The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-11-13
Prudence and
Zobed.
BY M. QUAD.
Observation-Disclosures

pressed with each other. Zabed would
nave married her IL the Widow Pen
N rose hadn't mixed in. She wanted the
N young man for herself, and In awe
some whispers she impaired the infor-
NATION that Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and would never be able
10 stand at washtub or run M and
down the cellar stairs The young man
was at once impressed. He ceased to
spark Prudence on Sunday nights and
assure her that he longed to jump
over precipices for her sake. and OF
course she resented It. She went about
with her chin In the air and asked for
no explanations. and so relations Were
strained for many long months. Then
Zabeds mother found out what was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied. Zabed
made It 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 shake and said:
"Zabed, col durn your buttons. you,rs
gittin' the real. thing, anG you orter
De the happiest man in woodchuck
county"
ZaDed was for about two weeks
Then Deacon Gray. who was a widow.
er and wanted Prudence for his second
vile, gave up some information abone
FADED When he had sworn her 10 the
most awful secrecy he confessed thar
the young man had live frog I'm his
sto1'Msh and would probably 90 mad
within two years and cut the throat OF
nis wife IL he had one. The frog had
Juhfed down Zabed's throat one day
when he was. drinking from the horse
pond, and, though thousands OF I'm.
uucements had been held out TO him
nothing could prevail upon him "a
jump out.
wen, where Is the young girl. no
matter how her heart turks with love
VINO Is going TO marry a young man
win live and growing frog in kis
stomach? She can't be found. She
wasn't found In this case. Prudence
Smith cooled Off on Zabed Winters
ana he went about with his chE n
the air and was too proud to ask for
an explanation. 1t was a year before
one came. Then 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 IL he
lad ever heard Of frog taking I'D in
'ide quarters, and he answered thar
uch. thing was absolutely impossi-
lie and beyond belief Zabed Winters
lad probably swallowed a.snaII fish
nd the fish might be growing. but n
EFT alone he could In time be fshed
or and caught. That settled the frog
uestion, and Zabed was invited TO
ONE around and make up. BE got n
ustle on him, and the turtledoves
ang soft and low, a new date was an
ointed. and Farmer Smith stopped
hopping wood long enough to extend
hand and say:
ZaDed, you gol burned idios don't
ou know when you've got q good
lingf Don't fool around any more"
laoed didn't want to, but before II
ID been decided which minister
loud marry them old>Mrs. SNYDER
ruck his trail. She was too old TO
AIRY, but not too old to utter a warn
Tor the benefit OF "a young man
no had put In day. hoeing her gar
n and refused TO take paw. for II
e' told him right straight. out that
'adence Smith snored like a steam
CINE, that she had. SIX tees on her
yht foot and only four on her,left
at she had had st. vttus' dance when
baby and that 1t was sure .te come
ck on her some day. 1t might not be
year after marriage that Zabed
'uld come up from the cornfield
ne afternoon and ind her dancing
around the dooryard and kicking as
"a as fence. That settled Zabed-
wanted Prudence. but he didn't
mt dancing derrish. More cold
IS. more strained relations. II wasa
year before old Mrs. Snyder was
we'd liar, and 1t took three months
ger to make up and set another
e. Things had run Smoothly To
hin fortnight OF the date when n
peddler came along and bought a
epskin OF Zabed and then told him
Prudence Smith was deaf IN the
IT ear, nearsighted In both eyes and
I'D be tongue tied before she was
years older. Zabed hadn't noticed
deafness or blindness, but he be-
ed In tin peddlers and at once grew
ID Result. another year lost.
ate was still in the game, however.
when everybody, including the
principals, had made ND their
as that there would be no marriage
came loafing around to do her
:. Farmer Smith and his daughter
In the village one day sbuyiny
% and brown sugar when Zabed
tiers appeared. He had eggs 20 sell
hickory shifting. The lovers were
ght face to face. but they didn't
K They thought Of frogs and St
s dance and six toed feet and
furnfnD