The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-06
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MISTAKE.
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ridge on his way to the little town of
Scrouseopt. Just after he had passed
John Thsrntons house, and while he was
still on Thornton's farm, he met old man
Barton.
Gregg and Barton were neighbors and
friends, and, neither Of them being in any
hurry, they stopped for little friendly
chat. They spoke Of the weather and the
crops, exchanged a few items of local
news and discussed the prices of farm
products. Then, by and by, when these
common subjects had been disposed Of.
Barton said:
II don't know whether there is any
thing in 1t, Frank, but hear it whisper
ed about that you've got some notion Of
getting married"
Gregg chuckled softly, half closed his
eyes and nodded his head with know
ing air. ,..
"Well, II I did have notion Of that
kind,n he replied, II reckon there
wouldn't be nothin wrong about It"
"What mout her name be, FrankT'
"Browp. She ia widow"
I. Neither Gregg nor Barton was aware
of the fact, but nevertheless just over
the fence which ran by the side of the
road there was man crouched among
some bushes listening intently to every
word they uttered.
"Widow Brown" Barton said ques-
tioningly to himself. "Widow BROWNE
Is she young and good looking?"
"she is young and good looking enough
for me-"
Got any money or property"
"Oh, $4,000 in cash and small farm.
She just received the money last week.
Got It from her fathers estate back east.
But I'm not marrying her for that, I'M
derstand."
"Of course not. But, still, the money
will come in handy. Well, must jog on.
Got little blowing to do this after
noon"
Barton started forward, but when he
had gone a few steps he stopped again.
"Oh, say" he called back, "you'd bet
ter not let old Thornton know you're 60
ing to marry, for II you do he'll cut in
and upset your plans"
II guess there's no danger Of that,
Gregg replied, with a laugh. "No doubt
he would il he could, but fortunately he
can't"
Maybe he can't, but I'm not sure of
1t. He's a long headed old cuss and a
powerful schemer."
Gregg and Barton rode away, and no
sol her were they out of sight than the
man behind the fence arose to his feet
and danced about with joy. 1t was John
Thornton himself, and he would not have
missed what he had heard for a good
deal.
Thornton was Gregg's bitterest enemy,
| and more vindictiye and unrelenting
enemy no man ever had. For years he
| had worked against Gregg and had been
| quick to embrace every opportunity to in
lure him and thwart him in his UNDER
! takings. Why he was SO bitter against
| Gregg doesn't matter. 1t is sufficient to
say that 1t was not Gregg's fault.
| When Thornton learned from the con-
versation which had just passed that
Gregg was going to marry, his first
thought was how to prevent it, and he
was not long in hitting on plan.
Now, it 80 happened that Thornton
was widower and consequently in
shape to do a little something in the mat
rimonial way himself. He thought of
this, and the plan upon which he hit was
1 Just to go to the Widow Brown ahead OF
Gregg and try to induce her to change
her mind and marry him.
81 know the Wilder Brown" he mus
ed, "and if amt mighty mistaken she'll
be wilin enough to have me. She's shown
disposition to be sweet on me for some
time, but l amt never encouraged her,
because she wasn't just to my fancy. But
I'll take her now in order to knock Gregg
out, even if she is old and toothless and
vixen to boot. Then that $1O,OO0-it
wouldn't come in so bad, neither. | guess
I'd married her long ago il 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 happened to be
at work that morning in part of the
field so near where Gregg and Barton
met, and 1t was lucky, he told himself
that he recognized the two mems voices
md sneaked up to the fence to hear what
they were saying.
He had thwarted Gregg more thar
once, but to beat him out Of $4,000
that would be the cap sheaf of the stack
Thornton went home, put on his best
clothes and saddled his horse and rode
away. Having decided on plan. he pro
posed to act on it Immediately. He rode
direct to the domicile Of the Widow
Brown and there he stopped.
The widow was standing in the front
door when he came up. He looked at hel
closely for a moment and involuntarily
shuddered. He knew before she was dis
tresslngly homely, but that was the first
time It had occurred to him that she was
really hideous.
1t would be a bitter pill he acknowl
edged, to tie himself to such creature a.
that for life, and for IN instant he way
cred, But he remembered Gregg and
that $4,000, and be recovered his forti
tude at once.
He dismounted and went in. and the
widow received him graciously. He talk
ed awhile on other subjects, then he shut
his eyes and asked her to marry him. A
little to his surprise, she consented readi
". He had expected her to show dis
position to hold to Gregg. and he had ca!
cuated to have to use persuasion with
her in order TO win her over. However
ne was very glad that she was so easily
won, and straightwny he proposed that
they marry the next day. To this propo-
sition she agreed without demur or hesi-
tation.
He refrained from mentioning Gregg
name, and he was particularly careful
not to let her know that he had any init
nation of her rich inheritance. He
wanted her to rest under the impression
that he was marrying her solely for her
self.
He went home in high spirits, and
when he met Gregg on the road he felt SC
strongly inclined to crow over him that
it was with difficulty that he restrained
himself. As it was he tossed his head
with superior air and smiled knowing
ly, but even In that moment Of exultation
he found himself wishing that the widow
was not quite SO homely and sour as to
be altogether repulsive.
The next day the wedding took place al
the widows house, and Immediately aft
erward Thornton started back home with
his wife. Gregg's house was two OIL
three miles out of his way, but he was Sc
anxious to let Gregg know how complete
ly he had defeated him that he drove
around that way. He was disappointed