Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-06-27
WOODBURY. N. J, THURSDAY, JUNE 27 1901.

kauny after me, but wouldn't have It.
I told him to save his money, and I'd
come up. So we fixed it that way, and
today the weddin comes off, and
want you to be there. Mr.. Princes
got a minister from Ontonagon, and
he's invited few of his friends to wit
ness the ceremony, and guess it'll be
a pleasant, sociable little gatherin.
Anyhow, it'll be better than waitin for
the train, with nothin to do"
I agreed with the lady and eagerly
accepted her invitation. had Curl
osity to behold this faithful old lover
who had waited Is years, waited with
infinite patience until the girl he loved
had lost all of the attractions of youth,
and yet loved on and now was about to
see his fond dreams realized. The
story seemed rather pathetic to me, al
though it's ludicrous side was very ap-
parent also.
OF the half dozen passengers in the
car, we were the only persons to alight
when the train reached Sidnaw.
helped my companion with her big
valise, and she, carrying a large straw
board box and parcel tied in news
paper, followed me out of the car.
Two or three woodsmen, standing
about the station, gazed idly at us as
we stood undetermined which way to
go. And one lean, sandy whiskered
man, who had been sitting on the plat
form at the farther end, jabbing his
knife into the boards, slowly arose and
advanced.
She was eying him.
''Is this Miss Birtchet" he asked,
with a sheepish smile.
"That's my name," she answered,
"Artemisia Birtchet, and / must say,
Abe Prince, that you seem dreadful
glad to see me-"
He held out his hand, but she could
not take it on account Of the parcels,
and he scratched his head with it.
"This amt Wednesday," he suggest
ed after an interval of thought.
"T know it amt" she answered, "and
it amt Tuesday or Monday, but it's
Thursday, Aug. 13, and was to come
the 18th, if I remember rightly, and I
think do"
He shifted his gaze to me and then
looked at her again.
''By goshr' he said in a hollow voice.
'I've lost my reckonin somehow.
thought the 18th was q Wednesday,
and I had that minister here yester-
day."
"WeIl, where is he now?" asked Miss
Birtchet in a quick, harsh voice.
'sHe went back. I kinder thought
you might have changed your mind
again, and"-he struck himself on the
leg-''I don't see." he said, chow the
devil / got off on that date. Are you
sure you amt made no mistake, Arte-
misiaY'
''I'm sure l have made a mistake"
answered Miss Birtchet, with wither-
ing sarcasm. "pve made the mistake
of comm way up here in the woods to
marry a pesky fool. But, thank heav-
ems, I amt done it. If you'll be so
kind and obligin as to hold that bag a
mint longer" she continued, turning
to me, ''Pll just step in here and buy a
ticket for Kaukauny."
The down train was approaching,
and when Miss Birtchet appeared with
her ticket followed her into the rail
road car.
''Aren't you little hasty?" asked.
''Little nothinv' she snapped, and ]
saw that it would be Of no use to argue
with her. left the yalise and bade
her goodby.
When the train was gone, I went
over to the hotel to get my dinner. Mr.
Prince was sitting on the yeranda with
his legs crossed and his thumbs under
his suspenders. His aspect was grave.
''That was rather bad mistake OF
yours" ventured to remark.
''Its just as WELL" he answered II
knew twas just as well the mint set
eyes on her,"