“Friends of Harry Willard in London Junction,” said the London Junction Register, “will be interested to learn of his recent marriage to Mrs. Idah Hawkins Turner of Daleport. Mr. Willard has recently taken a position as manager of the London Junction Furniture Company’s Retail Store and Funeral Parlor on Main Street. He is the brother-in-law of Mrs. Lois Blair, long a resident here, with whom his three children have made their home.”

The Daleport Sentinel said, “Mrs. Idah Hawkins Turner, age 36, became the bride yesterday of Mr. Harry Willard, 37, of London Junction, in a small but tasteful ceremony at the home of Mrs. Turner’s mother, Mrs. Minnie Hawkins. The bride was formerly a trained nurse in Columbus, but retired three years ago to marry the well-known Daleport dentist, Dr. Ephraim Turner, who died last year at the age of 61, leaving one infant, little Minelda May. The couple was attended by Mr. Ed Hartwell of Lesterville, as best man, and the bride’s sister, Mrs. Burns, as matron of honor. Reverend Timothy Thompson was the officiating clergyman, and delicious refreshments were enjoyed by all.”

The Elmville Republican said, “News has reached friends here of the second marriage of Henry Willard, formerly of Peach Street, and the Busby Hotel. The first Mrs. Willard, affectionately remembered here as Daisy Reed, passed away six years ago leaving three little daughters. Mr. Willard’s new bride attended his first wife’s last illness in the capacity of nurse, and after her first marriage resided in Daleport, where the present wedding took place. She is the second cousin of former congressman J. B. Hawkins.”

The big news, such as to stun Aunt Lois into silence, appeared in the London Junction paper two weeks later. “The Main Street Realty Company announces the sale of the Furness house, long vacant, to Mrs. Idah Hawkins Willard, recently married to Harry Willard. Mrs. Willard has been negotiating for the property for some time, and on a recent flying trip to the Junction arranged for its repair. It is expected the property will be in readiness for the couple on their return next month from a month’s honeymoon.”

“The Furness house!” gasped all who heard. “So Harry married money! Well, what do you know!”

Aunt Lois eventually found the right answer to this.

“Money, of course she has money. Why else do you think she put her hooks into that dentist, an old man twice her age? Everybody in that part of the state says he was dying when she nailed him and had him sign over everything to her on the wedding day. Left her close to fifteen thousand dollars! At that, she got a bargain on the Furness house. Trust Harry Willard to land on his feet!”

This made Aunt Lois madder than anything else. Now Papa was reaping rewards for extravagance and mismanagement, while she, who had made up to his family for his delinquencies, could barely keep her head above water. As she said to Mr. Sweeney, Daisy would turn over in her grave if she but knew.