The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-08-01

u TOO MUCH GRANDFATHER
81 ~ n. J. MORAN -
M Copyrght 1909 By Dnny Story Pub COS -
Wopyright 100. By Daily Story Pub Col


The floor was Uttered with manu-
script, as Is usual in a newspaper Of
flee. The dark pigeon-holes were filled
with selections pul away with a pur-
pose. but as soon forgotten. other
selections had been added. until it
would have deded the search Of the
most ingenious. and yet at times the
editor might take out n at random.
10 find himself musing with the memo
ries of years.
Thus I c%arelessly reached for a stin
and moldy clipping which had been
disturbed by a violent search for
something placed there. Catching a
word or two from the mutilated end
I pulled It forth ana found myself
reading the death notice Of an old and
valued friend-Captaln Randall Fon-
da. who had won his title In the Brit
ish service, and whose stories OF cam
paigns In India had whiled away
many a weary hour. The captain had
fallen heir to a small fortune left by
an aunt in the town in which / lived,
which decided him to settle there, and
for the purpose Of keeping up his in
terest IN public affairs he became a
frequent contributor to the pages Of
the Auraria Gazette.
Coming in one night rather late,
somewhat more serious than usual.
Captain Fonda pulled up a chair and
whispered:
Il am going to get married."
Congratulations"
Eyes, to a daughter Of one Of the
oldest families hereabout. Her
mother wants the engagement an
nounced, and she has written It out
in this form"
Here he took from his vest pocket
a memorandum book. from between
the leaves OF which he drew a sheet
Of note paper, upon which was writ
ten:
Mrs. Lucinda MacOwen announces
the betrothal OF her daughter, Miss
Hortense Marie MacOwen, to Captain
Randall Fonda, the marriage to take
place in the early fall"
THE lady" continued Captain Fon-
da, also asked me to give you this
paper, which she thought would save
you the trouble Of writing an edito-
rial notice"
The paper read:
we must congratulate our newly
acquired citizen, Captain Randall Fon-
da, upon his conquest Of the heart OF
so amiable a lady as Miss MacOwen.
She is the daughter Of Mrs. Lucinda
MacOwen, and granddaughter of the
late Colonel Henry G. De Long, who
was n Of McGinville's most promi-
nent, influential and wealthy citizens"
The captain then retired, and be-
came thereafter the bearer of a re-
markable series of announcements,
leading up to the wedding day. First
came a notice stating that Society
was taking great interest in the an
nounced betrothal of Colonel Fonda
and Miss MacOwen, the lady being
well known as the granddaughter Of
the late Colonel G. De Long, who was
n OF McGinville's most prominent,
influential and wealthy citizens"
Then there was the announcement OF
visits from numerous young ladies.
who had come to congratulate the
bride-expectant, who was the grand
daughter Of one Of McGinville's most
prominent" etc. Finally, after a null
titude Of receptions came the formal
declaration:
"The marriage of Miss Hortense
Marie MacOwen and Captain Fonda
will take place at high noon, October
IL. Miss MacOwen is the %granddaugh-
ter of the late Colonel Henry G. De
Long, who was one Of McGinYille's
most prominent, influential and
wealthy citizens"
When the foreman received this no
tice he asked:
why can't we keep this paragraph
standing? The old grandfather seems
to be destined to play his part all the
way through, and we might as well
make some fat out Of it,"
He was a rude sort Of fellow, with
whose coarse wit 1 could have no
sympathy, especially when a friend
was concerned as groom.
On the day preceding the wedding
the notice was repeated, grandfather
paragraph and all. Strangely enough
the officiating minister omitted the
name Of the old gentleman in his per-
Torrance Of the ceremony, but the
Auraria Gazette next morning gave a
prominent place to this notice:
Married, at the Church of st. Chry-
session. Captain Randall Fonda and
Miss Hortense Marie MacOwen. The
bride is the granddaughter Of the late