Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-03-25

There were seven widows there. and
four Of them had been made such by
one single calamity.
There were those I'm the town who
said that each and every one of these
widows would marry again if she had
the chonce. and after an this was no
libel on them. Why not remarry n
they could find good husbands? II is
woman's destiny to marry II may bg
her destiny TO marry two or three
times
When Silas Watkins sold his rarm
and moved into Eastouvile he was the
only catch in town Tie wasa bach.
elor of 30, he had money; he was not
bad-loo.iug man The seven widows.
the four old maids and the two mar.
riagcabIc Girls In town began to take
! notice. Why not? u g. 'Jp lpty 81
woman TO marry to th tcst aIvan
| tage IS "a farmer. Mr.. wat. %, had
lived alone. As "a villag be- rented
house and took his meals al an.
other thus preserving bachelor guar.
tors
II was the widow Smith who made
| the first move. Mr.. Watkins estab-
lishcd II grocery She made her pur.
chases there She also extended her
| congratulations; likewise her invita-.
tion TO run in any evening and make
himself perfectly at home, also to sit
I'm her church pew of a Sunday until
he had rented one of his own; also. to
look out for other widows and not
find himself with a breach.or-promise
| suit on hand
The widow Stevens came next She
had heard of the purchases made by
the widow Smith and she bought twice
as much and talked twice as long
| She offered TO sew on buttons or darn
! socks. and to send her daughter over
to make his bed and sweep up. She
realized his lonely condition and pit
/ led him.
Then, one by one, the other widows
| dropped In, and the old maids followed
after, and the two girls met Mr.. Wat.
kins in the street, and blushed and
giggled. Within a month, however, the
field was left TO the widows Smith and
Stevens. II was tacitly agreed that
none of the others stood show. For
wonder, they were not bit jealous
OF each other, but continued to be the
best of friends. Their motto was:
May the best man win" They even
went over arm in arm. and sat on the
doorsteps with the grocer in the twi-
light OF a summers evening Together
they busted his furniture and made
tides and pin cushions for him
Mr.. Watkins had intended to marry
when the right woman came along He
was pleased with his reception at Eas.
tonville. He was gratlfied at the large
and select stock of matrimonial candi.
dates on hand. The only trouble lay
in the making up of his mind lie
took supper with one widow and then
with the other and as far as the pub
lie could see he treated both alike.
When things had gone on most
pleasantly for three months both
widows happened to call at the store
! at the same time. In his gossip with
them the grocer mentioned that he had
sold his farm because a spook had ap.
peared one night and advised him 10
do so. The widows laughed, but he
was very much In earnest.
That's a pointer for me-" said the
widow Smith as she left the store.
Il now Sc my way clear" said the
widow Stevens as she also left
The cutest kind of a stock broker
wouldn't have caught on to that spook
business. but two widows did, and the
] {erb m
widow Smith had only to climb two
back fences TO bring up in the bach.
| elors back yard. Then It was a matter
of moment to pose herself before his
! open bedroom window. She had a
/ pillowcase drawn over her head and a
sheet pinned around her When all was
ready she stilled her bounding heart
and called the sleeping Mr.. Watkins by
/ his FIRST name. lie bounded out of
bed and stuck his head out of the win.
dow and asked who was there.
"Silas, | am spook!" answered a
mufiied voice.
Yes. yes"
And have come to advise you
again"
Shall sell my grocery"
NO; have come to advise you not
to marry the widow Stevens. She Is
not the woman to make you real hap.
py You should marry. but take the
widow Smith"
"MebLe che won't have me-" replied
Silas.
II am spook know her mind"
by gum, but I'll do IL"
And he would have done so within
twenty-tour hours but for a very sin.
gular circumstance. An hour had
passed since the spook faded away and
Silas was wide awake and thinking,
when he got second call. and there
was spook No. @
"Silas," said a mufiied voice after a
moment. II told you to sell your farm"
Yes. you are the one" he replied.
nj 4