The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-10-13

'weet on me Tor sometime, but amt
never encouraged her, because she
wasn't just to my fancy. But I'll take
her now 10 order to knock Gregg out,
even II she Is old and t00thless and a
vixen to boot. Then that slO,OOO-it
won't come in bad, neither. BY grab,
guess Id have married her long ago
II I'd known she was going to have
all that money coming her way"
He chuckled with a satisfied air and
was immensely pleased with himself.
He thanked his stars that he happen.
ed to be at work that morning in a
part OF the field so near where Gregg
and Barton met and it was lucky, he
told himself, that he recognized the
two mems voices and sneaked up to
the fence to hear what they were say
ing.
He had thwarted Gregg more than
once already, but to beat him out Of
$40, ,00O-that would be the cap sheaf
OF the stack.
Thornton went home, put on his
best clothes and saddled his horse and
went away. Having decided on a
plan he proposed to act on it immedi-
atcly. He rode direct to the domicile
OF the Widow Brown and there he
stopped.
The widow was standing in the
front door when lie came up. He look.
ed her closely for moment and in
voluntarily shuddered. He knew be.
fore she was distressingly homely, but
that was the first time it had occurred
to him that she was really hideous.
1t would be bitter pill, he acknowl
edgee, to tie himself to such creature
as that for life, and for an instant he
wavered. But he remembered Gregg
and that $4,000 and he recovered bis
fortitude at once.
He dismOunted and went in and the
widow received him graciously. He
talked awhile on other subjects, then
he shut his eyes and asked her to mar
ry. A little to his surprise she con-
sented readily. He had expected her
to show disposition to hold to Grege
and he had calculated to have to Use
persuasion with her in order to win
her over. However, he was very glad
that she was so easily won, and
straightway he proposed that they
marry the next day. TO this PROPOSE.
tion she agreed without demur or hes.
itatiOn.
He refrained from mentioning
Gregg's name, and he was particular.
ly careful not tn let her know that be
had any intinIation OF her rich inner.
itance. He wanted her to rest under
the impression that he was marrying
her solely for herself.
He went home in high spirits and
when he met Gregg on the road he felt
so strongly inclined to crow over him
that it was with difficulty he restrain.
ed himself. AS it was he tossed his
head with a superior air and smiled
knowingly; but even in that moment
Of exultatiOn he found himself wish.
ing that the widow was not quite SC
homely and sour as to be altogether
repulsive.
The next day the wedding took place
at the widows house and Immediate.
ly afterward Thornton started back
home with his wife. Gregg's house
was two or three miles out OF his way,
but he was so anxious to let Gregg
know how completely he had defeated
him that he drove around that way.
He was disappointed in finding Gregg
not at home.
"Where is hep" he asked Of Gregg's
housekeeper.
II don't know" SHE replied, "but l
think he has gone somewhere TO get
married."
"Ab, who is he going to marry, 1
wonder?"
II think 1t Is Mrs. Brown"
Thornton chucked. He had played
1t on his rival better than he suspect
ed. He had snatched his bride and
her fortune right out OF his hands.
Wouldn't Gregg feel cheap when he
discovered how smooth and completes
ly he had been beatenp Thornton
was so pleased that he was almost
tempted to embrace and kiss his new
wife In spite Of all her .homeliness.
As he drove Of he called back to
Gregg's housekeeper.
II have just been and got married
myself and wish you would tell
Gregg about IL when he comes home.
Tell him I'd be pleased to have him
call over and visit us and bring hls
wlfe-when he gets one."
Two days passed. Thornton ~
nor beard nothing Of Gregg. He w.a
only slightly surprised At this. 0reus
was at home, no doubt, sulkine over
hts defeat. 1t occurred to Thornton
that he could make his rivals defeat
more bitter By tantalislna him ! IL.
tie. - ~
and took hh