Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1906-03-28
WIE>er1 Homer
Dustled
Copyright, 1905. By Mcclure, Phiuips & Co.
By c. B. LEWIS

|
Joining his farm was that of the Wild
Ow Williams. She was thirty five years
old, but she moved around with the
step of girl. She had only put off her
when Abner fell III love with
her
The widow was looked upon as q
catch by more than one, and Abner had
to brush aside three widowers, two old
bachelors and a young man or two be
fore he stood in the front row.
Abner Hope was what some folks
call d 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 a 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 a "yes," 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 a 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 Abner
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 us?"
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, 1 come ACQUIRING, Of
course. l thought everybody knew
that" was the surprised answer.
"And what has come of it?"
Nothing as yet, but as soon as 1 can
get around to it I'm going to ask you
TO marry me- 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 l 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 a moments thought.
my business, is my own, sir"
"Don't be a dodo, Mary"
"How dare you talk to me this wayi
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
5 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. TIT
result of his deliberations was that h'
would let day or two pass to smootl
), down the Widows temper and then cal
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 g
to town on a lawsuit for a couple o
days and that he was extra busy wit
- work on the farm, and it was wee
before be made his next visit to til
Widows.
He found that things had changed
She was entertaining a man about fort
years old whom she introduced as MI
n Simpson, and it was plain from Nj
II Simpsons attitude that he was niue
attracted.
Abner was formally Introduced a
Mr.. Hope, and the widow converse
with him as if they had seldom me
y Mr. Simpson was engaged in drivin
4 wells. putting up wire fencing an
erecting windmilIs, and Abner di
10 covered that he had rival. indies
to Mr.. Simpson was more than riva
He was now the man inside
Abner Hope went home to wake u
There was feeling in his heart thu
/. he had never felt before-that of jea
ousy. 1t made him stir himself. Brig
and early next morning he went ov
to the next farm to borrow a hoe al
incidentally to ask the widow to set Il
day, but she was not to be seen.
III He called three times that week, b
|S had no luck. Then he lay in wait
pound Mr.. Simpson. Fortunately I
the drive well man, he carried gu
and when he exhibited it Abner back
ne off like sensible man. Within tN
weeks it was reported that Mrs. W
liams and Mr.. Simpson would make
match Of it and that the engageme
would be brief. Abner Hope thoue
fast and moved fast. He was Diet