The Red Cloud chief., 1913-12-04

NOT A BAD MATCH
BY DON IA GRANGE.

bone. OF the village Of Delhi, found
1t necessary to drive over to the vii
lage OF Wharton. six miles away. He
was hitching up his horse and buggy
when Mrs. Hannah Savage came to
the house to say:
Deacon. they say you are going to
drive over to Wharton today?"
Yes, ! am" was the reply.
Got load?"
only a jug to be filled with ile."
You know my sister Sarah lives
over there?"
Yes, guess she do. though haint
much Of hand to keep track Of
folks sisters"
We'll. Sarah's got a baby a year
old. and she writes me that It cant
walk yet. Something seems to be the
matter with his knees or back"
1t sure orter be walkin' at year
old. They say wasn't quite ten
months old when could trot right
out doors. Do you want to send any
word to SARAH"
Il want to drive over and back with
you"
IAN right. You be ready in fifteen
minutes. Guess the old mare can take
US both and not git tuckered out"
Deacon Pennybone was a widower.
Hannah Savage was q widow.
They had both lived In Delhi for
years. and both belonged to the same
church. but gossip had never even
hinted a marriage between them. 1t
had never hinted that either one OF
them would marry again.
The drive to Wharton was made.
The deacon went to get his jug filed
with oil. and the widow to see her
sister and the baby. The baby was
walking all right. The next day after
It's mother had written about its walk.
less condition 1t had got Choked on
a spool Of thread and been shook and
dangled head downwards with vigor-
GUS hand! Ten minutes later 1t was
taking its first steps.
The drive out and back was pleas.
ant The widower and widow talked
about the new spire for the meeting
uouo0 tuoI woc 6oAu6 W OO oAOSScu
the death Of Silas Whites cow-the
plentitude Of potato-bugs-the success
Of the late Sunday school picnic and
even the best way Of killing OF bur.
docks so they would stay killed. but
not . word nor q hint Of anything
closer. They were Just neighbors. II
the subject Of the heather Of Africa
had been brought up they might have
discussed It for miles to the exclu
sion of all else.
The deacons sister was his house
keeper. She waS sour.faced ole
maid with q sharp tongue. and wher
her brother got back home she felt II
her duty to say something. She there
fore remarked:
II suppose the match was at leasi
half-made today?"
what match?" asked the deacon.
"She's been trying to catch q maj
for the last FIVE years."
Ruth. who you talkin' about?"
"Why, the widow Savage"
whats wrong with herr"
shed like to change her name 4
Pennybone!"
Say. now" replied the deacon q
he fred up. you quit talkin' that way
She hain't the slightest idea Of It I
she has haint."
"All widders want to marry again.
said the sister.
"Then let 'em marry. but none o
'em will marry mel"
When the widow Savage got hom
Mrs. Goodhue. q neighbor. dropped 4
to ask about the baby over at Whal
ton that couldn't walk. She was give
full information. and then she r,
marked:
Lots Of folks thought It funny"
what was7"
"Your riding over there with De,
con Pennybone."
But ! don't see anything funn
about that"
"Well. you hadn't been gone half a
hour when the story was around tbs
you and the deacon had gone ava
to get married"
upon my soul! The deacon an
ul0 6Ct uoAhACus Vvuy, NO oou WoA
me, and I don't want him. II th
fool.killer would come along he'd fiu
plenty to do in this town."
"Then-then--"
Then nothing!"
What a curious thing Is human n
ture! Here we're two peopls wi
were neighbors and friends--nothir
more. They hadn't thought Of eas
other once a week. unless happenir
to meet. But now. because sou
tempered old maid and GOSSIP
neighbor made few remarks they b
gan thinking of each other.
by gosh" said the deacon to hil
self as he sat down to milk the CO
that evening. the widder Saval
wouldn't be such . bad match II
feiler wanted to marry agin. She
purity good lookin' when she's got b
Sunday duds on. and she can ia
like q streak and talk sense too. T.
An>-A uhn xuou oou3ns unvnoa