Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-16

The minister had merely proclaimed
for the first time the banns OF mar
riage between John Fergus, nachelor5
and Mary Jane Wilson, or McGlashan,
widow, "both of this parish"
Its indecent, that's what it Isl"
said Mr.. banks, the fish merchant.
when l say it is indecent, l refer to
this intimation O. merriage that fell on
us a. the day like a thunderbolt, and
/ tell We, Joseph Ridhorn, that ma
~opeenion O. this proposed merriage
is"
90 nae value to onybody."
well see ABBOTT that! What has
that auld miser, John Fergus, done for
the kirk, l ask ye?" demanded Danks
fiercely.
He's never done onything to dis
grace it, anyway"
What dye mean?"
Elm ither words" replied Mr.. Red
horn calmly, 81 wud suggest the ad-
v~isabeelity o. yer keepin' yer nose for
yer fish an no fer pokin' into ither
folks affairs"
Especially" went on the painter,
"the affairs O. a nan that lost his best
arm in a railway accident when he
was little mair nor a youth"
That's naethin' to dae wi him bein'
q miser," the elder snapped fiercely.
"If he lost his arm, Providence sent
him a legacy O. fully three thousan'
pound the vera same year, an Provl-
dence never intendit him to pit by
the bigger hauf O. the interest"
Maybe, Peter banks, maybe. Bein'
an elder, we've dootless ha' MAR com
munications wi Providence than yer
humble servant"
"Humph! Dae We mean to tell me
that Jane McGlashan, wha's fifty If
she's a day, is merryin' John Fergus
for onything but his siller?" Mr.. banks
cried bitterly.
I'm mo- tellin' We onything. But
supposin' she is merryin' him for his
siller, what business is it O yours or
mines? Nevertheless, l believe her
wee shop keeps her comfortable,
though We wudna think there was
muckle profit on sweeties an tobaccy,
an newspapers, ct cetera. Dinna ex'
cite yersel' further, Master banks.
That's ma advice to you"
But Mr.. banks was not satisfied.
Hell be Twin on her, an savin'
every penny O. his interest" he said
v~iciously.
Mr.. Redhorn stopped short in his
walk.
"See, Master Danks!" he said sharp
ly, John Fergus gi'ed me ma first
job, an didna haggle ABBOTT the price.
As for Mrs. McGlashan she gi'ed nj a
bottle O. medicine last year that cured
ma indigeestion-an' I'm Mistress Nc.
Glashan's freen for life. An, mind We,
Peter banks, If We try to max ony
mischief ABBOTT this merriage, I'll for
get ye're an elder, an'-as shair as ma
names Joseph Ridhorn-Tll come
when ye're sleepin' an pent yer hoose
pea-green, wi bad words in scarlet or
the door!"
Whereupon Joseph left the dunn
founded elder, and made for his mod
est dwelling.
AS Joseph rested after a hearty meal
a brilliant idea suddenly struck him
1t took him a full week to acquire
courage sufficient for the carrying out
Of his brilliant idea.
At last, about eight o'clock, on ar
October evening, he stepped s~tealthily
from his door. About a furlong be
yond the village he came to a cottage
standing by itself on a half-acre o
ground. A faint light filtered out be
tween the closed shutters ON the right
hand window.
"Weel, here goes!" he said, hal
aloud, as he stood on the steps ant
knocked on the door.
The door was opened an inch and
voice shouted, "Wha's that?"
TITS me-Joseph Ridhorn," replie'
the painter.
Fergus hesitated. "Weel, We bes
come in," he said at last. Its mo-
NIGHT for the doorstep for man o
beast"
Mr.. Redhorn followed his unwillin
host into the kitchen.
"Sit DOOM" said the other, pushin
a chair nearer the hearth, and takin
another for himself.
"Thenk ye,' replied Mr.. Redhorl
"Wud We try a ceegaurette?"
!. Il dinna smoke he said quietl,
"Thenk We a. the same, Joseph Ri,
: horn"
A long silence followed. But tn
thing had to be faced, and at last h
forced himself into speech.
Il was gaun to tell We, Master Fe
gus, hoo l managed to commence tn
l. smokin'. Ye see, l used to be a ma
tyr to dyspepsia, if We ken what tn;
r is, an l thocht ma case was hopeless
till yer wife" Fergus started.
Q mean yer intendit-gi'ed me a samp
d O. a mixture. An moo I'm a new mar
n car eat %onything!"
a "Weel, weel," said Fergus, III
u shair I'm glad to hear we've got an
O. yer trouble"
- "Ay," went on Mr.. Redhorn solem
= ly, TITS the inner man that coont
But there's anither thing. Dae We ke
wha gled me ma first job when | s
up in Fairport? 1t vas yersel', Jof
Fergus, it was yersel'! An If l SCENE
to forget it in the past, We maj
blame It to ma internal organs tn