The Van Buren press., 1896-01-25

beard mixed for all / know. You are
a rascal. sir; repeat it, rascal I
Take care. Mr.. Spayd, take care
Take care De darned. Out Of "a
house, sir, out Of my house"
"But listen-hear me-" alternately
pleaded and demanded the unhappy slcs
eombe.
81 don't want to, and | wouldn't be-
lieve +: IL did. Get out of my house, |
say, and take yourself and your harem
Of wives back to Chicago, and never
darken my doors again"
Mrs. spayd was silent, and Deborah
turned from her former sultor with
horror. The two women who were the
cause Of all the trouble looked on un-
concerned, and Zebediah complacently
rendered his sympathies to the girl.
Slocombe did not stir. Then old
spayd approached him in great wrath
and threatened to kick him out If he
didn't look more lively. AT length,
frightened out of his wits by the
threatening attitude the latter had as
sumed, slocombe dashed out of the
house and rushed to the depot with the
clamorous and indignant Chicagoans at
his heels. The next train bore the
party west.
The afternoon following this adgen-
ture, ZeDcdiah, dressed in his best and
driving his finest turnout, overlook
Miss Deborah spayd as she was walk
ing through the village. He reined his
horse and accosted her.
Hello, Deborah, get in and take a
ride"
Don't keer II do" replied the girl,
accepting the proffered seat.
"Say," continued Zebediah, grinning,
"that ere city feller's turned out u
pooty pup. amt hep
Its dreadful, If it's true" replied
Deborah.
"You had a narrow escape, didn't
you2" pursued her old lover. "What
do your folks think about it?"
"They amt said parry word abyat
1t since he cleared out"
"Forgot that night rode you homo
from the singing class?" asked Zebedi-
ah, suddenly branching off.
"No, amt" replied Deborah, blush.
ing and smiling at the same time
Remember them apples as l CIV
you?"
"Oh, yes"
swell, they was good, wasn't they ?"
"Fust rate"
Got hull orchard o. them kind er
fruit, Deb" said Zebediah suggestive
ly. Deborah was silent.
"G'lan," exclaimed Zebediah, to his
horse. "Hev you any idee where you
are going, Deb?p
I'm going to the village" responded
tine girl.
mo, you amt. You are going with
me-"
'Where to?"
Right to parsons, and you don't
come back till you are Mrs. Zebediah
Dunkly, no matter how you fix it."
How you do talk, Zeb. What'll the
old folks say7"
Darn the old folk. If was to leave
you with them much longer they'd be
tradin' you off for some other city fell
Ter with carload O. wives and a or
phanage O. kids"
The girl was powerless, probably
willing; Zeb was persistent and gained
his way, and that afternoon they were
made one.
The next day, as Mr.. and Mrs. Zebe-
diah Dunkly returned home in the
wagon, Iebediah said to his wife con-
fidentially:
''Say, Deb, may as well tell you now,
as | hain't got no secrets from you any
iuore. That Slocombe never seed them
women afore they came into the house
and blowed him up. | had, though,
and it cost me $40 too. | taught 'em
what to say, and | think they done the
business pretty good. Solomon Slo-
combe may be from Chicago and be a
city feller, but if he expects to get
ahead of Zebediah Dunkly he must
get up plaguey sight earlier morn.
ings. banner of Gold.