Connecticut western news., 1902-05-22
HE MADR FOR THE BARN.

she's got to walk chalk or take a cuff in, and you might hang around few mInits and sec how it turns out"
 waited, but not for long. Uncle Feb hadn't been in the house i've min utes before heard screeching. and next minute he banged the door open and jumped out and made for the barn. His young wife. having the broom In her hand. was close after him, and from the sounds of thumps and whacks I think she overhauled him In the barn and let him know thas she was still boss of the roost. Two miles farther on, at Whites Corners, found Jim Blackburn, Whites hired man. and the old man Wilkins. jawlng away at a lively rate. Both of 'em wanted to tell me all about 1t as soon as I came up. It was case of Jeal- ousy. Both of 'em were paying atten. ton to the Widow Skinner, and she hadn't decided which she would mar ry.
 Jest think" yells Jim as he kicks the frozen mud about--jest think of an old codger who's had three wives and has one foot in the grave wantin' to marry ag'inr' aa.
 And thinl- of the impudence of the likes of him darin' to look at the Wid- der Skinnerr' howls the old man as he dances around.
 "Why, he's got 'leven childrenr'
 And he couldn't buy shoes for a wifew
 "Go home and take catnip tear
 And you go to grassv'
 By and by. when they had calmed down little. suggested that the wld- ow was the one to decide between them and that they had better walk along to her house in company and have 1t over. with.
 "rn go. of course" says Jim. 'but know she'd never marry no old crow bait like hhn."
 And she'll set the dog on you" re- piled the old man Wilkins ns he pulled or his coat for about the twentieth time.
 They didn't have to take a walk. As thet were still jawing each other the widow come driving along in her one horse wagon, and 1t was agreed that should state the case for both.
 "widow Skinner" says | as I met her few rods away. there's two men as is ready to die for love Of you"
 How beautifulr' laughs the widow.
 Each loves you with all his soul, and if you marry one the other will look for mud puddle deep enough to drown himself"
 Its really romanticw she laughs again.
 "But what you going to do about itf Pears to me you ought to settle it one way op the other"
 "So l will" she says. and she beckons 'em both forward and smilingly told 'em she'd been married to Joe Wheeler two weeks and was just letting out the news. Then she bid us good day and drove away to look over her shoul- der and laugh. and after a long time the old man Wilkins Jeans against the fence and says:
 "waal, by thunderT
 Then Jim Blackburn gets brace for his wobbling knees and whispers:
 "Who'd "a thunk itT'
 And I heard later on that they stood there looking at each other without speaking a word for full hour. I drove on, thinking of various things connected and disconnected with the postal laws, and had just turned Into the Two Mile road when I overlook Ben Thompson's wife and offered her a lift. I saw that she had been weep Ing, but asked no questions, and she presently said:
 Abe, I've left my old man."
 'Shoow says I.
 "Yes, I've left him at last, and I'm going to stop with my sister Polly for . few days"