The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-06-04

the kitchen door and then entered to
and the widow asleep in the room be-
You'd. He had turned to retreat when
she awoke and uttered a scream at
sight Of him. She had been dreaming
q that escaped lunat1c. She had
dteamed that he had lii fingers on her
throat and was choking her to death,
and here he was before her! The dea-
con muttered his name and An apology,
and the widow sat up. She had read
and heard great deal about lunatics
ana how they should be treated. This
one didn't look very fierce, but she
must be careful not to arouse him.
The must be soft and gentle and dis
sembling. Therefore % soon 40 she
could catch her breath she smilingly
asked the deacon II be wouldn't sit
aewn. He replied that he would and
dA. He diln't ask for the Greggs.
Not seeing them about, be inferred that
they had gone to town.
The widow had been told always to
hook mad dog or a lunatic in the eye.
~ she kept her eyes on the deacon she
read cunning, craft and cruelty in his
face, and she realized that her life was
at stake. It was rather embarrassing
for the caller, but he talked about In
dams, Canadian thistles, potato bugs
and the weather and grew more at
ease as the minutes slipped away. On
her part the widow tried to be as en-
tertaining, but it was hard work. The
rf1 <I,ak kl,o
lunatic would suddenly break out and
rend her limb by limb. She was
hysterical, but she didn't cease to
smile. When the deacon finally got
around to tell her of his trials and mis-
fortunes he found sympathetic listen
er. She had read that she must al
ways pretend to sympathize with the
insane, and she made the effort Of her
life. By and by her caller went fur
Their. He said that when his dear COM
panion died he made up his mind never
to marry again, but it was possible
that he would change his mind If he
met the right party. 1t was lonesome
living all alone and having no one to
pet. 1t was so lonesome that some
partnership Of the oxen.
The widow had been told that she
must seem to agree with lunatic, and
she heaved sigh and replied to the
deacon by saying that when she had
laid her Joseph meath the weeping
willow she thought the light had gone
out forever. Time had assuaged her
grief and caused her to change her
mind. She had come to feel that per-
haps it was even her duty to marry
again. She could cook, wash, bake,
iron, make soft soap and all kinds Of
preserves, and for three years running
her crazy quilts and rag carpets had
taken first prizes at the county fair.
The deacon then limited that by hard
work and industry he had accumulated
about 5000 worth Of property. The
widow saw his object and stated that
her Joseph left her about that amount
and she had increased it somewhat.
As matter of fact, she lied about it,
but she had read that one must always
lie to lunatics, and she didn't propose
to provoke the one before her.
Deacon Watkins became interested.
He admired. He would come again.
If his lost relict was to be replaced,
Indiana should have a fair chance in
the race. He liked that smile. h
liked that chatter. He liked a woman
that could hustle with the homework
and knew by instinct when q boiled
dinner was ready to put on the table.
i tn <l,0 Col
that her life was saved. He fingered
with his hand on the back of his chair,
and her throat CONSTRUCTED. He might
or might not have taken his leave as
soon as he had finished telling her that
he thought ailing humanity ought to
drink more catnip tea when steps were
heard outside. A hog buyer and tin
peddler had arrived in chorus. The
widow cried, "Come inv and they
came, but the instant they entered she
cried something else. Pointing to the
deacon, she half shrieked:
"Secure him! He is an escaped lu-
natter
Then the deacon was thrown on his
back and tied up with the clothesline
and threatened with death, and, though
he suffered and stammered, no atten-
ton was paid to him. He was bun
died into the drover's cart and logged
over to the asylum, and it was only
then that any attention was paid to his
remarks. When the Greggs returned
and found out what had happened the
farmer went over to see his neighbor.
He found him sitting on the back
doorstep with lonesome look on his
face.
''Oh, deacon, have come over to say
to YOU he began when the deacon
looked up and carelessly interrupted
with:
"Dorpone II. Won 90 To thunderv'