Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-04-22
lister suggested. He felt that as CONF
forter of the afflicted he had been u dis

lister suggested. He felt that as COM
forter of the afflicted he had been u dis
tinct failure.
II think you had,' Blake said, frank
ly. 81 amt going to die now-I've got
to outlive this fool nonsense. Like as
not they would put poetry on my tomb
! stone" He 1nuttered and grumbled to
himself as the minister CROPPED his way
from the ROOM
Mrs. Patterson Glanced to be in the
passage quite close to the door when
the clergyman came out. ''Why did the
deceitful old wretch let me believe that
story all these years?" she whimpered,
forgetting the part her imagination
had played. II wish you'd ask him
about the picture and the mince pie. He
needn't sniff at my pie"
The minister told his wife that now
he understood how myths and legends
came to be and how they were handed
down, receiving a new shape from every
thumb. He said, however, that he con-
sidered it safer for the mythmakers to
wait until the subjects of their tales
were dead.
When old Blake's denial of his love
story became known half the people
thought it to be only representative
ness, and still believed him to be the
faithful lover.
Anger seemed to speed his GONZALES
cence and before many weeks he was
able to totter down Main street to sit by
the cannon stove in the back part of his
store and to swear at his clerks. 9 No
body dared to speak openly to him about
his so-called affair, but he read it in
their half-smiles and avoidance of his
eye.
jim Beal came in one day to buy some
shot. He congratulated the old man on
his recovery, with reminiscent grin at
the spoiled love story.
II suppose you've heard that tom
foolery about me" the old man growled.
Eyes; I have. Can't remember, Mr..
Blake, when I didn't think you'd had a
disappointment"
disappointment" snorted Blake.
''What am going to do? Can't I out
i've that-nonsense?
"You might publish denials in the
county papers, as people do when they
want to say they're not candidates for
office. Just say you're not a candidate
for MARRIAGE"
baby on the street shows it's teeth when
I go by. Take chair, Jim, and kinda
ell me what to say"
Two rush-bottomed chairs, with sag
ging seats, were by the stove, which
stood with its feet buried in square
box of sand. On one side was the
bool1keeper's high desk, and on the
other some secondhand cook stoves.
red with rust; overhead dangled bird
cages and wire mousetraps. Jim called
it :'Bla!le's boudoir."
"Wait minute, till I see what that
scounerel is selling that kettle for!"
cried the old man, shutting to the front
of the store.
Left alone, Jim looked into the bow
els of the cannon stove, a wicked smile
lifting the corners of his eyes.
Swell, said Blake, coming back and
taking the second chair, ''have you
thought of way?''
"Yes," said jim; II suppose we can't
| l'uI - wv oIAoAS5s LII you "saAiC " SaAAA y
conviction to the heart of every man,
woman and child in Benford county.
Give me piece Of paper and III make a
draft" He scratched his ear with his
pencil for a moment and then wrote
rapidly:
''How's this?''
know all by these presents that I, Ezra
Martin Blake, have never looked at a
woman except in the way Of business Also
that l never made a matrimonial engage
ment with either maid or widow, nor con.
tcmplated entering the holy estate of mar.
| riage with either of the aforesaid classes
| All persons who say to the contrary are
willful and malicious liars. Signed and
.EZRA MARTIN BLAKE"
''How does that strike you?" Jim con.
cludcd.
fist on his knee. ''I1! have it put in the
Chronicle and the Searchlight both
What charges, JIM" he asked, doubt
fully, for Blake was as close as an oys.
ter.
''Oh, nothing" Jim answered, airily
Its pleasure to execute such a doc
ument.''
You lawyers are generally high
enough" Blake grunted. He neve,
could be gracious.
When the Searchlight came out on the
following Tuesday Jim was as much sur
prised at what he read as was the rest
; Of the town. When Blake took his no
tice to the printing office he found j,
would cost just as much as one twice
as long. Bound to get his moneys
worth, he altered it so that it read thus
know all by these presents, that !
Ezra Martin Blake, in addition to keeping
the owest-priced hardware in Shewanee
have never looked at a woman except il
the way of business. Also that have never
made a matrimonial engagement witt
maid or widow, although have lately mad,
a sweeping reduction in shelf hardware
| nor contemplated entering the holy es:at,
CT marriage with either of the aforesa
classes, but I am still at my old stand sell
ing the Rose Leaf cook stoves at cost. AL
persons who say to the contrary are willfu
[ and malicious liars. Brass kettles for soar