Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-10-28

say, TO sin no more. i talked up TO
her pretty sharp, I guess, when we
had 1t out. And bein'. as she is, a
poor, lone widder-woman with no
man, you may say, to cherish and pro-
tect her, it'd be my vote, gentlemen.
that We hadn't ought to be too hard"
The heads of the others moved
gently up and down in sympathetic
assent; but the head of Elder Babcock
shook vigorously from side to side.
by gum again his big hand
pounded the table. by gum, Mr..
Treasurer" roared he, you're pretty
near right in what you say! She do
need a man; one that'll put his foot
down good and solid. BY gum, there
amt no woman Twin that hadn't
ought to have a master!"
Over the wrinkled face of Darius
Foss had stolen smile of humorous
intent. He leaned forward, chuckling.
Air you suggestin', Elder" he
asked, that we'd better git husband
for the Wilder Hawkins?"
In the uproar that followed the FL
der took no part. He drew his bushy
brows together in an attitude of i'm
pressive thoughtfulness. Then, as the
laughter subsidized, he rose and faced
Alonzo letters.
"Mr. Chairman" said he, "and gen.
tlemen, I've been considerin' and it
hes been borne in on me that, as the
poet says, there's many true word
spoken in jest. We're facin' here,
gentlemen, turrible ticklish situa-
ton. A wilder and woman to whom
We stand in the position of guard.
Gems, is gettin' to be more'n we kin
handle. She's bringin' discredit on
the Township with her ways o. wilful,
not to say dishonest, extravaganza.
She needs control that no collective
body amt fitted to give her. Now,
as my esteemed colleague here" he
leaned forward and bowed profoundly
to Darius Foss. has put me ques'
ton. l will answer it, though perhaps
not jest as he has expected. You ask
me, Mr.. Treasurer, II am suggestin'
that we git husband for the Wilder
Hawkins. Mr.. Treasurer, your ques'
ton has set me thinkin' and has made
me develop plan. Mr. Treasurer
my answer is confined to two words
and them words is. be-"
He waved aside burst of applause
and went on. Let us appropriate a
certain yearly sum-" he suggested
"for the next three years-say seven
NxxA x,a ID1I nd lot
to this sum another given amount that
may be called a bonus-perhaps sew
enty-five dollars more-sort of a wed
din present too; and let us make II
known that these payments will be
made to any man, provided he's OF
| good character and proper financial
standing, who shall be willin' to marry
| the said Wilder and take her, so to
speak, off our hands! This Is fair
in both ways he added: "the town'll
save money, and the Widder's young
woman yet-not risin' greatly above
fifty-fve, l presume, and liable to be
come under good management" his
great hand hand struck the table once
more, "a fittin' helpmate and an orna
ment to her sex!"
| And the motion as put by the chair
was carried, somewhat to the surprise
of the Treasurer, still prone to regard
the whole affair as a joke. Indeed
Alonzo stirred to unwonted and unas
sisted activity by the novel situation
added a spoke of his own and appoint
ed the Elder, over his protestation:
of reluctance, committee of one t.
wait upon the Wilder Hawkins ant
acquaint her with the decision of tn,
Board.
The Meeting adjourned for three
weeks and, in the interval, Rockville
experienced period of excitement un
paralleled in its history.
Elder Babcock had returned from
his interview with the widow in
state of limp detection. He reported
her as of very difficult turn of mind
"She took on turrible," he declared
said twas taking away the ONLY
right left to her-choosin' a husband
| suppose she meant-and an insul
to her womanhood. She cried som,
considerable too She's a dependen
sort of little woman; kinder made m,
feel sorry for her. But, by gum,
reasoned with her. tell We; told he
twas well meant and pointed out tina
the town was ready to pay her bills
and let her keep the merchandise
After that she kinder mellered lit
tie, though, by gum, she wouldn'
agree. But she said that | nigh
come round again and talk 1t owe
some more"
And the Elders repeated visits wer,
evidently of avail, for on the day O
the night appointed for the meeting
he announced that the widow had a
last given her consent, reluctant blu
cheerful he felt called upon to add
The town-room, in which the select
men met, was over the store and wa
approached by flight of steps on tn,
outside of the building. And a groul
of small boys at the foot of thes
steps, an augmented number of well
filled chairs on the store piazza, ant
an array of buggies hitched under tn
trees, from which the murmur o
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