St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-06-01
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! JOHN FERGUS MARRIAGE
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Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.o
By J. J. BELL

The minister had merely proclaimed
for the first time the banns of mar.
riage between John Fergus, bachelor
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 l say it is indecent, l refer to
this intimation O merriage that fell on
us a. the day like thunderbolt, and
1 tell We, Joseph Ridhorn, that ma
opeenion O. this proposed merriage
is
90 nae value to onybody."
We'll see ABBOTT that! What has
that aud miser, John Fergus, done for
the kirk, ask ye?" demanded banks
fiercely.
Hes never done onything to dis
grace it, anyway"
What dye mean?"
SIN ither Words replied Mr.. Red
horn calmly, Il wrd 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. man that lost his best
arm in railway accident when he
was little mair nor youth
That's naethin' to dae wi him bein'
a miser," the elder snapped fercely.
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 ye 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' ye onything. But
supposin' she is merryin' him for his
siller, what business is it O yours or
mines? Nevertheless, 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 yerseP further, Master banks.
That's ma advice to you"
But Mr.. banks was not satisfied.
1. Hell be livin' on her, an savin'
every penny O. his interest" he said
viciously.
: Mr.. Redhorn stopped short in his
walk
See, Master Danks!" he said sharp
ly, John Fergus gi'ed me ma first
Job, an dtdna haggle ABBOTT the prize.
AS for Mrs. McGlashan she gi'ed me
bottle O. medicine last year that cured
ma INDIGESTION 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 we're an elder, an'-as shair as ma
names Joseph Ridhorn-I'll come
when ye're sleepin' 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
asst dwelling.
As Joseph rested after hearty meal
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 an
October evening, he stepped stealthily
from his door. About a furlong be-
yond the village he came to 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
voice shouted, What's that?"
ITS me-1oseph Ridhorn," replied
the painter.
Fergus hesitated. "Weel, We best
come in he said at last Its mo-
NIGHT for the doorstep for man or
beast
Mr.. Redhorn followed his unwilling
host into the kitchen.
"Sit DOOM" said the other, pushing
a chair nearer the hearth, and taking
another for himself.
"Thenk ye," replied Mr. Redhorn.
"Wud We try ceegaurette?"
II dinna smoke" he said quietly.
"Thenk ye 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 I managed to commence the
smokin'. Ye see, l used to be mar
tyr to dyspepsia, If We ken what that
Is, an thCcht ma case was hopeless
till yer wife" Fergus started. 81
mean yer intendit-gi'ed me sample
o. mixture. An moo I'm a new mani
/ can eat onything!"
''Weel, weel," said Fergus, I'm
shair I'm glad to hear we've got quit
o. yer trouble"
cay" went on Mr. Redhorn solemn
", Its the inner man that coonts.
But there's anither thing. Dae We ken
wha gi'ed me ma first job when l set
up in Fairport? It was yersel, John
Fergus, it was yerser! An if / seemed
to forget it In the past, We maun
blame it to ma internal organs that
made me dour, soor man for mony a
lang year. An that"-continued Mr.