The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-09-04


Copley, who owned the beast. Joe
was bachelor, just the Widows age,
who since he was twenty had given
all his spare time to the comfort and
pleasure OF an invalid mother. Now
that she was dead he was lost and
lonesome beyond words. Widow Mar
tins heart, a motheriy, tender one,
ached for him whenever she looked at
him across the church Since he was
her close neighbor she almost dragged
him home with her to dine and spend
Sunday afternoons. Naturally he fell
head over ears in love. Quite as natu-
rally he lacked the courage to tell her
so. Instead of speaking out manfully,
lie faltered and drew back until in
very shame the widow was forced to
hOut him.
So he stayed at home and began
gropingly to cast about as to whom
he might marry. A wife he must have.
Now that the mother was gone no de-
cent, stirring single woman would be
justified In living In his house and at
tending to his concerns. He could not
pie. He did not want to feel himself
an alien outsider In the place where he
was born.
Thus presently 1t happened that the
bay Almont was often seen standing
before the Parker gate. ParkeT's girls
had been full grown a good many
years. All three were fair looking In
sort of shrill and angular fashion.
Somehow Joe shrank from the touch
of their thin, clutchtng fingers Widow
Martins fingers were as softly dim
pied as baby's. He could never quite
bring himself to court any of the Par
kers outright
Almira Parker, the youngest and
shrewdest, grew impatient and re
solved to bring things to head. She
saw far enough to understand that
the Widow Martin was what stood in
her way. Inevitably she invited her
self to spend the day with that lady.
In course Of the visit she rugged her
hostess so numerically over Joe and
his dumb devotion that Mrs. Martin
grew angry with her, angrier with
herself, angriest Of all with poor Joe.
She broke out, at first holly, then with
sort Of contempt: what You talkin'
about, Almiry7 That old fowl court
anybody! Why, he wouldn't have the
sense ter hunt water eff he'd been
Matched goose
Almira had what she came for. In
side an hour she was home again. Joe
was due that evening What with SUI
perb biscuit and the thing she had to
tell him. there was little doubt that
he would go home engaged to her.
1t fell out as she had planned. Some
how she led Joe to believe the
widow had from the beginning made
mock Of him, and then somehow
else she soothed his hurt with the
balm Of her own eager aduiation, and
before Joe fairly knew It the thing
was done
wen be married before Thanksgfv-
I'M" Almira planned ~Pore Joseyl
CANT bear ter think Of Ieavin' you
lonesome that day. I've great mind
ter ask Nanny Martin ter dinner, only
know she wouldn't come. She'd
make out she couldn't leave Uncle
Duke"
Joe did not sleep that night He
got up with gray, resolved face.
Out In the barnyard there was very
prince Of cocks. crested pheasant in
all the glory OF gold lace. His two
wives were as meek as he himself was
gorgeous. Joe had reared them from
some famous high nrfrad eggs They
were meant for Mrs Martins Christ
mas gift She loved chickens, but
nothing In her yards could compare
with these. He had told her about
them how they were to be hers at
full prime. He would keep his prom
Use, though it was more bitter thar
death to thrust himself upon her no
tice now that he knew she had laughed
at him. he would take them to her
at once It would be manifestly I'm
proper after Almira came. at bis can