The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-07-30
THE WIDOW
By
THOMAS d. MoNTFoRT



tGopyFLehE laJ, By Daily Story Tub. COL
r HE widow was neither pretty, rol
particularly attractive, and bacI
East, where women were plentiful, sn,
would have considered herself f]ortunat,
Ill the possession of a single lover, Yet
before She had been in Pigeon fiat d
month she had a dozen admirers at hcl
feet and had received at least half that
many proposals of marriage. In the
Hat, woman was a rare article, and the
men cnnld not afford to be oyor-exaCtiup
in their tastes regarding female charms
Among the widow Is admirers was Blat
Thompson. He was a big, bury chap.
who bad made his advent into the camp
with a burTah and a flourish. He was
rot at all ayerse to having the impress
sion 30 abroad that he was a bad man
from away back, and when II began to
be whispered about that he had a record
as q slayer OF men he did not trouble
himself 10 make a denial
1t was not long after Thompson's ar
rival atthe fiat until he had things pretty
much his own way in the matter Of maxi
Ing love to the widow, His rivals were
only ordinary everyday citizens. who
valued their lives as something worthy
of preservation, and who, therefore,
were inclined to be more or less timid
IN the face Of danfEr. None OF them pos
Gesscd a desire to run counter to a mar
who had acquired the unpleasant habit
est proyocation. Moreover, the widow
was rather taken with ThompsOn's big
ness and b%0ldness, and she showed u
decided preference for his company. So
the others reluctantly held aloof from
her, giving Thompson a clear field.
In the saloons and gambling halls at
the fiat there had, from the hrRt, been
much betting on the result of the free
fur-all contest for the widows hand
Up to the time of ThOmpSon's arrival
the betting had been at even money,
with nobody able to score as a fayorite,
After he came, however, there was q
decided change, He soon became a IA
yorite. ana after a time bets were offered
on him at odds of five to one, with no
takers.
Then, II day, there was q new ar
rival in the camp. II was a little, sparely
built man, who answered to the name
smiling face. and manners so gentle that
they we're almost cbildlike. He had the
appearance of u harmless, inoffenaiye
sort OF being, who could be run over and
trampled under foot with impunity. In
the fiat he was considered too insig.
niiiCaut to merit more than a passing
notice.
Before Bob had been In the camp many
days 1t became apparent TO every one
that he had been smitten by the widows
charms, and had Joined her galaxy OF
admirers, Like the others, however, he
eyinced a wholesome regard for Blue
Thompson's claims, and WorRbipped at
a safe distance. He never presumed to
seek her society, and If he ever addressed
her at all. 1t was in the most distant
name But the way his eyes followed
her, and the way he spoke of her to
was proof positive that be loved
Ter.
Bob's admiration Of the widow was
the source Of much amusement in the
fiat. People laughed at his presumption
daring to worship, even at a distance.
woman who had half tho camp al her
'eet, and who could have Blue Thomp-
;on any day, by simply saying the word.
Many jokes, regarding his love, were
at Bob's expense by the witty
at the fiat. Bob, himself, was not
unaware of all these things, but be qui-
,tly went bis way, keeping his own coun-
and saying nothing.
One night, about a month after Bob's
Irrival at the fiat, there was a large
'rowd collected down at "Joe's Place"
Bob was there, and so was Blue Thomp-
;on, There was q good deal Of betting
,oing on, in one way and another, and a
rood deal Of drinking, too. Thompson
vas in the thick Of it all, but Bob sat
Il a corner, taking no part in any Of it.
Alter awhile, some one turned to Joe
nd said: ,
Now Is the betting on the widow,
ow?'
Nothing doing" Joe replied. ,
"What'g the odds on Thompgon?' ,
'"Tbe same old thing five to one--but ;
n tuIarg -