Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-11-30

''Pd 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, if it is a 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 it
be? Polly Bascom and Eph Lawson. Did
you ever?
q say, Polly, what if Parson Trimble
had asked you frst?" queried Mrs. Thorn
son, as she looked at Polly in her wed
ding gown.
''But he didn't. He had more than one
good chance Sarah, and you know that
l 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.
Il knowed he'd back out These old
bachelors hain't got the spunk of an
Hell come" said Poly. 'tEph said he
would and that settles it,
It'll be a sorry Thanksgiving for you,
Polly, if he doesn't. -
The hour passed and TO Ephraian. The
guests looked a one another and always
ended by stealing a glance a Miss BaScom
She was frustrated, as Hrs. Thomson
said. If she let this opportunity slip she
might never have another. Polly always
said she would be married On Tkanksgiv-
ing, when sac did marry, and it would be
long year before anotaer cane round.
Seven-eight o'clock struck.
"Folly," said Mrs. Foster, -'tare You goin'
to disappoint US? We've come to see you
married and there's no Efa here. He
couldn't screw his courage to tie stiekin'
point an"
Polly blushed and locked across the
room where the parson sat.
Il didn't think Eph would act that way
she said. Its treatin' me rather sA2bbiIy-
but just wait. I'll show I'm thiRg CO twc.,
for no man can trihe with the affections CT
Polly Basc0n."
Ia another moment t.e b.:de-to-be hac
crossed the room and he'd out her hanC
to the parson.
ct want to say that disowa Eph Lawson
"a man who hasn't TIE courage to lead :
young lady to tie altar" sac SAID. Il DON
like to disappoint my friends and-to
morrow won't be Thanksgiving. So, Parson
Trimble, if you can take re for better o.
worse-taEe me yourself, I mean" kere
Polly blushed again, = Il do the rest c11
and Eph Lawson viii learn TO his sorrow
that he can't trile with ny affections"
Parson Trimble coCgaed little, he said
it was rather sudden, that he hadn't thougzt
of such a thing, though al knew he had,
that he didn't care to infringe on anotAer's
rights; but that he had always REGARDED
Miss Bascom as an unexceptionable woman,
one who would make any man happy
walk up to the fodder, Rarson, tie sup
per's gettin' cold, broke in Mrs, Thomson
And if Polly don't get husband this
year there's no tellin' when sic viii, y sa:G
Sally Trraze.
And when the party fledinso tie Gin;rg
room Parson TriInB.e led tee way with his
new wife, and Polly woa6oEed what E
Lawson would say w3aen he heard tis
there was at least enc woman in TIE tsGee
triet" who had a mind Of her own, anu
you'd not let her affections be tTiRsd WITH,