Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-09-19

Ebenezer Fitch and Peter Simmons
Redeemed to their ears and looked
very uncomfortable.
Don't seem like that's necessary,
Ma" objected Mr.. Simmons in 9
hoarse whisper.
Il don't know why it isn't! What's
It to your.
Under his wife's suspicious stare
Peters face took on the hue Of q
ripe tomato. "Tain't nothing to mel"
he muttered hastily.
Perhaps Mrs Simmons memory
served her well at that moment; pos
sibly she recollected that at one
time Peter Simmons had paid atten.
ton to pretty Doxie Post.
Never mind about putting down
your proposals. Susan" she interpos
ed hurriedly. who knows but II
might be embarrassing"
1T might be-" laughed Susan; Il
leave It to the rest Of the company"
The company at once expressed a
willingness to play the game as Su-
san had proposed and so they sat
themselves diligently to remember
the fateful words that had resulted
in n visit to the minister.
Both Jabez Foote and the minister,
Mr.. Hazel, had possessed themselves
of slips of paper and were knitting
their brows over their work
Susan and Doxie busted themselves
over counting plates and glasses for
the coming refreshments.
! When the last paper had been turn
| ed over to the minister for Susan
had insisted that to Mr.. Hazel should
reading the answers, an expectant ST.
ance brooded over the room.
Mr. Hazel sorted over the papers
until he had arranged them in pairs
to correspond with the married cou-
pies whose names they bore. He
arose and picked up a paper. His
handsome face seemed rather con-
strained as though he were suppress
ing a smile.
MY first paper bears the name OF
Mrs. Ebenezer Fitch. 1t says: "Eben-
eyer said to me: How soon can you
get your wedding dress ready, Mary
and that's all the proposal he ever
made-but that's just like Ebenezer
Fitch"
Everybody laughed, even EbeneZer
Fitch himself, who was a lantern
iawed. solemn-looking person.
Then Mr.. Hazel read Ebenezer's
account of the proposal and 1t CO.
incided with that given by his wife,
whereupon several other views felt
somewhat relieved II their husbands
remembered as faithfully as Ebene-
ger Fitch. all would be well.
But 1t appeared that Ebenezer
Fitch was to stand alone as the man
who remembered, word for word,
the happenings OF a fatal day.
Mrs. Peter Simmons slip read:
Hannah l cannot live without you
will you be my wife,"
Mr.. Simmons had written: 81
hadn't got around to II when Hannah
said one day: If we ever air going
to get married, Peter, we better be
about it this spring. That suited
me and said So"
Mrs Simmons pale with indigna'
llOn tuIHeu lht punt Vi dttdCh III al
other direction.
'If we're going into such intimate
details | guess may be Mr.. Hazel will
read out loud what he wrote on a
paper to Susan WORTHY and gave to
her little while ago."
Mr.. Hazel Redeemed to his snowy
collar and his eyes met those Of Su
san and asked a question. Susan
nodded ever so slightly in response.
Miss WORTHY thinks It may save
} embarrassment II the rest OF the pa
!, pers are returned unread to thetr
writer's. AS for the message I wrote
, to her. | will read It aloud: Dear
Miss Susan Will you marry me-
John Hazel"
He smiled down at their startled
} and confused faces. Miss Susan has
, kept me waiting three years for ar
answer to this question-every veal
, I repeat 1t. Tonight she has mad,
me very happy by saying Yes, anC
know you will all congratulate m'
: and rejoice in my happiness!"
, In the confusion OF talk and laugh
ter that followed, while Susan ant
, Mr.. Hazel received the good wishes
OF the company, Jabez Foote ana Dox
/ lie Post talked aside. All at one,
Jabez wormed his way to the min
ister's side.
; "Mr. Hazel" he said hurriedly
s''Doxie Post has promised to MARI.
{ me and want you to tie the knot thi
very minute because she'll chang,
| her mind II she gets chance to thin
OF them orphans! Why, I've go
r room for whole asylum full of OF
? phans at my farm"
;, How about a license, Jabez?" whis
' pered the minister.
Don't tell her" whispered tn
4 bridegroom in return. but I've bee
. carrying 1t around in my pocket 70
a weeks waiting for her to make up he
J.. mind"
Il never had so many surprises Il
) all my life!" declared Mrs. Sar
!