Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-10-26

1
with him as if they had seldom met
Mr.. Simpson was engaged in driving
wells, putting up wire fences an
erecting windmills, and Abner dis
cover d that be had rival. Indeed
Mr.. Simpson was more than a rival
he was now the man inside.
Abner Hope went home to wake
up. There was a feeling at his heart
that be had never felt before-tha'
Of jealousy. 1t made him stir him
self Bright and early the mex
morning be went over to the mex
farm to borrow hoe and incidental
ly to ask the widow to set the day
but she was not to be seen.
He called three times that week
but had no luck. Then he lay in
wait to pound Mr.. Simpson. FOrtu-
nately, for the drive well man, be car.
ried a gun, and when he exhibited it
Abner backed of like a sensible man.
Within two weeks it was reported
that Mrs. Williams and Mr.. Simpson
would make a match of it, and that
the engagement would be brief. Alb
Ier Hope thought fast and moved
fast. BE was determined not to give
the widow up, but under existing
circumstances was helpless in the
matter, when accident furnished him
weapon.
There was to be circus in town,
eight miles away. Mr.. Simpson had
invited the widow, and they were to
drive in livery rig. Mr.. Simpson
boarded at the village tavern. On
the morning Of the circus there was a
row in the place when he woke up.
Someone had entered his room in the
night from the open veranda window
and had robbed him. 1t took Is
minutes to explain what he had been
robbed of, and then only after he.
had resorted to pencil and paper
He raved and gesticulsted and jab.
bered strange words. he was sure
there could be no mistake as to his
having been robbed. He wanted the
sheriff and all his constsbles put Oh
the trail at once, and he ordered
mush and milk for breakfast and ate
it without appetite. After breakfast
he wrote two or three notes to the
widow, bat tore them all up and f.
nally set out for her house. People
who bad seen him every day for
weeks did not know him.
Mr.. Simpson and the widow were
to start for the circus at II o'clock in
the forenoon. At that hour he drove
up to her house and descended. She
was not quite ready and asked him to
wait few minutes. he smiled and
bowed and answered in the Choctaw
dialect.
"Why, Mr.. Simpson, what on earth
ails you ?" she asked as she looked
him over.
Smiles and bows and more Choctaw.
"You-your cheeks have all fallen
in-you humble your words; you
don't look at all like yourself. What
has happened.
"I've been robbed" he replied
through the medium Of paper and
pencil.
"Good lands but what OFF"
"My teeth" Both plates are gone.
Someone entered my room last night"
"Did l ever And you expect to
go to the circus and entertain me
without tooth in your head. III
not CO." And 80 evident was her
determination that Mr.. Simpson
abandoned further effort to persuade
her and drove of.
At that juncture Abner Hope drove
up. A minute later after hitching
his horse be was on the verands be-
eide the widow.
MARY" he began, II have come to
take you to the circus"
"I-I expected to go with Mr..
Simpson"
~ wanted to have long talk with
you"
"But you the same as called me
dodo."
II know, but neither of us know
what dodo is. ;"
They drove away together and
when they had made distance Of
two miles and were crossing swamp
Abner took something from his coat
pocket and gave the packet fling
among the grass and water.
"Wbat is it ?" asked the widow.
"Shall we be married Thanksgiving
Day ?" he asked as be lodged her