The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-07-21

ract, on the night Mary left the mouse
he had carried her satchel for three
miles on the way to the village.
When his story had been finished
and there were many other details
both father and mother hooked at Zeb
Never before had they seen paleness
through his sunburn-his eyes look sc
steely, his jaw SO hard set. They
didn't ask what he was going to do;
they could read 1t in his face. The
New York Uncle Toms Cabin com.
pany" was to foregather that night at
a village Is miles away for rehearsal
previous to taking the road. The boy
Jimmie had it all down pat. If he had
only been year or two older. so he
had been told, he would have been
taken along to play the part of George
Harris.
Zeb Hastings went upstairs and
changed to his Sunday suit. When
he came down he went to the barn
and harnessed the old mare to the dem.
ocrat wagon. He had the barnyard
gate open to drive out when Mrs.
White came out and asked between
her sobs:
"Zeb, what you goin' to do?"
Coin to tip over Uncle Toms
cabin"
He drove to the village where Mary
must have taken the train, put up the
horse at the tavern barn and then
went to the depot to wait for his train
Men who knew him for a good fellow
shook hands or slapped him on the
back. and. after looking at him in his
Sunday suit asked if he was going
away to be married. To their sur
prise he replied that he was. He
wasn't mentioning names, but he ex
pected to bring wife back with him
At two o'clock in the afternoon Zet
Hastings was landed at the depot in
Schofield. He made few inquiries
got bite to eat and then made hi.
way to Turner's hall. A citizen named
Turner had the enterprise to turn the
second story of his hardware store
into place where outraged taxpayers
and other bodies might meet. Theat
ricals had been given there and there
were bills on the walls and boards
announcing that the Uncle Tom com
pany would take its chances at ar
early date.
A rehearsal had been called for two
o'clock and as Zeb made his way into
the hall it was just beginning. He
paused for a moment to locate two Of
the actors-Mary White and the sum
mer boarder. Then he advanced and
lifted himself upon the stage. Mary
stared and turned pale and trembled
The summer boarder didn't recognize
the farmers hired man, and he adj
vanced and demanded why the intru
sion.
II have. come to act!" replied Zeb,
and he proceeded to do so.
1t was great acting. It never will
be beaten. 1t brought down the man.
ager and the house-the manager
first. Zeb didn't have many speeches,
but the action was superb. He seized
that manager by the hair and shook
him silly. Then he mopped the stage
with him. Then he booted him about
The women of the cast crowded to.
gether and shrieked and screamed.
| They were real shrieks and screams
warranted three-ply. The gentlemen
in the cast woke up after bit and
pitched into Zeb in body There
was no make-believe in that pitch, but
they were as straws in 40-mile gale
Down went Uncle Tom, and down
went Legree. The Lawyer Marks was
tossed aside like a chip and George
Harris received two black eyes in one.
two measure.
1t took Zeb Hastings just nine min.
utes to tip over Uncle Toms cabin
and Uncle Tom and everybody con.
nected with it and bring about finan.
cial wreck. When he had finished he
beckoned to Mary White. She came
over and took his arm, and they left
the hall together. 1t was II O'Clock
that night when they drove up to the
i farmhouse. The family rushed for.
ward with extended arms to cry:
ooh, Mary, how could you-how
could"
"Cut it Quit" interrupted Zeb MARY
and ME was married before we left
Schofeld, and there's been acting 'nuff
or one day."