The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-20
Mben Homer
Dustlcd
ByC. B. LEWIS
Copyright, 1906. BY Mcclure, Philip. d O..


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 OF her
mourning when Abner fell in 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 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 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 stroiled 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 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 usT
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 accounting, Of
course. l thought everybody knew
that" was the surprised answer.
And what has come of itr'
Nothing as yet, but as soon as can
get around to 1t Pm going to ask you
to marry me. 1 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
Il am Mrs. Williams. IL 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 elseT asked Abner
after moments thought.
My business is my own, sir"
Don't be dodo, Mary"
"How dare you talk to me this wayf
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 lawsuit for a couple of
days and that he was extra busy with
work on the farm, and it wasya week
before he made his next visit to the
widows.
He found that things 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, and the widow conversed
with him as II 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 rival. Indeed,
Mr.. Simpson was more than a rival.
He was now the man inside.
Abner Hope went home to wake up.
FThnro UyQ q fnnlinO In ht0 80 khok
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 to 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 we'll man, he carried gun,
and when he exhibited it Abner backed
Off like a sensible man. Within two
weeks it was reported that Mrs. VIII
liams and Mr. Simpson would make a
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 a weapon.
There was to be circus In town,
eight miles away. Mr.. Simpson had In
vited the widow, and they were to
drive in livery rig Mr. Simpson
boarded at the village tavern. On the
morning Of the circus there was row
In the place when he woke up. Some
from the open veranda 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
and gesticulated 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 on the trail at once, and he
ordered mush and milk for breakfast
and ate it without appetite. After
breakfast he wrote two or three notes
to the widow, but tore them all I'D 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 at II O'Clock In the
forenoon. AT that hour he drove up to
her house and 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
pened?