Smyrna times., 1894-03-21
Two of a Kind.

HezEkiah II. Haystack was a plain
man; plain in person, plain in practice
plain in speech. He was a widowel
Win four children, the youngest 1C
years. He had been a widower for
several years, and the folks did say
that Mrs. Haystack was not always
the happiest wife in that county. But.
OF course this was not reliable, for folks
are always gOssiping. Hezekiah owned
a good farm, and he was industrious
and thrifty, 80 much so, in fact. that
not a few of the elderly spinsters and
widow who knew him, and some of the
young ladies, would have listened care
fully and prayerfully to his matrimon-
lal overtures. Mr.. Haystack was too
busy a man, however; for romance and
II 1t had occurred to him to court a
girl, all the chanses were that, instead.
OF going to see her in the evening when
the yellow moon painted the world in
golden hue, and the nightingale sang
In the trees, he would have been sleep-
ing at that hour in order to get around
10 her house at daylight, so as to get
out at that hour to salt the cattle.
Adjoining the Hsystack farm lived
Mrs. Higgins, Mr.. Haystack's nearest
neighbOr, worthy and buxom widow.
who owned aud conducted farm equal
In every respect to Mr. Haystack's.
Perhaps Atr Haystack would never
nave thought of Mrs. Higgins if she
had llVed two farms away, but in the
course OF his work he saw her half
dozen times week, and one morning
when he happened by and heard her
make trade fora horse, whereby she
experienced clean profit of $40, Mr..
Haystack became thoughtful with
reference to Mrs. Higgins.
lie was not rapid thinker, however.
ana long dry spell occurring at that
time worried him SO that he could not
give the subject that attention which
It's mportance-tO most men and
women-demanded, and the result was
that Tor six weeks Mrs. Higgins
occupied only a very small portion
OF Mr.. Haystack's deliberations.
AT the end of six weeks came a fine
rain, and when the sky cleared again
Hezeklah was feeling so thankful that
as he passed Mrs. Higgins house. on
his way to town, he stopped for a few
minutes to say gOod-mOrning to her. as
sue was out In the front yard bossing
farmland at work on fence.
Mrs. Higgins was looking unusually
Wen, and was as bright as a lightning
pug after shower, and Hezekiah rode
INTO town thinking about her and trv-
ing his best to whistle "Old Hundred ~
Dnt unable to get more than seventy
hve out of it, do what he would.
his mind, however, was busy. and
by the time he rode home again he had
determined on his course, and when he
saw the Higgins house rising on his
view, he rode at it.
Mrs. higgins, sitting on the front
pOrch, knitting presented a picture of
comfort that was delightfully."- restful to
Hezekiah dismounted. hitcbed his
horse aud came in.
Mrs. Higgins" he said promptly. "I
stopped IN TO see you on matter of
business
Yes ?" she answered inquiringly,
calmly away.
I'm a plain man, Mrs. Higgins" he
continued, 'and indulge in no trim
minis, as you know. l want a wife
aud stopped to see if could get YOU"
Mrs Higgins knitting needles didn't
change their pace in the slightest.
That's RICH, Hezekiah, ,"she rsplied.
You ought to come to see me about
it. I'm plain woman that indulges
IN no trimmin's myself,and it is a good
thing for plain people like us to meet"
Hezekiah had been standing. but
now he sat down.
You want me for a wife she went on.
the knitting needles clicking as before.
He nodded, as if it were enough that
he want her.
well, don't want you for a hus.
band" she concluded; but if | hap.
pen to hear of good tidy woman that
does, III let you know
Hezekiah looked at her as if she were |
a revelation Of some kind he could not
possibly explain, and without another
word he got on his horse and went |
home.
Mrs. Higgins watched him as he
rode away, aud her knitting needles |
were still clicking along at the same
speed they were when Hezekiah came
in.