The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-10-21
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Sam Tuggins was preparing to take
un.o himself wife. He had taken
to greasing his boots and wearing
white shirts on SUNDAYS. What rea-
Con was there for doup! after that?
San Tnggins had been married be-
fore TO some extent He had, to put
it mildly, euioyel a large and promis-
cnous asso- tment Of wives during his
time.
Sam had 1:eeu married six times, to
be exact about il, and be was not,
strictly speaking, au old man yet. As
he frequently iccu'arly remarked, he
was good to ontiive half dozen more
wives ii BE CONTINUES to have orliuar-
lily good health.
Sc, being a widower for the sixth
time, he was preparing to take unto
himself til, seventh wife. It was not
known yet who wo;'ld have the honor
Of becoming Mrs. Tuggins VII. Tug
Gins, even, vas not decided on that
point.
One day lie rode over to Beekett's
mill. and he aul Beckett in little
friendly conversation fell to discuss.
ing this matter.
s.. I'm eciay to marry" Tuggius
said. That much is settled, and Pm
gong to mary, right away, to-. I've
got to have wife, 10: l need her, aud
need her bad. It's been three months
since my last one died, AID as con-
sequence CT having nobody to lock
after matters, everything aboat the
>-logse is going TO waste and ruin. ''>----
Gan find anybody that suits you?"
Beckett asked.
Eyes; ( have had two women in
mind Tnggins replied. sFitheE
would d ve,:y we'll, but the question
is, which would sui me test. ',-
"jou can't decide, chg
No. can't. If I could wouldn't
be iooling away all this time without
a WIFE
81 can believe that, Tuggins. But
: do you mini telling me what two
women You have in miad?'
''Of course not. Ore Of them is
the widow Smart, anl tie other is
Miss Wofo:d. They are both likely
women, Beckett, and Icalkilate ether
CT 'em would make me good wife,
Miss Wo6io:d is H. Youngest and
best looking of the twc," Beckett
alaap<,;asrted.
SD:5 ::Yss' sad Sss sgs 4 s;si;t 's, 'sSsrt
in her favor Tuggins sail, ''out I
don't go a cent or looks. Ny opinion
is that beauty don't count for any
thing in wi;e's favor. The beauti-
fullest woman gong amt likely to do
any more work o. b:iag in o2o more
dollar than The hon lest old plag you
can scare up What I want is wom-
an who Will he he'pful-one that can
turn her hand to al kinds Of work,
and who amt afrai,l to do it..
''Then you rather lean toward the
widow?'
''No, l can't say as do. They're
both got their strong p'ints. Miss
Woford's strong pint is lie, age.
Bein' young, she's likely to live longer
than the other. That's leap in her
favor, for I tell you this burying and
marrying wives is expensive when 1t
comes on man so often. But on the
other hand the widow Offers advan-
tases. She's good worker, she's
economical. and she's tough. For a
woman Of her age she's strong and
healthy, and after ali she may POSSIBLY
outive the other
"Mavbe the women themselves
would help you OUT" Beckett sug-
gestea.
How" Tuggins inquired.
You haven't asked either o. them
1$e. whether she would marry YOU,
have yoi?'
NC
Then maybe one Of them won't.
Tuggins looked at Beckett in blank
asto1ishment, IS though he did not
know whether the man was crazy OF
only joking. At last he said:
'sdare you got IN idea, Beckett,
that either Of them two women is a
natural born fool?"
No, I reckon not," Beckett re-
piled.
Then where did YOU get told Of
the idea that one Of them might de-
cline to marry me-"
"Oh, l just thought cne Of the n
. might. You know some women are
rather queer about such things a:
marrying.
"it don't matter how queer they
are, reckon if they amt fools they
won't throw away the chance of their
lives. Don't you be uneasy, Beckett
about either of them women refusin
4 to marry me, for they'll not refuse
sssiIerin' all I've got to offer 'em.
Shett smiled, for he we'll knew
Z =. good Tuegins' wives ha<
X husbands possessions
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