The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-12-01
Prudence anu
Zobed.

pressed with each other. LADeu Wouiu
have married her II the Widow Pen
rose hadn't mixed I'm. She wanted the
n man for herself. and In awe
some whispers she impaired the infor-
nation hat Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and would be able
10 stand at a washtub or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
was at once impressed. He ceased to
shark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that he longed 10 jump
over precIpices for her sake. and OF
course she resented H. She went about
with her chin In the air and asked for
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 IL up with the girl. The doves
came back again and turtled. a new
date was set for the marriage, and
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for n 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 n widow
er and wanted Prudence for his second
wife. gave up some information about
Zabed. When he had sworn her 10 the
most aw ful secrecy he confessed that
the young man had a live frog In his
stomach and would probably go mad
within two years and cut the throat Of
bis wife II he had one. The frog had
Jumped down Zabed's throat one day
when he was drinking from the horse
pond, and. though thousands Of In
ducements had been held out TO him.
nothing. could prevail upon him to
jump out
Well, where 70 the young girl. no
matter how her heart turks with love.
who Is going to marry a young man
with a live and growing frog In his
stomach She can't be found. She
wasn't found in this case. Prudefce
Smith cooled OF on Zabed Winters.
and he went about with his chin in
the air and was too proud TO ask for
an explanation. 1t was a year before
one came. Then a lightning rod man
stayed overnight at Smiths, and after
supper he got TO talking about frogs.
Seeing he was posted on the subte :
Prudence made bold TO ask him II be
had ever heard of a frog taking up In
side quarters, and he answered that
such n thing was absolutely impossi
bic and beyond belief. Zabed Winters
had probably swallowed a small fGA
and the fish might be growing. but y
left alone he could In time be fsheo
for and caught. That settled the fros
question. and Zabed was invited tc
come around and make up. He got Z
hustle on him. and the. turtledove:
I sang soft and low. a new date was APP
pointed. and Farmer Smith Soppst
choppirg wood long enough 10 extend
q hand and say:
"Zabed, you gol burned IDIOT dom
you know when you've got . geos
j thingr Don't fool around any more"
Zabed didn't want 20, but before !
I had been decided which ministe
should marry them old Mrs. snyde
I, struck his trail. She was TOO old {
marry, but not too old to utter a warn
Z Ing for the benefit Of a young ma
who had put IN a day hoeing her gal
den and refused TO take Pay for Il
She told him right straight out tina
Prudence Smith snored Ike n stear
engine, that she had six toes on he
= right foot and only four on her lef
. that she had had ST. vitus' dance whe
a baby and that It was sure TO com
n back on her some day. II might not b
10 q year after marriage that Zabe
Is would come up from the corniel
n some afternoon and find her dancin
.. all around the dooryard and kicking q
e. high as a fence. That settled Zabe'
,r He wanted Prudence. but be didn
d want a dancing dervish. More COLI
r. ness. more strained relations. II was
" full rear before old Mrs. Snyder wa
u proved a liar, and It took three month
10 longer to make up and set anoths
Id date. Things had run smoothly
Or within n fortnight Of the date when
ir tin peddler came along and bought
ls sheepskin Of Zabed and then told hfl
II. that Prudence Smith was deaf In III
le right ear. nearsighted In both eyes'an
at would be tongue tied before she WI
~ two years older. Zabed hadn't notice
NJ the deafness or blindness. but he b
m lieved In tin peddlers and at once gre
~ frigid. Result. another year lost
m Fate was still In the game, howeve
~ and when everybody. including Il
ne two principals. had made up the
10 minds that there would be 10 marrial
he she came loafing around TO do b
IN duty. Farmer Smith and his dnught'
~ were IN the village one day 'buyir
at CALICO and brown sugar when Zsbt
in Winters appeared He had egg to SC
lv for hickory shirting. The lovers wei
AZ brought face to face. but they didn
n. speak. They thought OF frogs and s
he vitus' dance and six toed feet an
IFS were turning away when Fath'
0-HA --. 49, - =