The Van Buren press., 1896-01-25
ALES FAIR In LOVE.
by HENRY FIELDING.

Zebediah Dunkly had lived at Lam-
bertyille all his life, and so had his fa-
thcr and grandfather before him. lie
was now fairly prosperous, as small
farmers 90, but felt TINT there
was something wanting to com
plete his sum of human happi-
ness. That something was wife.
The desirability of securing a partner
of his joys and sorrows had often be-
fore presented itself, and upon each
recurrence with additional force, until
now the temptation to leap into the
matrimonial sen was irresistible. He
did not know whether the plunge would
be into hot water or cold, but he de-
termined to take 1t nevertheless.
Zebcdiah was not altogether the sort
of person whose successful siege of n
fair maiden'a heart would be fore
gone conclusion. There was nothing
of the Adonis about him; none of those
physical attractions which an aesthete
would be likely to fall down and wor-
ship before; in fact, he was decidedly
homely. His hnir was red and stood
out from his head with an aggressive
ness against which the most liberal use
of bears grease was impotent, and with
n luminosity which was dazzling. His
beard was also red, and his complexion,
when 1t could be discerned amidst a
labyrinthine network of freckles, was
florid too. His eyes were too small;
his nose had run TO nostrlls, and his
mouth was too large. These draw
backs Notwithstanding, he was yet q
deserving fellow. lie had genial,
jovial dispositions; he was honest he
was good-hearted; generous friend
and n magnanimous foe, and, as has been
shown, his farm yielded him comfort
able competence, while he had besides
neat little sum In the bank.
When aforetimes his mind had light
~ turned to thoughts of love, II had
always rested with the sincerest adj
miration on the shapely figure and be-
witching personality OF Deborah Spayd,
the daughter of the village storekeeper.
In lieu of more presentable swains the
nstutc Deborah, who also recognized
that she was not for all markets, who
was on the shady side Of 30 (Zeb, it
may be noted, was past 40), and whose
charms were unmistakably upon the
wane, had lent plant ear TO his plead
ings, but her parents were disposed
to fly for higher game.
BY way of rest and change after
.,.nr., .,f I,,atuauu roe olJ
Spayd had taken his wife and daugh-
ter to see the wonders of Chicago and
the worlds fair. While there the old
man had renewed acquaintance with
Solomon Slowcombe, now a rich mer-
chant in the Windy city, but who in
the days gone by had been intimately
associated with Spayd in the little Lam
bcrtvillc store. But that was ten years
ago, and the two men had not met in
all the intervening time.
At that remote period there had
seemed possibility of their relations
becoming even more intimate, for Solo
mon courted Deborah assiduously. But
she had declined his proffered hand
and heart, and he had gone his way
alone. Now, under altered circum-
stances. finding him in Chicago
wealthy merchant, Deborah was dis
posed 10 be more considerate, and at
her wise mothers instigation she en-
which he very promptly did, and his
wooing prospered rapidly.
At the expiration of the months stay
In Chicago il was understood that the
two were engaged to be married Mt
an early date. The Spayds returned to
Lambertyille, Solomon undertaking
soon to fellow on "A visit TO his fiancee
The unweleome news of the betrothal
was not long in reaching the ears of
Zebediah Dunkly, but he took the re-
verse OF fortune with stoical imper-
turbability worthy of Spartan philos-
opher; In fact those who knew him
best averred that there was something
unnatural in the calmness with which
he surveyed his shattered hopes and
his lacerated. bruised and bleeding
heart. IL was felt that there was some
thing behind it all; that he was not
t1e man 70 80 meekly submit and so
readily relinguiEb plans which it was
known nc had most fondly cherished.
People believed he was meditating
some scheme of revenge; some way
Of getting even with his successful
rlTal, but what form il would take no
body could imagine.
Shortly before the date on which Sol
omoE was expected 10 pay his prom
ised visit to his prospective bride zeb-
ediah startled the whole village 10y mys-
feriously disappearing No one knew
whittier he had gone and no one was