The morning call., 1893-02-04
WIDOW BARROW.

4
| Mart was not to blame for the falling out,
and had several times made overtures for a
| reconciliation. His efforts in that way,
however, had not been met by old Dick, and
so nothing had come of them.
Old Dick was as mulish as mule. and,
| though he knew he was wrong, he would
not acknowledge it for the world. and vine
| once he disagreed with man he never for
| gave or made up.
From the day on which the misunder-
| standing occurred he had made it point
to oppose and annoy Mart IN every con-
| ceivabEe way. He would even discommo ode
| himself if by so doing he could veX or III
| convenience Mart.
| One day, about year alter MIS-. Evans
| death. Old Dick was at work In his corn
| field adjoining the public highway. As he
| approached the fence which separated the
| field aud road he heard voices In earnest
| conversation. and, stopping to listen he rec
| OgnlZed one of the voices as that of Mart.
SO ne stole through the corn and crawled
| under clump OF bushes that grew by the
| fence. When he had settled himself he
| found he was quite safe from discovery. and
| yet was so near to the road that he could
| hear every word that was spoken.
| The first sentence that greeted his eagerly
| listening ears was this from Marts COM
| panon:
"fes," Mart replied 81 have lived alone
| long enough. 1 need wife, as every man
does if he would only think So"
Yes, that's true. The man who never
marres misses the real pleasure and en-
| joyment of living. But it seems odd that
! you should marry alter living single so
| long"
Il presume it does" said Mart. ''But the
! truth Is, the longer man lives without a
/ wife the more keenly he feels the ne1d OF
| her"
well don't know anything about
| that" the other answered, because
never lived long unmarried. But, by
| George, Mart it does seem funny to think
| about you getting married. Everybody has
| got the idea that you are regular woman-
| batter. and as long as we have known you
you have never set up TO single soul.
| What has come over you, anyhow"
Nothing" Mart reUled, "only l have
! just discovered the woman want. L
| should have married long ago II L bad seen
| a woman that | could love"
at seems you have been long time find
| ing a woman good enough for you"
| "No, it is not that. Plenty of them are
| good enOugh-tao good. for that matter
| bat did not leve them, and no matter how
| good woman j. would not marry ner II
| didn't love her"
well, that is sensible Mar. But about
the woman you are going to marry! Who is
| she and where does she live?'
| Her name Is Dtrr0W. SAe lives down IN
| the valley south of here"
| SIS she Young and good looking?"
| "Weli. she's young for a widow. and she's
| good looking enough for me-"
| ANY childrenY'
Yes. two"
| us she fixed financially ?"
| eyes, she's the owner Of money and prop
| ertv TO the amount of $40, 600"
| "Whoo-eeI Why. blame it, she's rich. I
| don't blame you Tor marrying her.
| Yes, she's rich; but I'm not marrying
| her for her money, understand. I'd marry
| her Just as quick if she didn't have dollar
| to her name"
ION, yes; of course" the other answered,
| rather incTedulously. Marry always for
| love. you know. bat making point of low
] ing woman who has money. Don't get
mad, now. IdOn't mean anything, and /
congratulate you. But, say, when is the
| wedding TO come OFF,"
| Tomorrow.
$50 soon as that?'
| Yes"
| swell, III tell YOU one thing
| whats that?"
"Yeu'd better not let old Dick Evans get
| an mixing of the matter, for if be does he'll
| go TO work to break up the wedding as sure
| as mischief. Ii he knew you were going to
| marry a woman worth $4,000 he'd OVerturn
| heaven and earth to prevent it,
| Il know him pretty well, Mart replied,
| "but I'm not afraid o. his injuring me in
this matter. He can't do ms any harm how
ever much he may try"
| well, maybe not. Still il was you I'd
| rather be didn't know anything about it.
| He's Dad"
| Mart and his companion, Who had stopped
| at the forks of the road TO talk, sepa rated,
/ one going each way.
| No sooner were they out of sight tn n
! Dick emerged from his hiding place, and
| climbing on the fence sat for long time
| anga cd in SOber. sHriOuS thOuuhk
At last his face lighted Hp and with
! smile of triumph, he slapped himself on the
/ leg. saying:
| than kite, Thinks he's going to marry
| and get $4,000 and amt one bit afraid Of
| me interfe:ingl On, my! how he's goi ne to
| get fooledp'
| And he got down from the fence and
| stamped and laughed, and was so pleased
| that he could hardly contain himself.
II know the Widow barrow Just like a
| book" he continued, land | know blame
| we'll she'll marry me in minute if | get
| there before Mart. She's showed as plain
| as she could a dozen times that she wanted
| me to marry her. bat wouldn't bite. be-
| cause she's so miserably h0mely and so
| poi>on-tem pered-and then | never sus-
| pecttd that she had all that money.
| "My! Ten thousand dollarsl That's
! worth while figuring %; and you bet it
/
| per. She's a regular old vixen. but I'd bear
| with Der for that much money, you be-"
! Old Dick was silent for a moment, while
| he rubbed his nose thoughtfully and gazed
| intently at the ground. but finally he
| straightened up and muttered to himself:
| "Fll beat Mart this time worse than ever
| he was beat in all his life. He's going down
| tomorrow to get married, so I'll go down
| to-day and head him off, and when he goes
the widow won't be there. Oh. what beat
| that will be!'
| Dick laughed and slapped himself again.
| and when he got his feelings under control
| he went home and saddled his horse and
| rode away to see the Widow barrow.
| The widow received him graciously. and
was as smiling and gentle as 1t was possible
| for her to be. Yet when old Dick looked on
! her wripkled, hard features, which were
| almost hideouslv h0mely, and remembered
| what cruel temper and sharp tongue she
| possessed. he iuyoluntarily shrank away
| from her.
| But then he recalled Mart's words about
| that $4,000, and that nerved him to face
| the worst
| After few preliminary remarks he led
| up to the subject of first Importance to
| him just then, and in busiuess-like way
/ he said:
| "Mrs Darrow. feel the need Of another
| wife, and in casting about for a woman
| to suit me have concluded that / cannot
| do better than TO take you, and If you are
/ willing reckon We might as we'll get mar
| ried."
| Il don't know that l have any Objec-
| tiOns," she replied. smiling
| Il suppose" he continued. you have had
| other offers of marriage"
| Il think. though" he said, ''that l can
| do as well by you as any one else. L have
some property, and while it is no great
| amount it is enough to keep US comfort
| able Then presume you have something
! in your own right"
/ "Ah, not very much" she answered In
| tone that might have been construed to
| mean that she had great deal.
| Old Dick did so construe II, but for that
/ matter he never had a doubt of the exist
| enee of the wealth of which Mart had