St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-15

And Jack walked off slowly, taking long
whiffs at his pipe.
Several weeks passed, during which |
saw Ncttie 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, Oh
Shorty? hoped it was 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 we'd
ding only week away.
1t was Wednesday Of Thanksgiving
week and there had been great prepara-
tions at Parker's. The people for miles
around were invited to the wedding,
which old Sam lowed would be 9TH
bang -uppist thing they ever had in tn
Jack and myself for something to pre-
sent to the bride-elect. In the post Of
fee some one tapped me on the shoulder.
| turned. 1t was Shorty Fleming
Shorty, with a handsome moustache and
smiling quite happily
GLOW long before you're going out?"
he said
"Right now"
"Bully! Faber, 60 and borrow a horse
until -morrow-tell 'em yours is lame,
and You'll have to lead him. Nobody has
recognized me back of this overcoat col
| lar and the hirsute adornment, and |
4 10 nd
head up the road Hurry up with the
| horses"
In about twenty minutes I was follow
ing him, riding horse | had borrowed
from my friend, the doctor, and leading
my own. soon caught up with Shorty,
and we hurried on. Shorty showed me a
letter signed ''Nettie," and proceeded to
unfold plan he had in mind, which, for
the quality of pure ''nervc,' | had never
heard surpassed.
There was nobody at the house but
him sworn to silence, after which he pro
cceded to camp in the cold little up
stairs storeroom off my den, where no.
| body could find him. Jack was not to
know of his presence, he said, because
Jack is so laundering honest and per-
snickety, and would squeal or spoil the
job.'
i
The half-hunlred guests at Parker's
had been enjoying Thanksgiving Day to
the full All of Mrs Parker's good
things had been stored 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.
| Ncttie Parker, pale for once, stood near
the front door, pulling her fingers ner-
viously, waiting, supposedly, for her
| father.
Some one knocked at the door, Net
tie pulled it open, gave little cry,
grabbed a mans hat from the back of Il
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 hoots gathering up the road there
was rush for the outside. Up the road,
disappearing fast, were two horses,
whose riders were evidently in hurry
There was another rush-this time for
the stables-lcd by old Sam Parker.
! 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 mount
ing two or three men for pursuit, the
runaways had three or four miles start.
At this juncturc. Cottrcll, as cool as if he
had never thought of attending his own
wedding, came up and spoke quietly to
old Parker, who was 50 dazed that he
had not opened his mouth so far
"Thc old man started. "By CORY,
Morris, mebbe thet's erect. No use
yowlin' over split milk. Come on, boys"
And they rolc off, but not very rapidly.
II told the old gentlemen remarked
COttrcll to me as we turned towards the
house. "that it was no use trying to head
them off. They'll be married inside of
an hour" Then, in tone that betrayed
no trace Of bitterness, he continued:
Z" 1t is far better to have happened now
than-than later. Anu-as it isl think
maybe there will be only one unhappy
person, instead of three. That was Nor
ris Cottrell-philosopher and man.
Mr.. and Mrs. Percival Fleming were
met at the Justices office by old Sam
Parker, who remarked: Wa-al, |
swow! Iew air a nervy boy. Amt We
both ashamed ont 2"
No, they were not; and, after Nettie
had had good cry in her fathers arms,
the runaWays were escorted back to the
Parker ranch to receive the congratua-
tons of their friends, foremost among
whom was Morris Cottrcll.-L The Argo-
naut.