The Washington herald., 1907-07-10
4 COLD PROPOSAL.
By MARY McKE ON.

I more sense. Take the case OF Daniel
in the lions den. Do you spose-"
If you come over here TO argue me
out OF my beliefs you can 60 home
again" said the widow
I'm be hanged if I don't"
And he did. Five minutes later both
/ parties were sorry. but the deed was
done. There was a quarrel on between
them, and as each knew the others OBJ
stinacy there wasn't much hope for 4
reconciliation The deacon shouldn't
have started off, and the widow should
have called him back when he had
reached the gate. but things went as
they went, During the next month the
/ deacon kept scrupulously on his side Of
the fence. When he passed the widow s
/ house, which was about six times q day.
| he looked straight ahead and didn't
seem TO remember that she was on earth
He also did considerable talking In the
/ grocery store and down at the sawmili
A woman with proper pride is helpless
I in such case. She can only wait While
/ Mrs. Spo0ner regretted her hasty words
she wouldn't take back one Of them
/ As she thought the matter over she gave
/ her head a toss and said 10 herself:
/ The deacon Is a good man, but as OBJ
stinate as a mule He knows I'm right
! here, but If he don't want 10 sit on my
/ doorsteps he can 90 TO Jericho. I don't
/ believe / could ever live happily with a
/ Methodist. anyhow"
After holding out for FIVE long weeks
/ the deacon could stand II no longer One
/ October night he made up his mind 10 at
least TO have a look AT the widow through
/ the sitting-room window He saw the
usual light, and ne softly climbed the line
fence TO get a peep. He fondlv hoped 20
see her pale and emaciated and IN tears
j II he did. he might possibly enter the
1 house and give her a chance 20 ask his
/ forgiveness. and promise never 70 do so
again.
on that day the widow had called a
( carpenter TO make repairs 20 the platform
Of the well. He had torn the old boards
up, but had not nailed down the new
As the skulker softly approached the
window 10 get n look he suddenly found
himself treading on air. and the next
minute he landed with "A great splash at
the bottom Of a twenty-foot well. There
were four feet Of water to break hts fam
but he knocked against the wall going
down and was some time in ascertaining
that he had not been killed and that the
water was not deep enough 10 drown
him. When he had got this through his
head ne began to SILVER and to veil for
/ assistance. He had a voice that had
/ jumped yoke Of oxen ten feet. but the
voice Of man down a well Is not tho
voice of man in the pasture. He had
yelled and shiveTed for half an hour whom
the widow thought she heard strange
sounds and came to the door 10 investi-
gate 1t was another five minutes be-
fore she located the man. Then sbe
! brought out candle and knelt and peered
down and asked:
Who are you down there, and what
were you doing in my yard?"
lists Deacon Grimshaw," was the
answer. ''''
why, deacon. you surprise me. 7
/ thought that you had decided 7 had
moved away. Are you comfortable down
there?" INV d
of course I hain't! Tn near dead
and want to get out as quick as I
can" %
Il see. If I let down the bucket Won
can hang on till I can draw Won nm
We must have little talk first
TAX. Talk shouted the deacon
Can a freezing, dying man talk? You
ought to be prosecuted for leaving the
]
Deacon, about the whale and Jonabq
believe the whale swallowed him. How
do you believer"
I believe he didn't"
Ihen you must excuse me for n while
We got some apple sass stewine on the
stove and / don't want 1t TO burn TN
be out in about half an hour 10 gaa -
you have changed your mind"
! Wilder would vOl, Ieo,.o
perish?" man 10
How about Jonah and the wbaIeq,,
lie didn't mean 10 give In. but \ fresh
crop OF shivers shook him from hoad 20
heel and as soon as he could get q grin
on MS chattering teeth he replied.
him. 'u S"aiier
denT' ." '"e mons
There was silence for two long min
utes. But you cannot beat cold watar
a twenty-foot well, and a desire for co..
thing hot. At the end of that time .
shivering, shaking voice called nm ~
Daniel was probably all there AZ statad
Another thing. deacon" continued The
kneehng woman, did I ever run after
your" "'i "L'e'
No"
Am l halt crazy to catch husband2n
! No" NJ
Have you given me the mitten?'
Il don't think so.P
Well. what do you think? I'm afraid
that apple sass is really seorchine" ~
Don't-don't go. wilder. was walled
up the well. think-think-,
Remember the apple sassl9
wen, l think the best thing we can
do IS to stop all this disruptin' ana
wranglln' and get married.
The deacon was drawn I'D. given
glass Of hot cider with red pepper IN n
and while he was drinking and Shaking
and shivering the happy day was Aged
and the affair came of according to pro
gramme.
Copyright. --l 10y BY Mary AIsKsonJ