Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-14
Amazing COurtShip
OF Peter SDiOOOt
Short Story by OLIVER THUMM.

Copyright, 1908, by T c. McClure)
Every time / see q pair Of happy lovers
or read a tale Of true love l am re-
minded OF the remarkable devotion dis
PLAYED for the Widow Dickens by my
friend. Peter spiggot- All, but she was
well worth the winning: a fine. plump
woman not over 80, light Of foot and gay
without folly, with q complexion like
lady blush apple, soft, silky hair. with
a CLINT like a copper kettle where the sun
struck it, and q voice that was better than
any medicine in q sick room. Peter was
bound TO have her, and small blame 10
him, but the poor man had some terrible
flaws. He was barely turned AZ, and, you
might say. in the very prime Of life, but
he was bald as a pumpkin, brown as
potato and gangling as a beanpole. When
he FIRST began to court the widow she
looked on him as a fair good joke, but he
let her see right away that he was plump
in earnest, and, in spite Of his looks, the
widow soon began to like him mighty
well. But when il came 10 the point OF
marrying she kept telling him No.
Peter" she said at last, after he had
been pressing her hand for season
you're kind and free-hearted; you've got
enough Of this worlds goods 70 make
wife comfortable and don't mind owning
I'd that you would be my first choice II IL
wasn't for a few drawbacks. For one thing
I never could marry q man by the name
of spfRFot. Dickens ainft&such an uncom-
mon name. I'll allow. hut II amt patchin'
to my maiden name. which was Damn.
I married Henry Dickens to get rid OF
that unchristian name and I've always said
that I'd never marry again except TO better
myself"
The very next day Peter came ever to
her house with a piece OF yellow Wrspping
paper, OF which he had written a list o.;
names, one for every letter OF the alpha
bet.
Just cast your eye over that. Martha, :
said he. ''and see II you would like any
Of them names II you had the picking OF
q husband out Of the LOTT"
Il wouldn't especially lean toward any
OF them" the widow remarked after look
ing over the list quite earnestly. The
fact is ia already made up my mind that
II l had the choosing OF q name for my
next life pardner I'd be mighty well satis-
fed with Darlington. You see it's hne
sounding name and moreover il begins with
ID" All my pillow shams and hne
sheets and table spreads that I've made
ever since was a young girl are marked
with a I'D" so you see ii would come
awfuly handy not 10 have TO change them. .
Six weeks later Peter came across lots
| TO the garden where the widow was setting
out some tomato plants and hapded her a
biR document with a gold and red seal on
1t. He had had his name changed TO Peter
Darlington by act Of congress. It had cost
him a pretty penny. but he knew that the
congressman from his district had 10 live
so he never grumbled.
| We'll " said be when she had slowly read
| the paper through from beginning TO end
''I suppose now you're ready TO name the
day when you'll be Mrs. Peter Darling
tom"
Mrs. Dickens thoughtfully emptied the
entire contents OF her sprinkling can or
| the tomato plant she had just set out be-
fore she answered
mo. / amt" she said al last.
Peter climbed over the fence, picked NJ
the empty sprihkling can, went to the wei
and filed it. and set it down beside her.
WHY he asked.
Because" she answered.
Il was afraid Il was some dreadful scan
dal like that" said Peter. not meaning
any harm, but being naturally sarcastic
like.
I The NlQQN DAAleu I4bAA up
Look here, Peter spiggot Darlington, I
you must know the reason, it's beeaus'
you're bald headed I've tried and tried q
overlook II, but you're so almighty bal
that ] cant And ! never could marry
bald headed man, even II his name wa
Darlington"
Mrs. Dickens" Peter said with tn
same narrowing Of his eyes that he use
in a horse trade, will you give me tn
refusal Of you for, say six months.
Well" replied the widow, who had her
self traded q horse or two without loss
six months is a long time, but ] don
mind doing a favor for an old friend
III give yea my word not to consider an
offers till next November
Much obliged. Fine weather, aint'i II 2
Without waiting Cor an answer 10 IN
last question be was gone.
II was a month before Peter called agAi
and then he stalked into the kitchen wit
his hat on and a little paper package !
his hand.
Good mornin'. Mrs Dickens" he SAT-
Il just come over TO ind out what colo
OF hair you liked best.
He opened his little Package and Epres
out on the kitchen table twenty white eI
. vslopes. on each one Of which wss neat
pasted a sample Of q different shade Of hai
The widow Easped.
Look here Peter spfg-DarlinEton.' 81
CALCULATED. you're not going 10 buy vii
You might know ! couldn't abide a ma
with a wig Why don't you take on yO'
I: hHtg"
4 can't Martha" he replied. I'm irr
eating my scalp"
"LrTiEEting u! Tou dOat mean to =