Okolona messenger., 1902-06-11

but is soon forgotten. Other Sc
lectiOns had been added, until IL
would have defied the search Of
the ingenious, and yet at times the
editor might take cut one at ran
dom, to find himself musing with
the memories Of years.
Thus I carelessly reached for a
stiff and moldy clipping which had
been disturbed by violent search
for something placed there. Catch
ing a word or two from the mutila-
ted end and l pulled forth and
found myself reading the death
notice of an old and valued friend
Captain Randall Fonda, who had
won his title in the British service,
and whose stories of campaigns in
India had whiled away many a
weary hour. The captain had
fallen heir to a smg fortune left
by an aunt in the q in which |
lived, which dec him to settle
there, and for tn purpose Of keep
ing up his interest in public affairs
he became a frequent contributor
to the pages Of the Auraria Ga
zette.
Coming in one night rather late,
somewhat more serious than us
ual, Captain Fonda pulled up a
chair and whispered:
81 am going to get married."
Congratulations"
ayes, to a daughter of one OF
7 the oldest families here about.
\ Her mother wants the engagement
announced, and she has written it
out in this fOrm.n
Here he took from his vest
pocket a memorandum book, from
between the leaves of which he
drew a note paper, upon which
was written:
'Mrs. Lucinda MacOwen an
nounces the bethrothal of her
daughter, Miss Hortense Marie
MacOwen, to Captain Randall
Fonda, the marriage to take place
in the early fall"
'The Lady," continued Captains
Fonda, "also asked me to give you
this. paper, which she thought
would save you the trouble oi
writing an editorial notice" b"
The paper read:
owe must congratulate Oul
newly acquired citizen, Captain
Randall Fonda, upon his conquest
of the heart OF so amiable a lady
as Miss MacOwen, and a grand
daughter Of the late Colonel Hen
ry G. De Long, who was one o
McGinVille's most prominent, In
fluential and wealthy citizens."
The captain then retired, anC
BECAME thereafter the bearer of {
remarkable series of announce
ments, leading up to the wedding
day. First came a notice stating
that "SOciety was taking great in
terest in the announced bethrOtha
OfCap. Fonda and Miss MacOwen
the lady being we'll known as th'
granddaughter Of the late COlOne
G. De Long, who was one of Nc
Ginville's most prominent, inhuen
tial and wealthy citizens" Thel
there was the announcement 0
visits from numerous young ladies
who had come to congratulate tn
bride-expectsnt, "whO was th'
granddaughter of one Of McGin
ville's most prominent" etc
Finally, after a multitude OF re
ceptions came the formal declara
ton:
ssThe marriage of Miss HOrtens
Marie MacOwen and Captain FOn
da will take place at high noon
October u. Miss MacOwen is tn,
granddaughter OF the late COlOne
Henry G. De Long, who was on
of McGinville's" most prominent
influential and wealthy citizens.
When the foreman received thi
notice he asked:
"Why can't we keep this para
graph standingl The old grand
father seems to be destined t
play his part all the way through
and we might as we'll make som
fat out Of iti"
He was q rude sort Of fellow
with whose coarse wit I could hav
no sympathy, especially when
friend was concerned as groom.
On the day preceding the wed
ding the notice was repeated
grandfather paragraph and all
Strangely enough the Officiating
minister ommitted the name Of th
old gentleman in his perfOrmanc
of the ceremony, but the Aurari
Gazette next morning gave
prominent place to this notice:
ssMarried at the Church OF 81
Chrysostom, Captain Randall
rza. o.5 Mics Mario MaoOwau