken."
Good morning, Mr.. PaVey," said Mrs
Milliken. She said that she accentet
the Mr.. so that Mr.. Pavey might under
atand that she had noticed his not call
ing her Mrs. Milliken, as he was aCCua
toned to do. Mrs. Milliken also say
that she had a sort of premonition tina
something was coming.
at can't be that the Gompers girl
deadF' she said anxiously.
'sNO," said Mr.. PaYey. But life
uncertain, Sarah Milliken."
mo one should know that better tina,
you, Samuel Pavey," said the widoy
with one Of her sly laughs,
But Mr.. Pavey did not laugh as h
went on:
"Sarah, you are getting along i
years. You will,soon be in need of IN
services"
II haven't even sent for the dooto
yet, and won't need you till he's don
with me-" said the widow, bridling an
pouting.
"Do you remember the first Mr.
PaveyT said the undertaken, paying n
attention to her and pursuing his ow
gloomy reflections,
II was little girl when she died,
said Mrs. Milliken.
"Yes," said Mr.. PaVey, you had jul
married the late Mr.. Milliken five yeal
before. You remember that she had til
best funeral this town ever saw, not o.
cepting old Captain Lander's funera
which cost five dollars, as should know
if anybody. AS l said, Sarah, you al
getting old, If you marry me will q
as we'll by the second Mrs. Pavey as
did by tka tlrsT."
"You always would have your jok
SAM" said the widow. "What Wi
everybody sayp'
"We are both getting old" said M
Pavey, still paying no attention to viii
the widow was saying. Life is unce
tain. There is no time to lose"
So Mrs. Milliken said, ''All righ
Samuel; whenever you say" a...
"Ten days is long enough, I'll 81
the pastor this afternoon" .". .
Then they shook hands, aud Mr.. r.
vey put on his hat and went away, lool
ing quite gay and clipper as soon as ii
door closed on him, for he did not kno
that Mrs, Milliken was watching hi
through the blinds. Two minutes afte
ward she had called Mrs. Meek, III
next door neighbor, to the back FEM
and had told her all about it. Ten mi
utes afterward by the clock on the cou
house Mrs. Meek, having left her bakel
ia charge OF her daughter Lizzie, hi
on her bonnet and shawl and was hea
tvrs dn,,zgn tba attaat falltnn axyawtyI,ot