The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-05-17

and Mary Jane Wilson, or McGlashan,
widow, both of this parish"
TITS indecent, that's what it Isl"
said Mr.. banks, the fish merchant.
when / say it is indecent, I refer to
this intimation O merriage that fell on
us a the day like a thunderbolt, and
4 tell We, Joseph Ridhorn, that ma
opeenion O. this proposed merriage
is
90 a value to onybody."
We'll see ABBOTT that! What has
the kirk, | ask ye?" demanded banks
flercely.
Hes never lone o%nything to dis
grace it, anyway
what dye mean?"
I'm ither words" replied Mr.. Red
horn calmly, Il wud suggest the ad-
visabeelity O yer keepin' yer nose for
yer fish an no for pokin' into ither
folks affairs"
Especially" went on the painter,
"the affairs o a a 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'
a 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 Provi.
dence never intendit him to pit by
the bigger hauf O. the interest"
Maybe, Peter banks, maybe. Bein'
an elder, we've dootless ha' mair 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 s%iller?" Mr.. banks
Scried bitterly.
I'm no tellin' we onything. But
supposin' she is merryin' him for his
lsiller, what business is it O. yours or
mines? Nevertheless, I 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" ne said
~rviciously.
Mr.. Redhorn stopped short in his
walk.
See, Master Danks!" he said sharp
Ely, John Fergus gi'ed me ma first
job, an didna haggle ABBOTT the price.
AS for Mrs. McGlashan she gi'ed me a
bottle O. medicine last year that cured
ma indigeestion-an' I'm Mistress Nc
Glashan's freen for life. An, mind ye,
Peter banks, if we try to max ony
mischief aboot this merriage, I'll for
get ye're an elder, an'-as shair as ma
names Joseph Ridhorn-Ill come
when ye're gleepin' an pent yer hoose
pea-green, wi bad words in scarlet on
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 u
of his brilliant idea.
At last, about eight o'clock, on an
October evening, he stepped stealthily
from his door. About a furlong be-
yond the village he came to a cottage
standing by itself on a half-acre of
ground. A faint light filtered out be-
tween the closed shutters on the right
hand window.
"Weel, here goes!" he said, half
aloud, as he stood on the steps and
knocked on the door.
The door was opened an inch and a
voice shouted, "Wha's that?'
Its me-Joseph Ridhorn,' replied
the painter.
Fergus hesitated. 'Weel, We best
come in," he said at last. Its no a
MIGHT for the doorstep for man or
1beast."
Mr.. Redhorn followed his unwilling
hest into the kitchen.
s'Sit DOOM said the other, pushing
a chair nearer the hearth, and taking
another for himself.
''Thenk ye," replied Mr.. Redhorn
"Wud We try a ceegaurette"
81 dinna smoke" he said quietly
"Thenk We a the same, Joseph Rid
horn
A long silence followed. But the
thing had to be faced, and at last he
forced himself into speech.
Il was gaun to tell We, Master Fer
gus, hoo | managed to the
smokin'. Ye see, l used to be a mar
tyr to dyspepsia, if We ken what tina
is, an rhocht ma case was hopeless!
till yer wife, Fergus started. I"
mean yer intcndir-gi'ed me a sampl,
D. a mixture. An moo I'm a new man
! can eat onything!"
,Wcol. weel." said Fergus. "I'n
shair I'm glad to hear we've got qui
o. Yer trouble"
'iy," went on Mr.. Redhorn solemn
ly, fits the inner man that coonts
But there's anither thing. Dae we kel
WIKI gi'ed ME ma first job when l sc
tIN ~ ~ TVoir,ND II ura x,Ar,a1, TAI,