Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-10-11
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A Spiritual
Courtship
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By CLARA DELAFIELD

no use for spiritualism. And as for
mediums, they drive him plumb crazy.
Cut off his grandson, Abner, for at
tending table-tapping bee, he did.
But there was a time-you see, it's
this way:
Greatuncle Bateman had been Sort
of hanging round the Widow Judberry
for years-on and off, the way old
people do. Now he fancied her, and
now he didn't. Widow Judberry? Oh,
she'd have taken any one, being only
sixty, and three times married before
Sort Of got set In her ways, she had.
and hated single blessedness.
But it was when the Widow Jud-
berry come into a cool eight thousand
from her brother, Tom-him that was
killed by shark when he fell over
board the Christina Marina off Cuba,
when she'd told him not to spend his
money on that excursion-what was I
saying? Oh, about that eight thou
sand.
That sort Of determined Greatuncle'
Bateman, but now it was the Widow
Judberry's turn to be coy. Some wom-
en- are that way. So long as Great
uncle Bateman wasn't sure in his own
mind, the Widow Judberry was crazy
about him. But jest as soon as he
made up his mind she began to run
shy. Mebbe that eight thousand helped
a lot, too.
Now the Widow Judberry was mad
on spiritualism. Used to call up the
spirits Of her third and second hus-
bands-the first wouldn't speak to
her because he was mad she'd let No.
2 smoke in the parlor when he had to
60 In the woodshed. Used to take
their advice per Nat Biodgett, who
sells hardware and runs spirits as a
sideline.
Nat Blodgett come along every so
often with his goods and spirits, and
then there'd be a seance up to the
Widow Judberry's house. And what
Nos. 2 and 8 said went with the
Widow Judberry.
Well, Greatuncle Bateman was a
wise old chip. He saw that his best
chance of getting hold of the Widow
Judberry lay through Nos. 2 and 8. So
what does he do but get hold Of Nat
when he come around.
"See here, Nat" he said, II want us
to form sort Of cooperative society.
I want the Widow Judberry. She's my
taste and she's got tidy little bit in
the bank-eight thousand from her
brother, Tom, him that was killed and
eaten" but told you that already.
"You fix 1t up with Nos. and and
there'll be a thousand clear for you
the day lead the Widow Judberry to
the altar"
Nat Blodgett was on like a flash. II
get you, Mr.. Bateman," he answered.
"I'll sure try to fix 1t with the spirits
of Nos. 2 and g."
There was long seance up to the
the next morning Greatuncle Bateman
waited impatiently for Nat.
"It's all right" said Nat. II fixed 1t.
The spirits said they think it'll be
best for her to marry you, but you got
to go little further n that. Mr.. Bate
man. I'm thinking of gettin' married
myself. and that thousand d come in
very handy before tackle the spirits
again."
They dickered and haggled, but
neither of 'em could trust the other.
and at last Nat said:
"Tell you what I'll do, Mr.. Bateman.
There's my horse and wagon and my
connection-they're worth a thousand
easy. Now sposing you was to buy
me out say at that price, and after
you're married guess you might be
willing to hand the business back to
me, seeing as you'll be rich.'
Well. they struck the bargain, and
Nat brought his horse and wagon
round to Greatuncle Bateman's barn
and gave him a list of his customers
and bad debts.
"I'll fix 1t with the spirits" he said.
Don't you worry, Mr.. Bateman."
That was Friday night. That night
there was to be another seance, and
Greatuncle Bateman he waited all
the Saturday, dreaming of the time
when he'd lead the Widow Judberry
to the hymeneal altar. Saturday
come but no Nat BlOdgett.
When night come. Greatuncle Bate
man was gittin' little nervous, and
as he usually courted the Widow Jud-
berry Saturday nights he goes up to
the house. To his surprise. it was
shut up.
"Wonder where the widows gomez"
he calculated. "'Tain't often she
goes away"
He'd jest finished Illuminating wher
a buggy drives up to the door. In 1t
sits the Widow Judberry and Nat
Blodgett They jumps out brisk, and
In minute Greatuncle Bateman
sees something's wrong.
The smiles on their faces druv him
mad. How about them spirits? he
yelled, forgetting himself,
THAT'S all right" saws Nat RlOd