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

Abner Hope, twenty-four years old,
lived on a farm just out Of Melville,
with his sister for housekeeper. Ad-
joining his farm was that of the Wild
ow Williams She was thirty-fye years
old, but she moved around with the
step of girl. She had only put off her
mourning when Abner fell III 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
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 1t 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 1t 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 effuSive 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 il for ten minutes before
she snapped out:
Look here, Abner Hope Do yol
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 SC
often"
"Why-why. l come accounting, OF
course. | thought everybody knew
that" was the surprised answer.
And what has come of itF"
Nothing as yet, but as soon as l can
fraf ovnYtnH rn II ,rpiptr tn uSly
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 once?"
II am Mrs. Williams. II you please,
and as | am very busy this evening
hope you Will excuse me"
''Do you mean that you are going to
marry some one elseE" 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 way?
Sir, 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 go
to town on a lawsuit for a couple of
days and that he was extra busy with
work on the farm. and ii was a week
before he made his next visit to the
widows