Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-05-21


was not the Jolly laugh ! had been
accustomed to hear, and she seemed
pensive at times. Was il her ap-
proaching wedding or Shortly
hoped itwas Shorty. But somehow
when people pine they seem to lose
color and get thin. and Nettie Parker
did neither. 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 prep
arations at Parker's. The people for
miles around were invited to the
wedding. which, old Sam flowed. ''
would be 'th' barlguppest thing they
ever he'd in tn kentry." l rode into
town to buy on behalf of Jack and
myself something to present to the
bride elect. In the postoffice some
one tapped me ON the shoulder.
turned. 1t was Shorty Fleming
Shorty, with a handsome mustache
and smiling quite happily.
How long before you're going
OulE iiG ochCtl.
Right now"
Bully Faber, go and borrow a
horse until tomorrow; tell 'em yours
is lame and you'll have to lead him.
Nobody has recognized me back of
this Overcoat collar and the hirsute
adornment, aud / don't want 'em to.
I'll walk out and head up the road.
Hurry up with the horses"
In about twenty minutes / was fol
lowing him, riding a horse / had
borrowed and leading my own. l
soon caught up with Shorty, and we
hurried on. Shorty showed me a
letter signed ''Nettie, and proceeded
to unfold a plan he had in mind,
which, for the quality of pure
nerve" | had never heard sur
passed.
There was nobody at the house but
Manuel, the cook, and Shorty soon
had him sworn to silence, after which
he proceeded to camp in the cold lit
tie up stairs storeroom off my den,
where nobody could find him. Jack
was not to know of his presence, he
said, because Jack is so laundering
honest and persniclety, and would
squeal or spoil the job
The half hundred guests at Park
er's had been enjoying Thanksgiving
day to the full All of Mrs. Parkers
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. Nettie
Parker, pale for once, stood near the
front door pulling her fingers nerv-
ously, waiting, supposedly, for her
father.
Some one knocked at the door,
Nettie pulled it open, gave a little
cry, grabbed a mans hat from the
back of chair and an overcoat from
a peg near by, and rushed out, slam
ming the door. Everybody who saw
the performance stood still, dazed
Then, as we heard horses hoofs clat-
tering up the road, there was rush
for the outside. Up the road, disap-
pearing 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 securely, by a person who was
at that moment making hypocritical
efforts to get one of them open.
When they finally succeeded in
mounting two or three men for pur-
suit the runaways had three or four
miles start. At this juncture Cot
trell, 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 goTTy,
Morris, mebbe thet's erect No use
yowin over split milk. Come on,
boys" And they rode off, but not
very Idpl'ly'
Il told the old gentleman" re-
marked 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 a tone that contained no trace of
bitterness, he continued:
1T is far better to have happened
now than-than later. And-as it is
I think maybe there win be only
one unhappy person, instead of
three" That was Morris Cottrell-
philosopher and man.
Mr., and Mrs Percival Fleming were
met at the Justices oidce by old Sam
Parker, who remarked; "Wa-al, l
5wowl Yew air nervy boyl Amt
ye both ashamed on't"
No, they were not; and after Net
tie had had a good cry in her fathers
arms the runaways were escorted
back to the Parker ranch to receive
the congratulations of their friends,
foremost among whom was Morris
Cottren. r L. Ketchum in San
Francisco ArgUnaut