The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-04-14
The Marrying
Of Billy
By MAY ISABEL BoYNTON


90 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Uncle Nathan was the first to agi.
tate the question of getting Billy mar.
ried, and the rest OF the Cummings
family followed the idea like a fox.
hound the scent OF the 6nise bag.
Billy was tWenty-efght, well estab-
lished In his profession, the lawn
usually well established, In fact, but
then, Billy was a little bit unusually
we'll" in the eyes Of his family, and
II he had not possessed a level head
would have been utterly spoiled long
ago instead Of being the splendid spec
linen Of young manhood he was. n
An only child-the LAST male repre-.
sentative Of a proud old family. q
great responsibility rested upon him,
So forthwith a family council was
called and Billy summoned home.
He came, listened to the admonitions
and advice Of his father and uncles
and aunts unto the second and third
fgenerations-Billy's mother was dead
understood perfectly we'll why GER
tain fair damsels who like himself be
longing to Ashton's FIRST families
were persistently thrown In his way !;
had a good time, looked upon the fam
lily maneuvers as something's of a joke,
and returned to his Office.
Once, twice, three times was he
called home in like manner, and on
the occasion Of his third departure
Silas Cummings spoke to him in no
uncertain terms.
Il want you to get married." he
said bluntly, 'and have a family to
keep up the name. It's a good name
and one to be proud Of. We've money
and we've brains. At your age I was
married and had two children-you
and your sister that died. You've
danced round the bush long enough.
Within six months I want you to bring
your wife to me-"
"Why, l intended to marry" Billy
stammered, and he blushed a little.
"In fact there is a little girl in the city
+" Old Silas Blew up.
you'll marry no strange city girl
who doesn't know a turnip from a
croquet ball. There's plenty Of good
mes right here at home, sir-girls
we've known all their lives and their
folks before 'em. Marry without my
consent and I'll disown youi"
AS old Silas grew red, young Billy
grew white. They measured each
other eye to eye. There was an ON
inous silence, finally broken>b by Billy.
81 promise never to enter into any
marriage. to which you have ever re-
fused your consent" and he held out
his hand.
Silas grasped t-and beamed.
= 81 knew you'd listen to reason. No
trouble from me under those condi-
tions-nothing but my blessing for you
and your future wife, and you know a
Cummings never goes back on his
word. Now 60 to 1t, my boy!"
"I'm going" Billy answered, but his
father did not see the twinkle in his
eye.
It was nearly three months since
Billy and his father had had that con-
versation, and with no move on Billy's
part. Silas was growing restless,
when one day there came a note from
Billy.
"Coming home for three weeks va
cation. Get your blessing ready, dad"
and Silas beamed with satisfaction.
This could mean but m thing
Billy was coming home to choose q
wife. If the fatted calf was not lit
orally killed, it was figuratively many
times over, and to crown all, Silas
bought a nifty sedan car.
"The old boneshaker is good enough
for me" he confided to Brother Ma
than, t'but Il want Billy to have the
best there is, though how In thunder
a fellow does .any counting In a Of
the contraptions unless he stalls the
engine is more than I can see"
Silas drove the sedan to the sta
ton himself to meet Billy, with q
smile on his face that threatened to
dislocate, his law. Billy came down.
the steps Of the car-but what? He
was turning to assist a young woman
such a young woman, too, Silas had
to admit to himself, as Ashton could
not boast of-so dainty, so sweet and
altogether adorable did she look to
even his prejudiced eyes.
Father" Billy said quietly, my
wife-the little girl / once spoke about
to you. Frances, this Is my father,
the best dad that aver was"
Perhaps he was all Billy said, but
ne didn't look II. The storm gathered
and broke.
"You young scampW he shouted.
Didn't I tell you Il you married with
ont my consent you'd be no son Of
miner" .s3s
Easy Billy cautioned. People
are looking at you and you'll brighten
Frances. You promised to give your
blessing to any marriage to which You
had not refused your consent, and
You never refused 1t to my marrying
Frances-and you know q Cummings
never goes back on his word Il
ssYO1l-yOa1-sg SilaS sna1ffarnd. Once