Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-17
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Rridegroom's Ears.
[originaI.l

IQefe IlNeu near bONlluS NTfeen a rlcn
Dutchman, Gerrit Ten Brock, whose
daughter Anneka was the apple of his
eye. Anneka was seventeen, and her
father thought it high time that he
should arrange a marriage for her, for
in those days girls were married much
younger than now and had very little
to say in the choice of husband.
Ten Brock was engaged in the fur
business with one Ten Eycke, Ten
Eycke buying furs in Albany which
Ten Brock sold in New York. The
two Tens were not only partners in
business, but bosom friends. One day
Ten Brock wrote his partner:
Anneka is now old enough to be mar
ried. What has become of your son
Peter? / remember him little boy.
and he promised to be a fine looking
man, except that his ears, which Were
very large. stuck out singularly from his
head. His mother was trying to alter
their position. 1 trust she succeeded.
what have in mind. AS 1 said. Anneka
is old enough to be married. What do
you say to uniting our business for an
other generation at least by marrying
your son to my daughter?
To this Ten Eycke replied:
Your plan of marrying my son to
your daughter is a very good one. The
only trouble in the way is the defect you
mention. Peter is very sensitive about it,
and i fear / shall not be able to persuade
him to marry any one However, L will
see what 1 can do in the matter.
After much coaXing Peter was won
over TO the plan. A betrothal was
made by letter, for ships sailed infre-
Quently between New Amsterdam and
Albany in those days, and the journey
was too troublesome to be taken when
il could he avoided. At least this was
the reason given by the parents of the
contrac citing parties. The real reason
was il was feared If Anneka after see
ing her betrothed should have time to
act before the wedding she would re-
fuse to be married. Anneka was bro
ken hearted over the matter, though
her father could not find out whether
it was the deformity that troubled her
or that she had lover of whom he
knew nothing.
However he paid no attention to his
daughters repugnance to the match,
and it was arranged between him and
Ten Eycke that Peter should come
down to New Amsterdam on the sloop
Katrina leaving Albany Oh the 9th of
October, 1856, for the purpose of being
married. Every preparation was made
for the weddinS-the parlor swept
clean, the dining room and kitchen
they were one) scrubbed and no end of
cakes made. At IL o'clock in the MORN
ing of Oct Il young man appeared at
the front door, gave a loud rap and
when admitted announced himself as
Peter Ten Eycke.
When Gerrit Ten Brock saw his enor-
nous ears, nearly the size of don
keys, and how they stuck out ON each
side, tapping when their owner
walked, his heart misgave him. How
could he inflict such Il deformity upon
his daughter? His neighbors would he
forever laughing at him, in their
sleeves if not openly. Nevertheless
Dutchman of those days never gave up
a purpose. Gerrit had no thought of
receding from his plan. but a natural
tenderness for his only child induced
him to comfort her.
I'VE will not hasten matters, my
dear" he said. Tomorrow will be
time enough for the wedding. or. if you
like. next week. Meanwhile you will
become accustomed
IL uuuSI marty hILls Sdiu AhhSno'
'1et it be at once"
"What-as soon as he has arrivedV
Yes. am ready now.
every well, my child, since you wish
it,
1t was a strange wedding procession
that walked up what is now Broadway
to the church. The ears of the groom
tapped in the wind, and the towns
IL. .,,.4rr e.
get a view of him, not scrupling to
vent their mirth in loud outlaws. In
the church the dominic had n hard
time to keep the people from unseemly
behavior and hurried through the
service so rapidly that few heard the
words, and if the couple had been
Hans and Mary instead of Peter and
Anncka no one would have known the
difference. When the twain were pro-
nounced man and wife and they had
turned and faced the people to leave
the church, the groom put his hands to
his ears and, to the surprise of every
one, pulled them off.
For time there was silence, after
which came at intervals explosions of
laughter as the phlegmatic Dutch
men one after another got it into
their heads that the man had worn
false ears. Meanwhile the bridal cou-
pie started down the aisle, the groom
grinning from ear to ear, the bride
smiling contentedly on his arm.
At the door Gerrit Ten Brock came
running up to them to ask what it all
meant, but was stopped by stranger
who appeared on the scene with ears
somewhat larger than the usual size,
though not especially noticeable. He
announced himself as Peter Ten Eycke.
And who are your asked Gerrit
Of the groom.
"Midshipman Jack Somerset of his
majesty's ship Terrible. 1 have loved
your daughter since / came into port
a week ago and, hearing that you