Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-29
Prudence and
Zobed.


young man for herself. and In awe
some whispers abe impaired the infoF-
mation that Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and would never be able
20 stand at q washtub or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
was ct once impressed. He ceased TO
spark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that he Ionged 70 jump
over pFecipices for her sake. and Of
course she resented II. she went about
with her chin In the air and asked for
no explanations. and 10 relations were
strained for many long months. Then
zabed's mother found out what was
thu matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied. Zabed
made IL up with the girl. The doves
came back again and turtled, q new
date was set for the marriage, and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for q shake and said:
"Zabed, gol duFn your buttons. you're
gittin' tho real thing, and you orter
BE- the happiest man in Woodchuek
county"
zabed was for about two weeks.
Then Deacon Gray, who was a widow.
oF and wanted Prudence for his second
wife, gave up some information about
Zabed. when be had sworn her to the
most awful secrecy he confessed that
the young man had a live frog in his
stomach and would probably 90 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
when be was drinking from the horse
pond. and. though thousands Of I'm
ducementa had been held out 70 him.
nothing could prevail upon him TO
jump out.
Well where IL the young girl, no
matter how her heart turks with love.
who II going to marry a young man
with a tive and growing frog In his
atOmach3 She can't be found. She
wasn't found In this case. Prudence
Smith cooled OF ON Zabed Winters.
and he went about with his chin In
tho air and was too proud TO ask for
an explanation. II was year before
one came. Then a lightning rod man
stayed overnight at Smiths, and after
supper he got 70 talking about frogs.
Seeing he was posted on the subject.
Prudence made bold 20 ask him II he
had ever heard Of q frog taking up In
side quarters, aud he answered that
such a thing was absolutely lmpossi.
kla ara t.astanA kaltoN Uakoa WYyt.ta..
had probably swallowed a small Ash
ana tie fish might be growing. but II
left alone he could In time be- fahed
for and caught. That settled the frog
question, and Zahed was invited 20
come around and make up. He got a
hustle on him. and the turtledOves
sang soft and low. new date was APP
pointed. and Farmer Smith stopped
ehopping wood long enough 10 extend
hand and say:
"xabed. you sol burned idiot. don't
you know when you've got a good
thlnRf Don't fool around any more"
xahed didn't want to. but before n
had been decided which minister
should marry them old Mrs. snyder
struck his tPaii. she was too old 70
marry, but not too old to utter a warn.
ing for the beneft Of a young man
who had put In a day hoeing her gar.
den and refused to take pay for II.
she told him right straight out that
Prudence Smith snored like a steam
engine. that she had ak toes ON her
right foot and only four on her left,
that she had had 81. vftus' dance when
baby aud that Il was sure to come
back on her some day, IL might not b.
year after marriage that Zabod
would come up from the eoFnfeld
some afternoon and and her dancing
all around the dooFyard ana Kicking a.
high m q fence. That settled EAbed.
He wanted Prudence. but he didn't
want q dancing derviah. More cold.
mess. more strained Felationa II was q
fun year before old Mrs. snyder was
proved q liar. and Il took three months
longer 10 make up and Get another
date. Things had run smoothly to
within q fortnight Of tho date when q
tfn peddler came along and bought q
NheepakiH % Eahed and then told him
that Fruaence smith was deaf IN the
right ear. nearsightcd 10 both eyes ana
wonn Be tongue tied before she vas
two years older, Kahed hadn't noticed
tAe deafness o. blindness. but be BE-
teved IN I'm peddlcPs and 81 once grew
frtgtd Result. another year lost.
Fate was ntill IN the game. however.
and when every body. tnei0dlng tha
twe principals. had made mp their
mlnsls that there would Be 20 marriage
she came lOafng arOand 10 Do her
dUty. Farmer smith ana hia daughter
were n the village one aAy buying
oAlico and hrcwn sugar whan xabad
Winters appeared We had ears 10 seIl
foF htckoEy shlrting. TIE lovers werN
hroa@ht taeQ 10 face. but they dtan't
speak. They thsaght e frogs and ~.
vitns' dance and stx tied feas and
were tnFniAw away when Father
saith reached cot ona hand nor hls
enughtRr and the ether fer Eahea and
SAID
-eay. are yOa two 81 anrasa ttislay
~ums replled pruasmea.