Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-03

us do when, after having related a
marvellous piece Of news. our audience
fails to evince the requisite degree Of
surprise. 1.-THE strange part of it is"
she went on, that nobody has the
faintest idee why they never married.
At first folk said 1t was her father OBJ
jected; then when he died they said
it was his mother that didn't like Jane;
then when the old lady dropped off it
must be his sister Mary that was in
the way; then it was her Aunt Susan,
next his cranky brother John. and SO
on till every blessed man and woman
that could a. had the slightest reason
to object was gone. And all that time
Elias has been there every Saturday
night and every Sunday afternoon as
regla as clockwork, and never on any
other day, and that's why am so sur
prised to see him there this mornin."
"And folks amt never had no clew
as to why they didn't marry?' asked
Mrs. Rollins. with pyrotechnical dis
play of negatives. Z
"Not the least in this world. There's
old Mrs. Clawson, over on Pearl street,
that's been through everybody's affairs
with lantern; she's tiggered on 1t till
she's nigh about crazy sometimes. She
| won't ever own up that she don't know,
but she'll give you one reason today,
and If you ask her next week she'll
give you another. Elias is well to do,
and Jane owns that big house and a
200 acre farm. If they'd "a broke the
match square off, there wouldn't "a
been anything strange about it, but to
keep right on a-courtin has made it the
mystery Of the town." w
"They're a-gittin along in years, and
I don't s'pose 1t would seem right to
'em. either, to break off or to marry"
observed Mrs. Rollins quietly. 81
guess it's got to be a habit, same as
drinkin coffee or smokin. But don't
hold with long engagements myself"
She pulled her sunbonnet forward,
tied the string slowly and passed on up
| the street.
II don't believe that woman would
be the least bit surprised If the presi
dent and the queen of Spain would
ride past together in buggy" thought
| Mrs. Jorden as she looked after her
uelghbor. After having remained Mt
! the gate some time she went into the
| house, sat down at the window and
| took up her knitting work. She could
| knit and see all that was going on in
the street Mt the same time. After
awhile the door Of the red brick house
| opened and the minister came out. She
beckoned to him and ran out to the
gate.
u made some raspberry vinegar yes
terday." she said, after they had shaken
hands and inquired after each others
| health, land I thought bottle of 1t
would brace up your mother this hot
weather. I'll bring it out right away"
Thank you kindly. Mrs. Jorden,' he
replied, "but will call for 1t another
time. 7 must hasten back to the par
sonage. where am to marry another
couple at half past 10 o'clock
Another couple! You amt been a.
marryin," and she paused with gasp
of astonishment. He nodded and smil.
ed. "Our friends Miss I.arkum and
Mr.. Pollock are now man and WIFE"
he said.
well, am beat! Did you find out
what had delayed the weddin so long?"
II did not indeed. but must go.
Good morning, Mrs. Jorden."
Seems as though everything that
could happen in Sanderson is a-happen-
In this week" murmured Mrs. Jorden.
While Mrs. Jorden fingered at the
gate the door of the red brick house
opened once more. and lander Martin,
distant relative of the bride, appear
ed. When he saw the old lady, he i'm
mediately crossed the street and came
toward her. He wore his Sunday suit
and broad grin.
"Have you heard the news?" he ask
ed.
Eyes; Mrs. Gibson just told me, and
l never was so took aback in all my
life. What induced 'em to marry?"
well, you know they've been en-.
gagged for pretty considerable of
SPELL"
II guess do know it, and nobody
knows why they amt been married
long enough to a. had grandchildren
by this time"
lander reached over the fence,
plucked twig from the SNOWFALL bush
ind began to peel the bark off with his
penknife. SIT has been a puzzler,"
said he. "Elias and James about as
close mouthed couple as you'll find in
days ride, and, although I'm a rela-
ton, never found out what put off
the weddtn till this mornin."
Tell me about it. Come in the
house, won't you, and have some cake
and elderberry wine?"
mo; Pm obleeged to you. We had
some cake and ti1in's at the weddin.
Nobody there but the relations, and
that's me and Melissy. She went there
last night. In talkin 1t over Jane told
her why they'd put 1t off so long You
see, they was both Of the opinion TINT
no couple ought to marry till they
could agree on all important subjects.
They was both Presbyterians and
sound on the doctrine of lection. But
1t was politics that kept 'em apart"