Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-25

he round mat mIngs had changed.
She was entertaining a 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, ana the widow conversed
with him as if they had seldom met
Mr.. Simpson was engaged in driving
wells. putting up wire fencing and
erecting windmiIls. and Abner dis
covered that he had a rival. Indeed,
Mr.. Simpson was more than a rival
He was now the man inside
Abuer Hope went home 10 wake up.
There was a 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 over
to the next farm 10 borrow a hoe and
incidentally 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. Fortunately for
the drive w"ll man, he carried gun,
and when he exhibited it Abner backed
off like sensible man Within two
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 thought
fast and moved fast He was deter
mined not to give the widow up, but
under existing circumstances was help
less in the matter, when accident fur
nished him weapon.
There was to be a circus in town,
eight miles way Mr.. Simpson had in
vited the widow. and they were to
drive in livery rig. Mr. Simpson
boarded ut the village tavern. On the
morning Of the circus there was a row
in the place when he woke up. Some
one had entered his room in the night
from the open vcranda window and
had robbed him. 1t took him fifteen
minutes to explain what he had been
robbed of, and then only after he had
reSorted to pencil and paper. He raved
md g@Sticulatel and jabbered strange
words He was sure there could be no
mistake as TO his having been robbed.
He wanted the sheriff and all his con
stables put Oh the trail at once, and he
ordered mush ana milk for breakfast
and ate it without appetite. After
breakfast lie wrote two or three notes
TO the widow, but tore them all up and
finally set out for her house People
who had seen him every day for
weeks did not know him
Mr.. Simpson and the widow were to
start for the circus ut II o'clock in the
forenoon. At that hour he drove up to
her house ana 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 hap
penedE"
I've been robbed" he replied through
the medium of paper and pencil
Good lands, But what Off"
"My teeth. Both plates are gone.
Some one entered my room last night"
Did | ever, And you expect to go
to the circus and entertain me without
a tooth in your head. I'll not 60" And
SO evident was her determination that
Mr.. Simpson abandoned further effort
TO persuade her and drove off.
Al that juncture Abner Hope drove
up. \ minute after hitching his horse
he was on the veranda beside the
widow
Mary he began, Il have come to
take YOU to the circus"
II expected to 20 with Mr.. Simp-
son"
81 wanted to have a long talk with
you"
But You the same as called me a
dodo."
Il know but neither of us knows what
a dodo is"
They drove away together and when
they had made a distance of two miles
and We're crossing a swamp Abner took
something from his coat pocket and
gave the packet fling among the grass
and water
What is it," asked the widow.
Shall we be married Thanksgiving
day" he asked as he lodged her uueS.