The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-02-01
WHEN THE
TIME CAME
By M. QUAD
Copyright lJi0, by Associated Lit
erary Press

Jake W ME WIS llcI iiItu HILL ne
was Il good NAN and Il good worker
and had been with the family for
three years when Farmer White died.
1t will never be known to outsiders
whether Mr.. White. when told that he
was TO be gathered to his fathers.
called Jake to lis bedside and said:
Il must go bat am conSo!ed by
the thought that | leave Sarah in good
hands. Give her Il year or so T., mourn
my loss and then propose matrinoc
Three years went by and Jake had
not spoken. There were times Wh:l
ne thought he was encouraged ID
speak out and other times when he
was prepared to come in from the field
after Il hard days work and learn th!l
the widow WAS engaged to the sew
ing machine agent who had that route.
The widow. too. had thoughts. 1t was
more than once whispered about that
Jake was in love with this or that
farmer girl. and she had come to feel
that his loss would be Il double one.
Mrs. Drew had been a widow for
four years and Jake White had done
bushels and bushels Of thinking when
winter came on. When the loot or
| more of snow which heraldcd tho
| change of season had got patncd
| down on the highway Providence put
it into Jake's head to get out the biz
hand sled and propose a ride down
the long and winding hill. Providence
didn't 60 so far as to put the widow
next us to what would happen, bat it
meant well by both. 1t had been a
long time. and Providence meant 10
hurry things up a bit. Half Il dozen
of the ncighbOrs were to take part in
that moonlight sleigh ride, but for
one reason or another all backed out.
leaving the two alone. Probably this
was another trick on the part Of Prov
idence.
About the time the sled was drawn
out for the glide Elder Henderson.
who lived just beyond the foot Of the
hill, was saying to his wife:
"Alartha, | bought ten bushels OF
caters Of the Wilder White yes, crday."
We'll need em all before spring"
was the reply.
81 was goin' for 'em tomorrer. but
it's such nice night that | dunno
but I'll yoke up the oxen and jog along
now
Might as well. | guess. but loo.
)ut that the taterS don't get frOSthit
lou know how nighsiShted you are
in the moonlight If you hear sleigh
bells you'd better give 'eln the road"
"Nighsighted.! he Indignantly sniff
ID. Don't you go to maxim out that
I'm a hundred years old. Why, | could
pick up Il pin on the darkest night you
ever saw I've got just the same
rights as anybody, and I'm dinged II
give more'n half the road"
The oxen were yOked in due time
and started out. There were bags to
hold the potatoes and blankets to
cover the bags. and any old sport
would have given odds of two to one
that the elder. the oxen and its cargo
would arrive at the top Of the hill
right end up after climb Of twenty
minutes. The wager would have been
made without taking Providence into
consideration. and the old sport would
have lost.
The Widow White was bundled up
and seated on the sled. In fact. she
was strapped on. Jake sat close be-
hind her, dragging the foot that was
70 steer the sled I straight course. As
they were ready to start it came over
him to speak of his love. \ feeling
came to the widow that he was going
70. but the time was not ripe. Prov
dence figures those things down to
minutes and seconds AS Jake shut
his mouth on his words and started
the sled Elder Henderson. near the
foot of the hill. started singing d
lymn. He not only loved the sound .:
his singing, but he thought the oxen
ought to be encouraged. His voice
came floating up the hill, and US Jake
caught it he said:
Mrs White. that's Elder Hender
SON"
YES"
Hes probably coming after these
potatoes with his oxen and sled"
"WcllT
Hell be in the middle of the road
and as our sled is already getting
away from control there's going t.
be smashup. l want to say to you
that have loved you for the last
three years and to ask you if you will
marry me?'
"Oh. JGke!'
Its the elder and the oxen for sure
Yes or no."
It's 50 sudden!''
Fright in the middle Of the road,
and we'll be into them In ten seconds
Must H.
give seconds mOre"'
"Then-ycs!"
Elder Henderson was marching
ahead Of the oxen. Il hero leading the
way He was struck and sent flying
and his tune cut short. Then the sled
struck the oxen and flung them into
the ditch and made long jump over
the other and a minute later was ut
the foo: Of the hill and Jake was