Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-01-27
Wbcp1 Hbner
DuStlcd
BY c. B. LEWIS
copm igb,. rros. ey uc'Hr,, IN hps & Go.

=
morning when Abncr fell in love with
her
The widow was looked upon as a
catch by more than one. and Abncr had
to brush aside three widowcrS, two old
bachelors and Il young man or two be
fore he stood in the front row
Ahncr Hope was what some folks
call poke He wasn't lazy. but he
was easy going. He intended to take
the widow under his arm in due time
and clear away the line of fences be
tween the two farms, but he didn't see
amy special hurry about 1t.
The widow had said that if she ever
married again She would insist on a
bridal tour LASTING ut least two weeks,
and he had To figure as to the most
convenient time for Sparing those two
weeks from the farm. lie also wanted
to study the widow and make sure that
she was what she seemed and ii was
also il pleasant thing to sit with her on
the y"randa and talk romance and
love. There We're many reasons for let
ting things drag along
Abn"r never had popped the question
and been answered with YES" al
thnroh if u.,s ,,,.ith. u,1,,.tnod tn,t
there WAS nm rnr1yrmcut One oven
ing he stroIeCl over in his easy way to
find the widow in Il Snappy frame of
mind She had hccn Ininy mn nre-
serves that day and burned her hand.
ITnr yroetinr was NAT rs orf,,.i,.o nc
usual but that did not disturb Ahner
In the least He SAT down and hcr,u
tn fan; ,I,ut the cnru crnu and tho
widow stood il for fen miuutns hefore
she snonpe.I out.
"TooI; hnrn Ahunr IIoro n, ,o,,
know that folks ,rn t,rl.fn., ohnut ne ."
IL hodn't hoard onvthfuy in n,rtiru-
lar"
.WeU have Mrs richards told mo
today that the whole nnirhhorhood
was wondering why you came here so
often"
"W'hv-whv. | come a-courtiup of
course. | thought everybody knew
that" was the surprised answer.
And what has come of it,"
"Nothing rs Vet. but as soon as can
get around to it I'm going TO ask YOU
TO marry me suppose YOU under
stand that"
MIR. Hope" replied the widow as
she looked up with flashing eyes. "you
needn't waste your breath asking me
to marry you.'
"NhY, Mary. what's come over you
all at OnCcE"
Il am Mrs. Williams. if You please.
ana as am very busy this evening
mop" You Will excuse me.
"po You mean that YOU are going to
marry som" on" eiSc: asked Abner
afler moments thought.
Wy huSlh"SS IS my own, sir"
Don d" Il G'do, Mary.
'lloW dar" Nou talk to me this wayf
Slr bll YOU good evening""
Nhe rose Hn ana entered the house,
ana after sitting around for half an
hour Abher took Il slow departure and
made MS way homewArd As he
tlouElt matters over his conscience
loId MN that II" was dcrclirt. He
Shouiu nave settled the matter weeks
prlor" ana h""h ready to get married
as soon as corn huSAlng was over. The
result OF ms d"llheratonS was that he
would let a day or two pass to smooth
down the widow : temper and then call
ANA ask Ter TO set IN" day. He realized
lhat ne loved hrr. but he didn't per
Splre over the thought of losing her.
1t so happened that Abnrr had to go
to town ON lawsuit for couple of
days and that he was extra busy with
work on the farm, and it was Il week
before he made his next visit to the
widows.
He found that things had changed.
She was entertaining Il man about forty
years Old whom she introduced rs Mr..
Simpson, and it was plain from Mr..
simpsons attitude that he WAS much
attracted
\bncr was formally introduced as
Mr.. Hope. and the widow convcrSed
with him as if they had seldom met.
Mr.. Simpson was engaged in driving
wells. putting up wire fencing and
erecting windmillS. and Abner dis
covered that he had Il rival. Indeed,
AIr Simpson was more than a rival.
lie was now the man inside.
Abner Hope went home to wake up,
There was Il feeling In his heart that
he had never felt bcfore-that of ieal-