The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1910-06-17
A Bashful Wooine


the matrimonial market
One day a Gala nifty came Two hives
OF bees started to swarm at once The
widow rushed out and began hammer.
ing on q pan and got the bees to alight
Tor the nOnce, but that was as far as
she could go. She stood yelling for
help when help came. A traveller on
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 quarter Of an
hour he had the swarms in the new
hives, and after look at 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 as she could
make out he hardly glanced at her, and
ne certainly had but few words to
say. When he had finished his work
he looked over her head, said he was
glad to have been Of use and took his
depaSeare. 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 care of
by the hired men. Then the stranger
appeared again to ask how the insects
were getting along. He seemed en-
barrassed and In 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
attention to the pear tree and the soap
kettle and the summer squashes than
to her. He just wanted to know, you
know, and was glad to find out and |
then was gone.
Of course q widow that had turned |
down dozen offers of matrimony
could not do otherwise than look after
the retreating stranger and toss her
head and say that he was a man that
did not appreciate good thing. New
ertheless she made some cautious in
quiries Of the hired men and in that
way FOUND out that he was new res
dent OF EllentOn, but no more.
Then another week passed and the
stranger called to say that he was
cooking around to purchase good
arm, and he wished to inquire II the
was for sale. On this Occa-
lion he entered the house, but evident
with reluctance. He was certainly
bashful man. In that he was a nov
lily. When Deacon Graham, widow
r, came to buy the farm year be-
ore he had stood In the kitchen door
md boldly announced:
"Wtdder Winchell, Pm a-lOoking to
'uy a farm. II you go with this, I'll r
'ay $40 an acre"
That meant $40 an acre for the farm
nd $40 an acre for her, and, though a
hunt way Of putting 1t, she was not $
very indignant. The stranger, who
ad at last introduced himself as Mr.
'ingham, threw out no hint of want
u anything but the farm. Most any
'idow would have felt the slight. And
hen, too, when she had replied that \
le farm was not for sale he ut once
,se up to depart without speaking of
ow wheat and corn were looking up
casting second glance at the bar D
j OF soft soap she had made the day
pfore and left at the Kitchen door to
'Ol. 1t hurt aud 1t aggravated Mr..
ingham might be a bashful man, but a.
lere are times when even bashful
an should force himself to talk. al
Two weeks passed away, and then ',
the widow sat on the piazza one a,
ternOOn looking SO nice that Farmer
'hnson's mouth watered as he drove
st Mr.. Bingham called again. This u
ne 1t was to see II the widow had e
COW to sell. He was invited to sit
WIN, and cows were discussed. He
IS looking away into the garden in
cad OF at the woman, as he sought re
do his share Of the discussing. The m
dow had no cows to sell, but she do
INT say SO. She left the impression
the callers mind that IL he came
ain he might possibly buy one. She
mped from cows to calves and from SO
ives to sheep and lambs In hopes to mn
tain him. but he got away as soon
possible. Others had sat around
til fairly driven out Of the house 'il(
To the broomstick. Others had bold. vO
battered. but he had said nothing Or
praise. The widow tossed her head
said she didn't care, but we know
did. just the same.
It the end of another ten DAYS the are
'hful Mr.. Bingham was back to ay,
II the widow would sell him a
or two with the COW. She was
Ing on the veranda again. and as
ore. he was invited to take seat life
len he had done 80 she moved 40 70,
to hem hin in and said: ri,
Now, sir. look me square In the
e. Are You widower? Do Won 'se
ut to buy farm? Do you want to VIII
COW and some hogs? Do Won int
At to buy hens or ducks7 Are YOU FIR
n lambs or ganders?"
r. Bingham blushed and cast down 'o''
eyes and fdgeted around, and the sec'
ow continues: Col
you are widower and after a is d
,. why don't you say SO and give NJ,
both show? Lord, man. haven't
any spunkT' -
VIII you marry meY' he bluutly ~
anded
'ood! That's the way to talk,