The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-03-19
ABashfulW ooing

Mrs. Sarah Winchell. owner Of the
Winchell farm, was Il widow and In
the matrimonial market.
One day a Gala nifty n Two hives
OF bees started to swarm ut once. The
widow rushed out und begun hammer
Ing on a pan aud got the bees to aIight
for the nonce, but that was M far as
b could go. She stood yelling for
help when help came. A Traveller Oh
the highway stopped aud hitched his
horse and walked up the path. He
saw what should be done, and he went
ahead and did 1t. In d quarter Of an
hour he had the swarms In the new
hives, and after Il look al the others
Informed the widow that 1t would be
several days yet before they would
come out. She had time to look at him
while he was at work. and she rather
liked his looks. So far ms she could
make out he hardly glanced ut her. and
he certainly had but few words to
say, When he had finished his work
he looked over her head. sud le was
glad to have been OF use and took his
departure. The widow had saved the
bees, but she was piqued. Any widow
would have been.
Three Or four days later the other
hives swarmed and were taken cure Of
by the hired men. Then the stranger
appeared again to ask how the insects
were getting along. He seemed EN-
barrassed and In a hurry and refused
the Invitation to enter the house. He
also appeared to look everywhere else
but at the widow. Her hair was nicely
combed, her apron snow white and her
cheeks like roses, but he paid more
kettle and the summer squashes than
to her. He just wanted to know, you
know, and was glad to bnd out and
then was gone.
OF purse q widow that had turned
down a dozen offers OF matrlmony
could not do otherwise than look after
the retreating stranger and toss her
head and say that he was Il man that
did not appreciate a good thing. New
ertheless she made some cautious In.
quiries of the hired men and in that
way found out that he was n new res
ident Of Ellenton, but no more.
Then another week passed and the
stranger called TO say that he was
around to purchase u good
farm, and he wished to Inquire II the
Widows was for sale. On this occa-
sion he entered the house, but evident.
ly with reluctance. He was certainly
q bashful man. In that he was n nov.
city. When Deacon Graham, widow
er. came to buy the farm - year be- I
he had -ataGI In the kitchen door
nd boldly announced:
"Widder Winchell, I'm ~a-looking TO
u farm. II you go with this, III
$40 an acre"
That meant $50 an acre for the farm I
nd $40 an acre for her. and, though a
way Of putting 1t, she was not
o very indignant. The stranger, who
.ad at last introduced himself US Mr..
Ilngham, threw out no hint OF want
M anything but the farm. Most any
7ldow would have felt the slight. Aud k
hen, too, when she had replied that
farm was not for sale he at once
ose up to depart without speaking OF
wheat and corn were looking up
r custing a second glance at the bar.
Of soft soap she had made the day
and left at the kitchen door to
II hurt and 1t aggra waited. Mr..
might be a bashful man. but n
lere are times when even a bashful
ian should force himself to talk,
Two weeks passed away, and then
|, the widow Sat Oh the piazza one
'ternoon looking 30 nice that Farmer
,hnson's mouth watered as he drove
ist Mr.. Bingham called again. This
me II was to see II the widow had
COW to sell. He was invited to sit
)wn, and cows were discussed, He
as looking away into the garden In
cad OF at the woman, rs he sought
do his share Of the discussing. The
idow had no cows TO sell, but she "
dn't say so. She left the Impression
the callers mind that II he am
;ain he might possibly buy one. She cI
mped from cows to calves and from In
Ives to sheep and lambs In hopes to
tain him, but he got away as soon
possible. Others had sat around or
It'll fairly driven out Of the house 81,
|th the broomstick. Others had bold.
fiattered, but he had said nothing
praise. The widow tossed her head isl
d said she didn't care, but we know It.
e did, just the same.
the end Of another ten days the
sinful Mr., Bingham was back to
k II the widow would sell him a
Z or two with the COW. She was
ting on the yeranda again, and, us
fore, he was invited TO take n seat.
hen he had done 30 she moved so
to hem him In and said:
Now, sir, look ME square In the -
,e. Are you q widower? DO you
~ W tus u iht"G ~ Nou Nhll ~ u
Y n COW and some hogs2 DO you r
mt to buy hens or ducks7 Are you \
er lambs or ganders?'
ir. Bingham blushed and cast down
eyes aud idgeted around, aud the
dow continued:
III you are a widower and after a
fe, why don't you say so and give
both a show? Lord. man, haven't
] any spunkW O
VIII you marry met" he bluntly Loo
handed. full
Good! That's the way to talk! din
rry you? Well, I've liked you ever like
the day saw you handle those
$, and I'll take the proposal under II
siderption Cnwa for ,,toa A. a.