Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-02-02
Marriage: A Lottery
By Frank Brandram
GEORGE WOODRUFF

GEORGE WOODRUFF was easy.
II That is somewhat of a slang term
10 apply to a man; but there is 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 a fool by any means. His
naturally acute mentality had been
disciplined and strengthened by a lib
eral education; and, however easy he
might be in general way, he had been
known, on some rare occasions, to in
dulge a noble rage at something par
ticuIarly 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 mis- 80 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 it is worth while to fret
about.
II was this philosophical tempera-
ment, added to his good looks, and plus,
caused him to be the most popular
young man in Danville.
Danville was not very pepulous; and
there were none too many eligible
young men for the unusually large per-
eentage 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 to be
wondered at if the usual relations be-
tween the sexes were in a measure re-
versed, and Woodruff. instead of court
ing. found himself courted-by the
young ladies of DanviIle.
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 Tearing 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, it must
be admitted that Woodruff, neverthe-
less, was somewhat of a 1irt. 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 intention,
there was more than one maiden in
Danyille 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
utes 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 off,
''To-whati'
"Yesl Actually! Rattle himself"
But what for? For a season."
MOTOR the church."
But is it to be some girls beau for
the season.
NO; you don't understand Whis-
per-
The strange, momentous secret was
whispered; and Miss Judson's only
commentary was contained in the ques-
ton:
who is selling the tickets?"
Miss DENLY was unable to vouchsafe
information upon this important de-
:.li::, and hurried off in order to convey
the news TO as many more of her friends
as possible.
Before sunset that day every unmar-
ried maiden in DanviIle under the age
of so was in a state of nervous excite
meIt, produced by protracted andcom-
pick calculations of her mathematical
possibilities of success in the fateful |
game of draw impending.
Miss Matilda Murchison, who had |
seen 46 summers if she had seen sun
SET. became so interested in the pros I
pective race that she paid a visit to her |
fathers lawyer, and asked him, "on be- |
half of a young friend of hers, if win
ncr in case like this could insist upon !
the delivery of the prize; or, failing |
that, recover damages for breach of the |
contract implied. On behalf of her
young friend she appeared to take i;
very much to heart when the old man |
of the law replied. CURLY:
Madame, all lotteries are illegal"
Well, about the lottery itself. 1t all |
came about in this way:
The Church of st. Stephen had been
for a very long time badly in need of
renovation and repairs. 1t was an old
church-one of the Oldest in the state;
o,.;r<. 10 Of l
Anticipated type. alike unsightly and
uncomfortable; the old gallery, run
ming around three sides of the interior,
was likewise an eyesore; it was never
occupied, and it cried aloud for re-
moval; the communion table was rick
ETY.; the pulpit steps creaked, the read
ing desk reeled and tottered at touch