The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-02

houses, and the kitchens with nobody
there as it used TO be; for Mis- Jones
was a real pleasant woman, and we
were always neighborly together.
zone day, about year afterward,
went up home to look over my things
suppose MIR. Jones saw the light for
he came over to make call. was
mighty glad to see an old face; for
had been real lonesome and l did want
to hear about everything.
Before he went away, he asked me
| to marry him. Mis- Jones had gone, he
hadn't any children, and he said he'd
| just as soon come here and live as not.
| You see his house was an old one, and
he thought he could use il for another
barn; while Hiram and had fixed up
this one until 1t was most as nice as new.
perhaps / hadn't ought to have done
it so quick, for Hiram had only been
gone about two years; but 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.
eve lived real happy together for
fifteen years; and l never thought any
thing more about money matters, nor
how things could get mixed up. We
kept on prosperin', Mr. Jones had the
name of bein good farmer, and al
ways 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 didn't live week, an never knew
anybody after the second day. When the
funeral was over l began to remember
and to think what might happen again
without will; for Mr.. Jones had a
nephew, Jacob, who was an awful
graspin' man.
''He came in the very next day, ano
we looked over all Mr.. Jones papers
but we couldn't find any. Then jacob
spoke right up: Mis- Jones, you car
have your thirds, but you can't have
no more, for, legally, the rest goes
to me-
"Mr. Jones had been a real kind hus
band, and 1 felt awful lonesome any
way. So just broke down and begar
to cry. Jacob got up and went out; bu
next mornin', and brought a lawyei
with him. They said we didn't need Il
have an auction, and they'd give in
good many of my things but the bes
of 'em must have price fixed, and thel
Jacob put his hand on that chest o
drawers, and said this thing is worti
more than it was at first, but I'm will
ing to let it go for twenty-five dollars
I'D got some money laid by me, ant
waited until things were settled
Then brought it out, and paid dow
standin' right there, and / had all
could do to bear it. was so wrough
up spose l said more'n ought; but
did speak my mind to Jacob. l toll
him that he needn't ever darken m,
doors again, for he was no better thai
thief. 1 said the law ought to he'll
widows, when husbands died so sudden
ly they hadn't no time to make will
3 but if it didn't, their relatives no nee
to take advantage of it.
, "Mr. Jones was worth considerabl
property, and so my thirds gave me tn
; house and garden over again, and none
enough in the bank to keep me besides
but l never had any call to invite Jaco
here after that final settlement.
f "Well, twan't more'n two years agai
/ before, one cold winter night, when
t was sitting here real comfortable b
the fire, heard knock at the fror
! door. l opened it, and there was MI
, Smith, who lived in another part of tn
i town.
''He was a widower, though his wifi
i. hadn't been dead more than six month.
1 l never thought what he'd come fol
I He always seemed to be well-meanir
/ man. l hadn't anything against him.
''He took seat by the fire. 1t wa
r pretty hot; and he kept pushin' HI
$ chair back until he got beside thi
Y chest, and then he couldn't get no flu
+ ther.
e "Before long he took hold of one {
! the handles, and began to work it bac
and forth; and then he burst out:
t "'Mis' Jones, don't you think you an
/, l could get along together? We're bot
: pretty lonesome
e 81 shouldn't have fared up as di'
I if hadn't seen him holdin' on to thu
handle; but it all came over me how 1