The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-08-20
Prudence and
Z0bcd.
BY ~. QUAD.

met at spelling school and were I'm
messed with each OTHER. Zabed would
have married her II the Widow Pen
rose hadn't mixed In. She wanted the
Young man for herself. and In awe
some whispers she impaired the infor-
nation that Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and would never be able
70 stand at a washtub or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
was at once impressed. he ceased 10
spark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that be longed 70 jump
over precipices for her sake. and OF
course she resented It. She went about
with her chin ia the air and asked Tor
no explanations. and so relations were
strained for many long months. Then
Zabed's mother found out what was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied Zabed
made II UP with the girl The doves
came back again and turtled. new
date was set for the marriage. and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for a shake and said:
"Zabed. gol durn your buttons. you're
gittin' the real thing. and you orter
be the happiest man in Woodchuck
county"
Zabed was for about two weeks.
Then Deacon Gray, who was a widow
or and wanted Prudence for his second
wife. gave up some information about
Zabed. When he had sworn her 60 the
most awful secrecy he confessed that
the young man had live frog In his
stomach and would probably 60 mad
? within two years and cut the throat OF
his wife II he had one. The frog had
Jumped down Zabed's throat one day
I when he was drinking from the horse
i. pond. and. though thousands OF In
,, ducements had been held out 10 him.
, nothing could prevail upon him to
jump out
0 Well. where is the young girl. no
a matter how her heart turks with love.
= who is going TO marry young man
. with a live and growing frog In his
| ttomach7 She can't be found. She
= wasn't found IL this case. Prudence
Smith cooled of on Zabed Winters
and he went about with his chin In
the air and was too proud TO ask fof
an explanation. IL was a year before
e one came. Then a lightning rod man
Z stayed overnight at Smiths, and aftei
a supper he got 10 talking about frogs
ir Seeing be was posted on the subje
: Prudence made bold TO ask him IL h'
A had ever heard Of a frog taking up In
side quarters, aud he answered tina
such a thing was absolutely imposs'
> bic and beyond belief. Zabed Winter
; had probably swallowed small nsi
ST and the FISH might be growing. but !
er left alone be could In time be nshe'
IN for and caught. That settled the frol
\. question, and Zabed was invited 9
,O come around and make up. He got
hustle on him. and the turtedove
sang soft and low. new date was az
pointed. and Farmer Smith stoppe
chopping wood long enough 10 extern
aI a hand and say:
DIS "Zabed. you gol burned IDIOT. don
ep You know when you've got a goo
d. thingi Don't fool around any more
n. Zabcd didn't want 20. but before
90 had been decided which m!niste
"a should marry them old Mrs. Snyds
struck his trail. She was too old
marry, hut not too old TO utter war;
u ing for the benefit OF a young ma
le- who had put In day hoeing her ga
TX. den and refused TO take pay for
ms She told him right straight out TIL
r. lka n
ad engine. that she had six toes on h'
no right foot and only four on her LEI
.ha that she had had St vitus' dance whs
n baby and that II was sure to con
'A' back on her some day. 1t might not
o. year after marriage that Zab'
would come up from the cornhe
n 8 eome afternoon and fnl her danct
I'd. all around the coc-yard and kicking
ash high as a fence That settled Zabs
MT He wanted Prudence, but he didi
an. want a dancing defvish. More col
ness. more strained relations II was
full year before old Mrs. Snyder "
proved a liar. and II took three mont
-; longer to make up and set anoth
- date. Things had run smoothly
M within a fortnight Of the date when
ON tin peddler came along and bought
ms sheepskin OF Zabed and then told h
that Prudence Smith was deaf In
orn right ear, nearsighted In both eyes
, OF would be tongue tied before she "
10 two years older Zabed hadn't motto
~; the deafness or blindness. but he
- lieved in tin peddlers and at once gr
frlgid. Result. another year lost
n' Fate was still In the game. howev
the and when everybody. including
two principals, had made up tn
wed minds that there would be no marri'
she came ioafing around TO do
was duty. Farmer Smith and his daugh
- we're In the village one day buy
calico and brown sugar when Zal
Winters appeared. He had eggs to
for hickory shlrting. The lovers "
. brought face TO face. but they DID
4 speak. They thought Of frogs and
II yitus' dance and six toed feet {
II were turning away when Fat
~ Smith reached out one hand for
IN daughter and the other for Zabed