The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-08-05
THE WIDOW
BY
THOMAS y. r1ONTFORT



would have considered herself fortunate
in the possession of single lover. Yet,
before she had been in Pigeon fiat
month she had dozen admirers at her
feet, and had received at least half that
many proposals of marriage. In the
fat, woman was rare article, and the
men could not afford to be over-exacting
In their tastes regarding female charms
Among the widows admirers was Blue
Thompson He was a big, burly chap,
who had made his advent into the camp
with a hurrah and a flourish. He was
Aot at all averse to having the impress
sion go abroad that he was bad man
from away Eack, and when it began to
be whispered about that he had a record
as a slayer of men he did not trouble
himself to make denial.
1t was not long after Thompson's s ar
rival at the fiat until he had things pretty
much his own way in the matter or max
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 timld
in the face of danger. None OF them pos
sessed desire to run counter to man
who had acquired the unpleasant habit
of shooting his fellow-men on the slight
est provocation. Moreover, the WIDOW
was rather taken with Thompson's big
ness and boldness, and she showed
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 fat there had, from the first, been
much betting on the result OF the free
for-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 faVorlte.
After he came, however, there was
decided change. He soon became ia
yorite. and after time bets were offered
on him at odds of five to one, with no
takers,
Then, one day, there was new ar
rival in the camp. 1t was little, sparely
built man, who answered to the name
OF Bob George. He had soft voice,
smiling face, and manners so gentle that
they were almost childlike. He had the
appearance of harmless, inonenslve
sort of being, who could be run over and
trampled under foot with impunity. In
the fiat he was considered too insig-
nificant to merit more than a passing
notice.
Before Bob had been in the camp many
days it 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 worshlpped at
a safe distance He never presumed to
seek her society, and if he ever addressed
her at all, it was in the most distant
manner. But the way his eyes followed
her. and the way he spoke of her to
Others. was proof positive that he loved
her.
Bob's admiration of the widow was
the source of much amusement in the
fiat. People laughed at his presumption.
in daring to worship. even at a distance,
a woman who had half the camp at her
feet. and who could have Blue Thomp-
son any day, by simply saying the word.
MANY Jokes, regarding his love, were
cracked at Bob's expense by the witty
ones at the fiat Bob, himself, was not
unaware of all these things, but he quiz
etly. went his way, keeping his own coun-
sci, and saying nothing.
One night, about month after Bob's
arrival at the fat, there was large
crowd collected down at "Joe's Place"
Bob was there, and SO was Blue Thomp-
son. There was a good deal of betting
going on, in one way and another, and
good deal of drinking, too. Thompson
was in the thick of it all, but Bob sat
in corner, taking no part in any of it.
After awhile, some one turned to Joe
and said:
How is the betting on the widow,
now?"
Nothing doing" Joe replied.
sWhat's the odds on ThOmpson?"
.'The same old thing-five to one-but
no takers.
Thompson seems to have sure
cinch. Guess if it was ten to one there
wouldn't be anybody fool enough to go
against him"
Thompson, who had been standing
with his back TO the speakers. turned