The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-14
Marriage: A Lottery
EoRGE WOODRUFF was cas-
BY Frank Brandram

y .
VI That is somewhat of a slang term
TO apply to man; but there lis no
other one word that will quite SO ade-
.quately characterize him.
He was what is known as "easy 60
ing;" easy, likewise, in his manners
and address; easy OF handling by those
requiring favor of any kind.
He was not fool by any means. His
naturally acute mentality had been
disciplined and strengthened By lib
eral education; and, however easy he
might be in a general way, he had been
known, on some rare occasions TO in
.dulge a noble rage al something par
ticularly mean or vile.
But, comfortably situated, so far as
the necessaries, and even the elegances,
of life were concerned, he had found, in
the course of his 20 years experience
that it is much simpler TO take things
as they come, rather than to worry con
tinually-that, really, there are very
few things that il is worth while TO fret
about.
1t was this philosophical tempera-
ment, added to his good looks, anG plus,
perhaps, his independence of toll, that
caused him to be the most popular
young man in Danyille.
Danvlle was not very populous; and
there were none too many eligible
young men for the unusually large per
centage of amiable, pretty and talent
ed maidens, who made the social life of
that fair city particularly seductive to
the stranger within her gates.
Perhaps, therefore, it is hardly 10 be
wondered at il the usual relations be-
tween the sexes were in measure re-
versed, and Woodruff. instead OF court
ing, found himself courted-by the
young ladies' of Danvile.
Up to the age Of 80, however, he had
proved unsusceptible to all their blan-
dishments. He was courteous and even
gallant on all occasions to women OF
whatever age; in fact, his bearing TO
the fair sex might have been construed
into a silent prayer that womankind
had "but one mouth, that he might kiss
them ALL"
Devoid of egotism or vanity, il must
be admitted that Woodruff, neverthe-
less, was somewhat of a fiirt. Yet his
flirting was Of that harmless character
which springs from sheer good humor
from the desire to please and to be
pleased-from the unalloyed delight
which the masculine nature, when re
fined, finds in the society OF the finer
sex
But for all his innocence OF fintention,
there was more than one maiden in
Danville who, in her own secret heart,
thought that George Woodruff had
treated her shamefully"-simply be.
cause he had not married her!
One fine morning the femininity OF
Danville was set all in futter.
what do you think!" said Miss Dolly |
DENLY. who was making morning call |
on Miss Jennie Judson-and 20 min |
utcs after Miss Jennie Judson apostro-
phised her dearest friend Allie Allison
in the same formula; and so it went
round: Whatever in the world do you |
think? George Woodruff is going to
rattle himself offl"
'To-whati"
"Yes! Actuallyl Rattle himself"
But what for? For season."
"No-for the church."
"But is 1t TO be some girls beau for
the seasonT'
mo; you don't understand. Whis-
per-"
The strange, momentous secret was
whispered; and Miss Judson's only
waseontaine,l in the ques-
ton:
"Who Is selling the etickets?"
Miss DENLY was unable to vouchsafe
information upon this important de-
.ail, and hurried off in order to convey
the news to as many more of her friends
Ms possible.
Before sunset thatday every unmar-
ried maiden in Danville under the age
Of so'was in state Of nervous excite
nent. pFo5xeej' By, protracted and COM