The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-09-14
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Prudence 0n&,
ZcbeC.
BY IL. QUAD.

met at spelling school and were i'm
pressed with each other. Zabed would
have married her IL the Widow Pen
rose hadn't mixed In. She wanted the
young man for herself. and in awe
some whispers she impaired the infor.
nation that Prudence Smith was
knockkneed and would never be able
to stand at washtub or run up and
down the cellar stairs. The young man
vas at once impressed. He ceased 10
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
Zabed:s mother found out what was
the matter with him and set him
right. The widow had lied. Zabed
made IL up with the girl. The doves
came bnck again and turtled. new
Farmer Smith reached out his horny
hand for 4 shake and said:
"Zabed, gol durn your buttons. you're
glttin the real thing, and you orter
be the happiest man In Woodchuck
county"
Zabed was for about two weeks.
Then Deacon Gray. who was widow
er and wanted Prudence for his second
wife. gave up some information about
Zabed. When he had sworn her 10 the
most awful secrecy he confessed that
the young man had i've frog in his
stomach and would probably 20 mad
within two years and cut the throat Of
his wife II he had one. The frog had
Jumped down Zabed's throat one day
when he was drinking from the horse
pond, and, though thousands OF In
ducements had been held out to him.
nothing could prevail Upon him TO
jump out
Well, where Is the young girl, no
matter how her heart turks with love
who Is going to marry young man
stomach? She can't be found. She
wasn't found I'm this case Prudence
Smith cooled or ON Zabed Winters,
and he went about with his chin IN
the air and was too proud 10 ask for
an explanation. II was n year before
one came. Then lightning rod mau
stayed overnight NJ Smiths, ard after
supper he got TO talking about frogs
Seeing he was posted on the subje :.
Prudence made bold 10 ask him II be
had ever heard Of frog taking up In
side quarters, and he answered that
such thing was absolutely impossi.
BILE and beyond belief. Zabed winter
and the fish might be growing, but II
left alone lie could In time be flshed
for and caught That settle tho frog
question, and Zabed was vifed to
come around and make upt H1,got q
hustle on him. and the turhedovea
sang soft and low. new date was az
pointed. and Farmer Smith stopped
chopping wood long enough to extend
hand and say:
"Zabed. you gol burned idioS don't
you know when you've got 2 gocG
thing? Don't fool around any more"
Zabed didn't want 10, but before IL
had been decided which minister
should marry them old Mrs. Snyder
struck his trail. She was too old to
marry, but not too Old to utter warn
ing for the benefit OF young man
who had put In n day hoeing her gar
den and refused 10 take pay for It.
She told him right straight out that
Prudence Smith snored like steam
engine. thar s'e bad six toes on her
right foot ard only four on her left,
that she had had IT vitus' dance when
q baby and that IL was sure TO come
back on her some day II might not be
q year after marriage that Zabed
would come NJ from the cornfeld
some afternoon and find her dancing
all around the d"oryurd and kicking as
high as fence That settled Zabed
He wanted Prudence. but he didn't
want dancing delvlsh More cold
ness. more strained relations. II was q
full year before old Mrs Snyder was
proved a liar. and II took three months
longer 10 make up and set another
date. Things had run smoothly 10
within fortnight Of the date wnCn a
tin peddler came along and bought
sheepsktn 81 Zabed aud then tod hiru
that Prudence Smith was deaf In the
right ear, nearsightcd IN both eyes and
would be tongue tied before she was
two years cider Zabed hadn't noticed
the deafness Ct blindness. but he b.
lieved In tin peddlcrs and nj once grew
frigid. Result another year lost
Fate was still IN the game. however
and when every body. including the
two principals. had made mp their
minds that there would be no marriage
she came loafing around 20 DO her
duty. Farmer Smith and his daughter
were I'm the village one day buying
calico and brown sugar when Zabcd
Winters appeared lie had eggs 20 cell
for hickory shifting. The lovers were
brought face 10 face. but they didn't
speak. They thought OF frogs and 81
vitus' dance and six tocd feet and
were turning away when Father
Smith reached out one hand for his