The Iola register., 1901-11-29

I'D like to ask the privilege of bein' mar.
ried in your house, Sarah"
'To be sure. To be sure" was the prompt
rejoinder. Anything to see you started
well in life, ii it is little late" And thus
the matter was settled.
Miss Polly Bascom began at once TO pre-
pare for the greatest event in her life. Mr..
Lawson was man of her own age, timid
bachelor who thus far had escaped the
pitfalls OF love, and who, like Polly, had
come to the conclusion that ere long it
would be too late to wed.
His courtship had extended over a series
of months and some said that at the last
moment he would back OUT and leave
Polly still in the matrimonial market
Thanksgiving morning found Polly ready
for her nuptials. The whole neighborhood
was on the qui vive. And why shouldn't il
he? Polly Bascom and Eph Lawson Did
you ever?
II say, Polly, what ii Parson Trmbls
had asked you frsty' queried Mrs. Thorn
son. as she looked al Polly in her wed.
ding gown.
But he didn't. He had more than one
good chance. Sarah and you know that
/ don't want to miss this one" and Polly
laughed as she surveyed herself IN the mir
ror.
The hour OF seven came on apace and
the little parlor in the Thomson home had
been arrayed for the occasion, The few
guests who had been invited had come, and
Parson Trimble accompanied by an itin
Grant minister of his own persuasion, was
likewise on hand. But the bridegroom was
strangely absent.
81 knowed he'd bacl, out These old
bachelors hain't got the spunh Of an
Hell come said Polly. "Eph said he
would and that settles it,
"It1l be sorry Thanksgiving for you,
Polly, if he doesn't
The hour passed and no Ephraim. The
guests looked at one another and always
ended by stealing a glance at Miss Basoom.
She was Illustrated as Mrs. Thomson
said. II she let this opportunity Iip she
might never have another. Polly 0lways
said she would be married on Thsnksgiv-
ing, when she did marry, and ii would bs
a long year before another came round.
Seven--eight o'clock struck.
polly" said Mrs. Foster. are you goin
10 disappoiut uS9 We've come to see YOU
married and there's no Eph here. He
couldn't screw his courage 60 the stickin
! point an
Polly blushed and looked across ths
room where the parson sat.
Il didn't think Eph would act that way,
she said. IT'S treatin me rather shabbily
but Just wait. III show him a thing or two
for no man can trife with the affections oI
Polly BasGom'
In another moment the bride-to be hao
crossed the room and held out her hand
to the parson.
81 want TO say that disown Eph Lawson
"a man who hasn't the courage TO lead q
young lady to the altar she said 81 don Z
like to dsappoint my friends snd-to
morrow won't be Thanksgiving. So, Parson
| Trimble, ii you can take me for better OF
worse-take me yourself, | mean here
Polly blushed again, I'm do the hest can
and Eph Lawson will learn to his sorrow
that he can't tlihe with my affections
Parson Trimblc coughcd little, he said
il was rather sudden that he hadn't thought
of such a thing, though all knew he had
that he didn't care TO infringe on another
rights but that he had always regarded
Miss Bascom as an uneAceptionabe woman
one who would make any man happy
walk up 30 the fodder, parson, the sup
per's gettin' cold, broke in Mrs Thomson
And If Polly don't get husband TIM
year there's no tellin' when she viii, sait
Sally TruaAe
And when the party filed INTO the dining
room Parson lrimblc led the way with In
new wife, and Polly wondered what Epl
Lawson would say when he heard tina
there was at least one woman IN the does
trict" who had mind OF her own, an,
would not let her affections be trifled with