The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-30

fexed up this one until it was most as
nice as new.
"Perhaps hadn't ought to have
done it is so quick, for Hiram had on
ly been gone about two years; but l
was all alone, and it seemed so good
to think of keepin' house once more,
so said Yes and we were married
in three weeks from that night.
awe lived happy together for fifteen
years, and never thought anything
more about money matters, nor how
things could get mixed up. We kept
on prosperin.' Mr.. Jones had the
name Of bein' a good farmer, and ]
always knew how to manage my part.
We both worked hard, but we didn't
owe a cent, and kept putin, money
into the bank.
Zone day Mr.. Jones took an awful
cold, and went right into lung fever.
He did't live a week, an never knew
anybody after the second day. When
the funeral was over, I began to re-
member, and to think what might
happen again witout a will: for Mr..
Jones had nephew, Jacob. who was
an awful graspin' man.
''He came in the very next day, and
we looked over all Mr.. Jones's papers,
but we couldn't find any.
Then Jacob spoke right up, Mis-
Jones. you can have your thirds, buI
you can't have no more, for, legally,
the rest goes to me-
"Mr. Jones had been q real kind
husband, and I felt awful lonesome
anyway. So just broke down, and
began to cry. Jacob got up, and went
out, but I knew he'd come back, and
he did the next mornin,' and brought
Ia lawyer with him, They said we
didn't need to have an auction, and
they'd give in good many Of my
things but the best of 'em must bayt
Ia price fixed. and them Jacob put. hi
hand on that chest of drawers and
said, This thing is worth more than i,
was at first, but Pm willin' to let it go
for twenty-five dollarsv I'd got some
money laid by me, and I waited until
things were settled. Then I brought
it out. and paid down for all I had
He and the lawyer were standin' right
there, and had all could do to beai
it. was 80 wrought up I s'pose
said more'n I ought; but I did not
speak my mind to Jacob. I told him
he needn't ever darken my doors again
for he was no better than a thief. ]
said the law ought to help widows,
when husbands died so sudden they
hadn't no time to make will {; but, if
it didn't, their relatives had no need
to take advantage of it.
| HMr. Jones was worth considerable
property, and SO my thirds gave me
the house and garden over again, and
money in the bank enough to keen
me besides; but I never had any call
| to invite Jacob here after that final
settlement.
"WelI, 'twarn't mOre'n two wears
again before, one cold winter night,
when I was sittin' here real comforta
BILE by the fire. ! heard knock at the
front door. l opened it, and there
was Mr.. Smith, who lived in another
part of the town.
"He was a widower, though his wife
hadn't been dead more than six
months. I never thought what he'd
come for. He always seemed to be q
well-meanin' man. l hadn't anything
against him.
"He took a seat by the fire. It was
pretty hot; and he kept pushin' his
chair back until he got beside thai
chest, and then he couldn't get nc
further.
"But before ong he took hold of one
of the handles, and began to work il
back and forth and then he burst out
"'Mis' Jones, don't you think you
and could get along together? We're
both pretty lonesome.'
II shouldn't have fared up as did,
if I hadn't seen him holdin' on to thai
handle; but it all came over me how
had to suffer, and just rose right up
and I said !:
"Mr. Smith, I've bought and paid
for that chest of drawers three times
I'm goin' to own it.as. long as / live
and no man is ever goin to have 8
claim on it again!"
He understood, for the folks all ovel
town had heard about my things. III
got right up and said Goodnight
Mis- Jones. I guess I'll be goin'. My
horse don't like to stand long,"
HE warn,t to blame but barred
the door after he'd gone, and then
said to myself:
Abigail Jones, you are widow
once more, and you'll stay a widow
the rest of your days ."