Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-04-07

thuc1 Ec1cIECu W - Wtuo" vsAs~s
There were seven widows there. and
four Of them had been made such By
one single calamity.
There were those in the town who
said that each and every one Of these
widows would marry again II she had
the chance. and after all this was no
libel on them. Why not remarry II
they could find good husbands? It h
woman's destiny to marry. II may b.
her destiny to marry two or three
times.
When Silas Watkins sold his farm
and moved into Eastonville he was the
only "catch" In town. He was bach
elor Of IS; he had money: he was not
q bad-looking man. The seven widows.
the four old maids and the two mar
riageable girls In town began to take
notice. Why not? It IL the duty Of
woman to marry to the best advan-
tage. Az farmer. Mr.. Watkins had
lived alone. As a villager. he rented
q house and took his meals at an
other. thus preserving bachelor quar-
tiers.
II was the widow Smith who made
the first move. Mr.. Watkins estab-
lished a grocery. She made her pur-
chases there. She also extended her
congratulations; likewise her invita-
ton to run In any evening and make
himself perfectly at home; also to sit
in her church pew of Sunday until
he had rented one of his own: also. to
look out for other widows and not
ind himself with q breach-of-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 A. 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. It was tacitly agreed that
none of the others stood show. For
q wonder, they were not a 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 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 gratified at the large
and select stock Of matrimonial candi-
dates on hand. The only trouble lay
in the making up of his mind. He
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 spook had ap-
peared one night and advised him to
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
very next night 1t was acted on. The
widow Smith mad only to climb two
back fences to bring up in the bach
elor's back yard. Then 1t was matter
Of q moment to pose herself before his
open bedroom window. She had a
pillowcase drawn over her head and q
sheet pinned around her. When all was
ready she stilled her bounding heart
and called the sleeping Mr.. Watkins by
his first name. He bounded out of
bed and stuck his head out of the win
dow and asked who was there.
"Silas, am a spook!" answered a
muffled voice.
Yes. yes"
And | have come to advise you
again"
"Shall | sell my grocery"
mo; have come to advise you not
to marry the widow Stevens. She is
not the woman to make you real hap
by. You should marry. but take the
widow Smith"
"Mebte she won't have me-" replied
Silas.
II am spook. know her mind"
by gum. but I'll do 1t"
And he would have done so within
twenty-iour hours but for very sin.
gula- circumstance. An hour mad
passed since the spook faded away and
Silas was wide awake and thinking.
when he got second call. and there
was spook No. 2.
"Silas." sad mufied voice after q
moment. Il told you to sell your farm "
YES. you are the one" he replied.
And now have come to tell you to
get married"
Yes. I'm going to-"
And to warn you not to marry the
widow Smith. She cannot make you
\ A.