The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-09-07
-<<<<%<%%%%%%%<%<%<<<%<%<t
Romance Of Two WidOWerS !
l<<%<$<<<%<<<%<<%<<<<<<&

T EMUEL BICKETTS was widower.
So also was Emanuel Croster. 1t
was but natural that there should exist
between the two fellow feeling.
The wife of Lemuel had arisen one
day in fit of ill temper-justified, per-
haps, so far as ill temper is ever justi-
fed and repaired to a lawyers office,
where she stated her complaint. Lem
uel had not treated her with due con-
sideration. He had expected too much
of her. He was old enough to be her
father. No woman, she said, could pre-
pare from nothing three meals day
and still retain her self-respect. The
lawyer admitted the truth of the state
ment. He inquired whether or not
Lemuel had ever treated her with
physical cruelty. Yes; he had made her
split the wood. Very good. At the next
term of the district court she was de-
clared free of the bonds which had
bound her to Lemuel.
But the case of the wife of Emanuel
was a sadder one. She was of long
suffering sort, and the thought of di-
ed mind. She did the best she could
for Emanuel. When nothing to eat was
Forthcoming she boiled dandelion greens
and endured the harsh criticisms of
Emanuel in silence. In the end she
stretched herself upon the bedding
which had constituted her dowry and
peacefully repaired to another world.
1t was a severe shock to Emanuel.
When the funeral had been over for
several hours, and the two children bad
been fed upon milk furnished by kind
neighbor, Emanuel strolled over to con-
dole with Lemuel and to be condoled
with. He found Lemuel sitting discon-
solately upon the front step of his resi-
dence. The two older children were be-
side him. His wife had taken the baby.
Good evenin'," said Emanuel in a
tone of sorrow.
Same to you," said Lemuel. He arose
to the full limit of his awkward, UNI
calmly six feet four inches and extend
ed his hand-he had but one, the other
having been removed with the arm at
a Fourth of July demonstration. "Glad
to see you. How're you feelin'?"
"Bad-bad," said Lemuel. holloway.
How're you?"
bout the same" replied Lemuel.
THE world looks mighty glum to a
Teller that hain't got woman"
1T does that" said Emanuel.
'What're you goin' to do?'
Dunno. What're you?"
Dunno"
Nothing more was said for time.
Then Lemuel cast off the abstraction
which was upon him and spoke.
Il reckon somethin's got to be did for
the kids; they've got to have somebody
to look after EN-"
You're right" agreed Emanuel;
'the-the kids must be took care Of"
"And nothin' but woman can do it, !"
said Lemuel.
''Nothin' but a woman" repeated
Emanuel.
Then"
'Yeah?"
''The thing to dos to get woman"
81 reckon"
Women is plenty enough in the
world. We'd have no trouble, you and
me, gettin' one if we was prettier.
I'm lopsided, and you've got impedi-
ment in your gait"
This was very near the truth.
Emanuel by some prank of nature had
been gifted with knee action at the
hips and with hip action at the knees,
producing an effect at which some
people laughed. 1t was a tender point
with Emanuel, and he flared up bit
at Lemuel's words.
You're a Ii" he began, but Lemuel
held up his great, over-developed
hand.
Don't get excited, Man," he said.
Don't forget that she's only been
dead little while. You owe some
respect to her memory-though I
s'pose," he added, ref1ectively, 'she's
bout as dead as she ever will be-"
81 s'pose," sighed Emanuel.
Then Lemuel sent the children into
the shanty and approached Emanuel,
glancing about him cautiously as he
did so.
man." he said, in whisper, "I've
got the-the dangdest best thing you
ever seem"
what is it?" asked Emanuel, sus-
piciously.
Lemuel drew dirty, wrinkled pa.
per from his pocket and unfolded it
'Look at that" he said, triumph.
antly, holding up the sheet, "Cupid's
Dart. More'n hundred beautiful
wealthy ladies wants husbands-dy.
in for 'em, Man, dyin' for EN-
Emanuel gasped. "D-do they near
it?" he asked, incredulously.'
''Why, O. course they mean it-any
way as much as any woman evel
means anything. 1 found this here
paper kickin' round in the road yester
day. Dropped out O. some wagon,
s'pose. / never knowed before that
such things was printed. It's like
like manners from Heaven, amt it?'
kind o. Are you goin' to write t.
one of 'em?"
Am 1? Well you bet your life TT
goin' to write to one of 'em. I've GO
her picked out"
How're you goin' to 90 it? Coin
to learn how to writer
Lemuel smiled shrewdly. mo,