The Tupelo journal., 1911-07-28
Mixing Up
the Widows
By John Philip Ortiz.

not 20 very singular, since there were
two Smiths in the grocery business
and two Browns who ran brickyards.
Mr.. Charles Holmes was = widow
of thirty, and it WAS generally un-
bderstood that her husband had left
her about $1,000. In most cases,
when the widow Holmes was
toned, it was inferred that this
widow wa meant.
Mrs. George Holmes was a woman
of forty. She occupied a cottage and
had to exc out her income by dress
making. Society never heard of her
except through the dresses she made,
but she had no longings and aspira-
ti0fs. gsaasss@
Over at Chenille, Is miles away,
lived Mr.. Henry Parker, widower.
He vas 4 well-to-do man Of forty,
five, and he was known e Be keen
on bargains. 1t was generally said
of him that if he married again the
financial situation of the oma
would have something to do with it.
In this case, what was gossiped had
a firm foundation. Mr.. Parker did
not intend to marry for romance. 1t
wouldn't help to pay his taxes. He
hadn't even made up his mind to
marry at all. Then things changed
in an hour.
One day a building contractor
from Red Plains dropped into Mr..
Parker's Office, and they had some
thing to say about real estate booms
and building prospects. The Red
Plains man had been trying to buy
some vacant town lots in his town
owned by Widow Holmes, but her
price was too high. She was also the
owner of a fve-acre stone quarry,
and she was retarding the prosperity
of Red Plains by refusing to sell it.
1t was also mentioned that she spent
a good share of her money in Boston
and was always travelling about more
or less. Mr.. Parker was first inter-
esied in a real estate way. Then his
interest passed on to the widow as a
widow. He learned that she had ad-
mirers by the dozen, and that she
had turned down half that number.
"Oh, she'll marry again all right.
all right" said the Red Plains man,
"but the man will have to be cute
TO get her."
Gust how do you mean asked
Mr.. Parker.
"Why, I'm told she's a bit roman
tic. She isn't going to marry a MAJ
for his money, but because he appeals
TO her romance. Guess she didn't
have any with her marriage, as her
husband was old enough to be her
father. Say, Parker, its too bad YOU
are not a hero. Fine chance over
there for YOU"
You say she has had some good
offers and turned them down." quer-
led Mr.. Parker in a careless tone.
by George, yes. My wife knows
all about three or four of them.
Good men, too"
And why her objections"
"Too much straight from the
shoulder and no romance
Mr.. Parker had something on his
mind for the-next three days. The
Red Plains man had planted a seed.
The fourth day found him at the
other town. He was not on business,
but just walking around. In a quiet.
careless way, after walking around
for a while. Mr.. Parker inquired of
a white-headed boy the way to the
Widow Holmes house. Like a are
full general before engaging in bat
tie. Mr.. Parker wanted to see what
color the house was painted. He
wanted to see if there was a picket
fence and if there was a nameplate
on the door. Even a sight of the
chimneys might tell him something.
The white-headed boy knew both
of the Widow Holmes. 1t was his
busy day and he was no talker. Al
the Widow Holmes who did dress
making lived the nearest to the spot
where he was standing he motioned
for Mr.. Parker to turn the first cor
ner to his left. Mr.. Parker did 0
and then things began TO happen.
There was a yelling from down the
street there was a woman about to
cross from one side TO the other;
there was a span Of horses coming
on the keen run and no one in the
AW