The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-04-17

some mysterious manner of most of
the details of the approachine3'lope-
ment. she knew that Hep Riddles
buggy had been engaged and that Hep
was to harness the sorrel horse. III
though Hep Riddle himself didn't
know what Ananias Slime wanted to do
with buggy.
was shivering with nervous dread. He
had a feeling that in some way or 9TH
er his elopement would be frustrated
Time ana again he had found the Wild
ow Rowell's wits could outmatch his
own, but so far us he knew not soul
was aware of the approaching mar
riage save the prospective bride, the
minister and himself.
Ananias ate scarcely any supper, al
though Mrs Rowell had prepared his
favorite dish of oyster stew. She sat
opposite him and blinked her eyes at
him until he gulped down Il huge cup
of scalding hot tea and bolted away
from the table.
Little dear murmured the widow
with strange smile on her face.
Ananias locked himself into his room
and made IN elaborate if hasty toilet.
After many maneuvers he let himself
out and managed to escape by the back
hall door. There was no sign Of the
widow, and be hoped she had gone to
call upon one of her ,cronies. 1t would
L. Z oh. h.,5 k,.I-
into her head TO call upon Elm Bevis.
though the two rivals were not the
best Of friends since Ananias came be-
tween them.
Still. the Widow Rowell was apt to
do the most battling things.
Ananias hurried to Riddles stables
and climbed into the buggy which
grinning negro had prepared for him.
He drove rapidly ont of the yard. near
ly losing Il wheel in the turn, for he
was not a skillful driver.
Ounce HarbOr folks are inquisitive
and prone To mind each others bust
ness to Il most annoying degree: there
fore it had been decided that En- Be
Wis was TO wait for Ananias in Whip
,poorwill lane by the brook. He would
catch her up into the vehicle. and away
they would go to Big Harbor.
WhippOorwill lane was there. and so
was En- Bevis. for Ananias recognized
the white veil she was to wear about
her uncovered head
He pressed her hand and received
tnyN1oY In, A hot
they rode in silence through the woods
toward Big Harbor.
At last they reached the main street
of Big Harbor. and the sorrel horse
chose to gallop madly until Ananias
saving at the reinS. managed to bring
him to stop before the gate of the
parsonage.
Delay therer' yelled the little ex
sailor angrily just as the minister
opened the front door and stepped into
the porch to meet them
The prospective bride got out unaid-
ed while Ananias was tying the sorrel
horse and she was inside the house by
the time Ananias had reached the gate.
When Ananias Slime reached the par
Tor. where stood the beaming clergy
man and his smiling wife and couple
of servants for witnesses, he stood in
the doorway aghast at the sight that
met his amazed eyes. The bride was
there-a bride was there, indeed. but
not the one he had so carefully chosen.
there in the modest splendOr
Of gray satin dress hurriedly gar
nished with white lace and punches of
orange blossoms was the
Widow-Rowell.
Elm Bevis was nowhere to be seen
Somehow he had been tricked by
the artful widow whom he had at first
only TO leave when o better |
chance presented itself. Surely retri- |
button was close upon the heels Of |
Slime.
1--WE are waiting. Mr. Slime" remind |
ed Mr. Twigg. smiling benevolently.
Dear Ananias" cooed Hetty Rowell. |
fixing her agate colored eyes upon |
him.
Ananias moved forward mechanical1
y. There seemed nothing else to do. |
Things were hideously' mixed and
bitter fate seemed to have driven him |
straight into the arms of the Widow |
Rowell. He felt that she had outwit- |
ed him again-neyer more would he
ny to get the best of her. He would |
admit defeat. AS for EN- Bevis. what
,ould he do about it now without
treating a scandal that would shake
he three villages to the core?
Nothing!
So Ananias went forward and was
oined in the bonds of holy matrimony
o Hetty Rowel. When the ceremony
vas over Mrs. Twigg congratulated
hem warmly.
ITS the oldest thing" she babbled.
but Josiah and I really thought the
'ride-we understood 1t was to be-
mother. We IRE quite surprised"
$50 are wer' smiled Mrs Ananias
'line as she took her husbands arm
nd went down to the waiting buggy
nd the impatient sorrel horse.
Somebody tossed an old shoe after
hem for luck and 1t struck Ananias
light In the back Of the neck. so that
e uttered an explosive blast of pro-
anity that caused the minister and his
wife to close their front door burriedly.
But the Widow Rowell-I mean Mrs.
LpanfaS Slina-poralv op,itod a<.x..u. |