Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-04-29
4 CASE OF PRIOR Pre- EMPTION

ACASE UF PRIOR Pre- EMPTION
/ am an architect, and a few years
ago was charged with the erection of a
building in Boston, in the construction
of which I used considerable quantity
of granite. l bought some of the stone
of Down East woman, whom [ knew
was Widow Haley. One day [ called
my assistant, Benjamin Baker, into my
room and said: "Look here, Baker,
you've got to go down to Widow
Haley's. She's sent word that there is
some stone ready for US, and [ want it
looked over before it is shipped, espe
cially those pillars for the entrance"
Every we'll, SIR" replied Baker, ''I'H
cake the first train tomorrow and be
back tomorrow night"
No." said ], :" don't do anything Of
the sort. Sit down and write the old
Hadv that you'll be down to the place
Saturday and then she'll meet you at
the train Besides that, she'll kill a
.yelIow-legged chicken for your din
ner"
1t was about 1880 O'Clock when Baker
reached Agamenticus, and when the
train had gone he was like the world
renowned Robinson Crusoe-"monarch
of all he surveyed"-and he felt. to a
slight extent, as Mr. Crusoe felt when
he found himself all alone, and "a long
way removed from anywhere" But
he was not a great while left to his med
itations. 1t was not more than five
minutes before his attention was at
tracted to cloud Of dust rising through
the trees in the direction in which the
highway leading to the station seemed
to run. The cloud of dust came nearer
very rapidly, and suddenly a powerful
bay horse, hitched to a Concord wagon,
bounded into view, and when Baker
saw that woman held the lines he con-
lectured that the woman was Widow
Haley, and she was.
The horse approached the station at
smart pace, and was brought to stand
still with suddenness that must have
given a shock to his nervous system.
''Good morning. madam" said Bar
ker, lifting his hat and at the same time
moving toward the wagon. He had
been standing in such position that the
woman had not obtained a fair look at
him, and as he moved out into full view
she seemed to see something in him
which had at first escaped her attention.
then she had to pause little before she
spoke. But when she did speak it was
with directness and without embarrass-
.ment.
Pm Widder Haley" she said. "Be
you the man from Architect Billiards.
that was to meet me? ?"
Eyes, Pm your man." Barker ans
wered. ''Shall I climb in ?''
Mrs. Haley gave her assent, and when
EfsUrker was seated by her side she hit
: the horse vigorous slap with the ends
of the lines, and he was soon pulling
his load briskly over the road which he
had recently travelled in an opposite
direction. It was about four miles to
the quarries, and though Barker made
several attempts to engage the widow in
conversation be got very little out Of
her more then yeses and noes until the
ride was almost completed. But he was
conscious that the widow was greatly in
esterested in him, for he could see that
she was all the while, as openly as she
dared engaged in looking him over.
They we're well along in the last mile
of the road when Barker, turning
sharply around, caught the widows eye
while she was gazing earnestly upon his
face.
''Well," he said good naturally,
-<svhat is it?"
The woman blushed and turned her
II s'pose was rude,' she said, when
She had thought out her reply, ''but l
couldn't help it. You look SO much like
8lim."
WHO'S him ?" demanded Barker.
My husband"
@'The late Mr.. Haley?'
ayes. He's been dead an gone these
twenty years, but when L see him last
he was as much like you as peas is like
peas
At the uuarries Barker heard corrob-
eorative evidence as to his resem blance
10 the defunct Mr.. Haley. Two old men
stopped hammerlng stone and looked at
him, and he heard one of them say to
mis- mate: "Did you ever see man look
80 much like another as that Teller looks
like Rufe Haley?"
1t was understood when Barker and
Mrs Haley lett the quarries that the
former should not return to Boston un-
til Monday, for there was certain stone
efuarrying which would not be ready fO1
examination earlier than Monday NOR
ming. II guess you'll get along all right
over Sunday" the widow said. 4ou
kin climb the mounting an go gunnin'
and p'r'aps Fife will take you out arid
in in the AFTERNOON"
'''Effie'; that's a girls name, is i
not?'
Yes; Efie is my daughter, an if dc
say it, nobody amt got no better cir
than she is"
''Of course not"
.'She was jest year old when heI
father died, an I've had to bring he
up all by myself, but | amt ASHAMED
of her. l think she's a pretty likely
girl; | don't know what you'll think 0
her"
"Oh, I'm sure that I shall like her,
said Barker, laughing.