Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-05-22


for the first time the banns of mar.
riage between John Fergus, bachelor
and Mary Jane Wilson, or McGlashan,
widow, both of this parish
IT'S 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 ouybody."
Wen see ABBOTT that, What has
that auld miser, John Fergus, done for
the kirk / ask ye?" demanded banks
fercely.
He's never done onything to dis
grace it. anyway"
What dye mean?"
In 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 man that lost his best
arm in railway accident when he
was little mair nor youth
That's naethin' to dae wi him bein'
\ 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
municatlons wi Providence than yer
humble servant"
"Humph. Dae We mean to tell me
that sane N1cGlashan, wha's fifty if
she's 4 day, is merryin' John Fergus
for onything but his siller?" Mr. banks
cried bitterly
TN no tellin' we onything. But
supposin' she Is merryin him for his
siIler. what business is it O. yours or
mines Nevertheless, believe her
wee shop keeps her comfortable,
though ye wudna think there was
muckle profit on sweeties an tobaccy,
an newspapers, ct cetera. Dinna ex-
cite yerser further, Master banks.
That's ma advice to you"
But Mr. banks was not satisfied.
He'll be Twin on her, an savin'
every penny O. his interest" he said
viciously.
Mr. Redhorn stopped short in his
walk.
See, Master DGnks!" he said sharp
", John Fergus gi'ed me ma first
Job, an didna haggle aboot>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 We,
Peter OankS. 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-II come
when ye're Sleepin' an pent yer hoose
peagTeen, 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 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-
You'd 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.
"WeeI. 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?"
It's me-Joseph Ridhorn." replied
the painter
Fergus hesitated. "Weel We best
come in he said at last It's mo- a
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.
"Theuk ye." replied Mr.. Redhorn.
"Wud We try q ceegaurette?"
i 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
smokto. Te see, l used to be a mar.
tyr to dyspepsia, il We ken what that
Is. an' thocht ma case was hopeless
till yer wife" Fergus started. 81
mean yer intendit-gi'ed me a sample
o mixture. An moo I'm a new man
l can eat onything!"
Weel weel," Said Fergus, I'm
shair I'm glad to hear we've got uui,
O. yer trouble
"Ay." went on Mr. Redhorn solemn
~. It's the inner man that coonts
But there's anither thing Dae We ken
wha si'ed nue. ma first job when 1 Sc,
up IN Fairport? 1t was yerseT, John