St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-24
Wbet1 Homer
Dustled
By c. B. LEWIS



ow Williams. She was thirty years |
old, but she moved around with the |
step of a girl. She had only put off her |
mourning when Abner fell in love with |
her.
The widow was looked upon as a
catch by more than one, and Abner had |
to brush aside three widowers, two old
bachelors and young man or two be-
fore he stood in the front row.
Abner 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
any special hurry about it.
The widow had said that if she ever
married again she would insist on a
bridal tour lasting at least two weeks,
and he had to figure as to the most
convenient time for sparing those two
weeks from the farm. He also wanted
to study the widow and make sure that
she was what she seemed, and it was
also pleasant thing to sit with her on
the veranda and talk romance and
love. There were many reasons for let
ting things drag along.
Abner never had popped the question
and been answered with Eyes," al
though it was tacitly understood that
there was an engagement. One even
ing he strolled over in his easy way to
find the widow in snappy frame of
mind. She had been doing up pre-.
serves that day and burned her hand
Her greeting was not as ELUSIVE as
usual, but that did not disturb Abne1
In the least He sat down and began
to talk about the corn crop, and the
widow stood it for ten minutes before
she snapped out:
Look here, Abner Hope Do you
know that folks are talking about u.s."
II hadn't heard anything in particu.
lar"
"Well, have. Mrs. Richards told me
today that the whole neighborhood
was wondering why you came here so
often"
"Why-why, I come accounting, of
course. l thought everybody knew
that" was the surprised answer
And what has come of itT'
Nothing as yet, but as soon as can
get around to it I'm going to ask you
to marry me. l suppose you under
stand that"
"Mr. Hope" replied the widow as
she looked up with flashing eyes, you
needn't waste your breath asking me
to marry you"
"Why, Mary, what's come over you
all at onceY
81 am Mrs. Williams, if you please,
and as 1 am very busy this evening
hope you will excuse me-"
do you mean that you are going to
marry some one else" asked Abner
after moments thought
my business is my own, sir"
Don't be dodo, Mary"
"How dare you talk to me this way?
Sir, l bid you good evening"
She rose up and entered the house,
and after sitting around for half an
hour Abner took a slow departure and
made his way homeward. AS he
thought matters over his conscience
told him that he was derelict. He
should have settled the matter weeks
before and been ready to get married
as soon as corn husking was over. The
result of his deliberations was that he
would let day or two pass to smooth
down the widows temper and then call
and ask her to set the day. He realized
that he loved her, but he didn't per-
spire over the thought of losing her.
1t so happened that Abner had to 60
| to town on a lawsuit for a couple Of
| days and that he was extra busy with
work on the farm, and it was a week
Widows.
He found that things had changed
| She was entertaining man about forty
years old whom she introduced as Mr.
Simpson, and it was plain from Mr.
Simpsons attitude that he was much
attracted.
Abner was formally introduced as
Mr.. Hope, and the widow conversed
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 a rival. Indeed
Mr.. Simpson was more than a rival
He was now the man inside.
Abner Hope went home to wake up
There was feeling in his heart that
he had never felt before-that of jeal
ousy. 1t made him stir himself. Bright
and early next morning he went ovel
to the next farm to borrow hoe anC
incidentally to ask the widow to set the
day, but she was not to be seen.
He called three times that week, bu
had no luck. Then he lay in wait tt
pound Mr.. Simpson. Fortunately fo
the drive we'll man, he carried a gun
and when he exhibited it Abner backed
off like sensible man. Within TIVE
weeks it was reported that Mrs. vii
liams and Mr.. Simpson would make ;
match of it and that the engagement
would be brief Abner Hope though
fast and moved fast. He was deter
mined not to give the widow up, bu
under existing circumstances was help