The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-08-20
! LOVE VERSUS p
- ROMANCE.
[Original,1

| lOrlSlnal.J
AS soon as he heard of her widow.
hood he took train. intending to see
her. He had been engaged to her
twenty years before. and when she
married another man the discarded
lover was heartbroken. He did not re-,
turn her picture and had kept it by
him ever since. At the time she Tilted
him he was an uncouth farmers boy,
While she was the belle of the village.
That village had grown to be a town,
and he was now its most prominent
merchant She had moved with her
husband to another state.
She had married q farmer, and he
was obliged to drive dozen miles
from the station to reach her home.
He wondered If she would know him.
1t was not likely, for she had not seen
him since she had married. He would
know her among thousand. Despite
the fact that we know that our friends
change. we see them in the minds eye
as when we saw them last. Coming to
a snug farm with neat house and
ample barns on it. he pulled up before
the gate. At the same moment a trim
looking woman came to the door.
''I'm looking for the Widow Torrey,' -
he said. "Can you tell me where her
farm lies?"
1T lies right here"
care you Mrs. Torrey?"
eyes,"
She had changed, but did not look so
much older as might have been ex-
pected. She was still a fine looking
woman. apparently about forty-two.
He looked at her admiringly. his only
disappointment being that she so little
resembled her old self. He made UP
his mind not to declare himself at
once.
"1've heard. Mrs. Torrey. that since
your husbands death you might con-
clude to sell your farm"
He had heard nothing of the kind
He wished to give an excuse for his
coming.
"1'll sell anything I've got If I can
get my price for it. Won't you tie your
horse and come in?"
He tied his horse and went into the
house. Everything looked spick and
span. A little girl of four, the image
of her mother, was the only other Wis
ible occupant of the house. Mrs. Tor
rey motioned to rocking chair and
seated herself on sofa. After q little
talk about the sale of the farm he got
! up and took seat on the other end of
the sofa.
"You don't remember me-" he said.
She looked up at him. surprised and
curious.
"1'm an old lover of yours" he added.
She scrutinized every line of his face.
but failed to recall it.
"As soon as heard of your hus-
bands death I started to find you.
don't want to buy your farm, but l
want you to sell it and come and live
with me. want to be devoted hus-
band and father to your little girl.'H
"Are you Sam Turner?" she asked.
"Sam Turner? No. I'm Enoch Wealth
erby."
She shook her head. 'Sam Turner's
the only lover ever had before l was
married, and I never heard Of Enoch
Weatherby."
weren't you Ellen Stevens?"
A new light came into her eyes. She
burst into IL laugh. "Ellen Stevens and
I married brothers. She lives five miles
up the road"
Enoch Weatherby was much discom-
fitted. There seemed nothing for him
to do but retire from the scene of his
blunder. He arose, babe the widow
goodby, unhitched his horse and drove
away. He inquired along the route for
Mrs. Torrey-the other Mrs. Torrey-
and presently was directed to the farm
where she lived. A woman apparently
old enough to be his mother came to
the door. followed by half a dozen
noisy children, whom she was scold-
ing in rasping voice.
"l'm looking for the Widow Torrey,"
he said.
I'm the Widow Torrey."
"Was your name Stevens before you
were married?"
Eyes; l was Ellen Stevens"
"H'm!" There was a pause. give
heard that since your husband died
you might like to sell your farm"
"Well, I reckon I'd sell it If l could
get enough for it,
She invited him in and told him all
about her farm, the buildings on 1t,
the stock and farming tools. She Of
fered to show it to him, but he said he
would not have time then, but might
call again. Then he took his departure
without declaring himself. The dream
Of twenty years was shattered.
He drove back to the other Widow
Torrey and told her his story, asking
her to keep his secret. Naturally she
sympathized with her sister-in-law,
but had not this nice, prosperous look
ing man been ready, supposing her to
be his old love, to give her that love
ind protection she so much missed?
She gave the desired promise.
i In a few days her little girl received
= big doll with eyes to open and shut,
and soon after the mother unpacked a