The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-27
dait and Aumor.
A willing Widow.
shtppensburg ira, Chronicle.

\ >curc of us were sitting in the shade
Of the depot building waiting for the train,
which was an hour late, when yoke of
oxen attached to queer-looking old cart
turned the corner. They were driven by
woman about fifty years of age, who was
barefoot and wore man straw hat.
sect up thar, Buck y she exclaimed as
she laid the '.gad" on the off OK with re-
sounding whack. 'You thar, Pete, what
you skittishun rund that way fur? Both
of yous stan still =
She turned them up to the platform,
threw down some hay taken from the cart,
and came up among us to inquire Of the
depot agent about barrel Of salt. He
was busy just then and she was waiting
around when the smart Aleck of the crowd,
who was travelling for a wine house, re-
marked in tones meant for her to overhear
81 have always said that if married at
all I'd marry woman who could drive
oxen.
as that meant fur me ?" she asked, as
she walked straight up to him.
"Are you widow, ma'am ?"
Il am Bin wilder ever since saw
log rolled over Jim nine years ago.
"And you'd marry again if you had the
opportunity, would your
Il would. When Jim lay dyin in
the house he told me to murIy again if ]
had a show"
"Ahem see Could you love sec
ond husband?''
81 could 1t runs in our family to love.
We begin airly and keep it up to the grave.
What's your proposition? I'm plain
woman, full o bizness, and never do any
foolin If you've got anythin' to say, say
it right out afore EN- ALL
IL don't want to marry just now,
he stammered.
sDon't Ell? Then what's the use of
gettin me on my tip-tOes about it? You
man, you jest the same as asked me to have
you, and | Jest the same as accepted you ~
"Oh No, no merely made some in
quiries = he replied,
'Them inquiries was about love, sir, and
my hearts a thumpin away like all git
ont | said I'd marry agin, and l will.
We are engaged. When do you want me
to be ready?'
MADAM, you have totally misunderstood
me" explained the young man as he turned
all sorts of colors aud appeared to grow
small, Il asked you few questions out of
curiosity"
"Mebbe the jury will call it curiosity,
and mebbe they won't! y she said as she
set her jaw "Thcy don't allow no foolin'
round in Posey county. When a Teller
goes as fur as you hev it's hitch OF dam
ages. Tn tremblin' all over like girl,
an my hearts tryin to jump out. It's
req lar love or | don't know the road hum.
You don't leave here, young man, till this
case is settled
''But, ma am. you see''--
II don't see nuthin' but marriage or
damages You've asked me to have you.
] said would. Win you marry or settle?
''How-how much? p he gasped, as he
looked around aud failed 10 find any sym
pathy.
':Wall, Saginaw salt is dollar and a
quarter bari, she replied, as she glanced
at a row of barrels down the platform, 81
guess the oxen kin git hum with two bar'ls.
Make it two and I'll call it squar.
Everybody grinned except the yonng
man. He realized that he was done for
and got out of the box by planking down
the Two dollars and half to the agent.
The cart was driven around to the spot,
the barrels loaded up, and then the woman
came back 10 say to the young man
"IVe settled this case and the salt is in
the cart, but jest want to remark that if
you happen this way agin, and you hap
pen to feel 50 awfully cunnin' that you
can't hold yourself you'd better so slow on
widders. Thars sixteen of us round here,
an We all drive yallar oxen hitched to
carts, an we all go b'rfoot in the Summer
and sigh to git married again. The regular
fgger is three bari of salt and pound Of
tea, but OWN to your youth and that thun-
derstorm comm up I've let you of easy.
Good day, bub; good day, all =