Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-04-27

Y NKNOWN to Bud Lane and
Buck Mckee, who were rioting
In Florence, Jack Payson had
~ hurried up the wedding. Colo.
mel Jim had wheedled Josephine into
consenting that 1t should take place
two months ahead Of the time that had
been fixed. April Is the month fer
flowers, Josie, an We'll let you weep
all you please"
Two weeks notice. however, gave
scant time for preparation for the i'm
portant ceremony that Mrs. Allen
deemed necessary. During this Pc
riod the busiest spot in Arizona was
the kitchen Of Allen Hacienda. An
immense cake. big as a cheese. was
the crowning effort Of Josephine, who
wept copiously at the thought Of los.
ing her daughter as she measured and
mixed the ingredients. A layer OF
frosting an inch In thickness incrusted
this masterpiece Of the art Of pastry
making. Topping the creation were
manikins Of bride and bridegroom.
This climax Of the bridal cake had
been brought up by wagon from Tue
son with more caution than II 1t
were q months cleanup of paying
mine. Mrs. Allen permitted no one to
60 near the artistic achievement. 9th
ers might look at 1t from afar, but at
the slightest movement to get close to
It she would push the observer back
with the warning: Keep yer dirty
fingers off O. 1t. "Tain't common icin';
that's confectionery"
Enough chickens to feed darky
camp meeting were killed for the feast.
Fried, roasted, cold or minced as Ia.
males, the dishes filled ovens and ta-
bles and overAowed into the spring.
house. Favorite recipes carried across
the plains by the wives Of the argo-
nauts met in rivalry with the dishes
Of the cooks Of old Mexico.
Colonel Allen wandered aimlessly
about the ranch while the prepare.
tions for the feast were In progress
The women folk drove him from one
favorite loafing place to another. His
advice was scorned and his wishes
made a subject for jests.
Defantly he had taken full charge
Of the liquid refreshments. A friend
ly barkeeper In Tucson. acting under
his orders, had shipped to him cases
Of champagne, a barrel Of beer and a
siphon Of seltzer. Why the seltEer he
never could explain. Later the un.
lucky bottle marred the supper and
nearly caused a tragedy. A guest
picked 1t up and peered into the metal
tube to see how "the burned thing"
worked.
AS he gazed and pondered. shaking
the bottle in his effort to solve the
mystery, he pressed the handle. The
stream struck him fairly between the
eyes. Shocked, surprised and half
blinded, he pulled his gun and declared
immediate war on the "sheep herder
who had put up the job on him." Al
lens other supplies were Of the kind
taken straight in the southwest and
downed with hasty gulp.
Driven from the house on the day Of
the wedding, Allen took refuge on the
piazza. From behind the hacienda
fioated dreamily on the sun drenched
mir the music of guitars and mandolins
played by Mexicans. practicing for the
dance which would follow the cere-
mony.
The colonel dOzed and dreamed.
Suddenly the peace Of the afternoon
was shattered by the wild ''yipyips" Of
q band of cowboys riding up the trail
Revolver shots punctuated their shrill
cries.
Allen bounded from his chair, shak.
ing himself like terrier. This riotous
sound was the music lie longed to hear.
When the staccato beats Of the po-
nies' hoofs ceased he shouted: Come