Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-01-09

Sure enOugh-she's just bought her
wedding vellT'
Lem Roberts clapped a mighty hand
on the counter.
let 'em look out then" he cried
jocularly. "Tn get the callithumpian
band together. and wen serenade 'emF'
I'm Bevis laughed harshly.
you going to callithump the Widow
Roweli7'' she asked incredulously.
Lem nodded his untidy head
"As sure as aigs is aigsF' he assured
her as he went out and slammed the
door.
Nobody laughed. The two girls stole
back 10 their work, and En- Bevis rat
tied the money in the cash drawer.
Her face was like a thunder cloud.
IL shall be the first to tell it." she
muttered angrily. "NObody's going to
surprise me by telling me that Ananias
Shines going to marry Hetty ROwell."
The news spread like wildhro in the
village, and by nightfall there were
emily two persons In Ounce Harbor
who had not heard Of the coming we'd
ding and the serenade that was to fol
low In accordance with Ounce Har-
boris time hOnored custom of welcom-
ing a bride with the discordant blare
OF horse nddles, tin horns and broken
wind instruments. These two persons
were the Widow Rowell, who was sew
ing busily away on yards Of white
stun, and Ananils Slime. who was in
his own room p%ractfcing IN the cello.
II wish to the land he'd quit playing
Believe Me II All Those Endearing
Young Charms,'" sighed Mrs. Rowell
as she threaded her needle. Makes
me feel real sentimental, and 1 didn't
ought to get that way"
However. contrary to her desires, the
old sailor, who now occupied n por-
teTs position in the bank, continued to
saw away at his cello, holding fast to
the same old tune.
At breakfast the next morning Ana
Mas fixed his bullying blue eyes on his
landlady and asked In his reedy voice:
IL hope you didn't take any ofTense
at my playing that there tune over and
over last night"
II don't see anything to get offended
at" purred Mrs. Rowell, suddenly
looking very turtle-like. most likely
the lady was worked up over the way
you played it-playing or the key
makes most anybody hdgety."
"Heml" said Ananias fercely at
lacking his egg. Then as a diversion
he added. ''Thls here eggs some scorch-
ed, Mrs. RowelI."
"'Tis7 Let me take It awayg'
WhereupOn the widow caught up his
plate and in a twinkllng had shot the
egg into the FIRE. Its too bad that's
the last egg I've got In the house."
she added, smiling sweetly at his dis
mayed countenance.
"Drat the womanT' he muttered as
he drained his coffee cup and folded
up his red bordered napkin.
Ananias returned to his duties at
the bank, and Hetty Rowell resumed
her stitchery on pillows OF Almy white.
After supper that night Ananlas re-
tired to his room, where he twRnged
m%onotonously on his cello. Mrs. Row
ell, feeling somewhat lonely, lighted
all the lamps in the house as was her
custom when depressed in mind. for
| uuNuIulAl SIG WIS u noNAhDi0 bOuls anu
once more she stitched at the white
lacy material such as brides wear"
.
Leander Petty's furniture wagon and
stout sorrel horse bore the members
Of the callithumpian band around the
square of business houses and up
Locust street to the Widow RowelPs
long white house. During its progress
around the square the band had blared
discordahtly, as wal its wont. glorying
in Its own horrible medley Of sound.
Somebody's been getting married"
said one and another as the wagon
passed, and, curiosity being rife. a long
procession attached itself to the wagon.
When the wagon paused outside the
gate OF Mrs. Rowell's brilliantly light
ed abode there was a murmur Of sur
prise mingled with stifed laughter.
Many girls and women had Joined the
procession, walking quietly in the shad-
OWs and finally pausing on the opposite
side Of the street.
For a few moments there was tense
silence as the members OF the serenad-
ing band conferred together.
Ruby Allen, standing with Rachel
Terry, giggled nervOusly.
Here comes Mrs. BsVis," she whis-
pered.
"she's been mp to her mothers. !
declare, ! believe she came around
this way on purpose q she could see
what was going on Don't let her see
your They shrank sack against the
high stone wall
II wonder II Mrs. Roweli will invite
'sm in for refreshments" said Ruby.
"It's the right thing to do. Say, Ruby,
her name must be Mrs. Slime by this
time. She's had more than her share
OF husbands. How manyr'
This is the fourth, / believe. Listen
to the music. What are they playinsT p
By some fantasy OF circumstance
Ananlas Slime, saving away at his
cello. suddenly made an attempt 10
play the wedding march from "Lohen-
grin"