Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21

ANY tombstones yeti"
Moo"
Il heard you hadn't, and was Just
going to drive over TO see you about
1t. I'm taking orders for tomb
stones"
"But-so am II heard about your
two husbands, and ! am here to get
orders for both. Date of birth and
death. please"
Date of nothing. sir. You've got
cheek to come here when the grave OF
your wife is neglected."
But you were coming to see me
about the same thing"
well. you can get along with you
Your wife didn't tell you there was nc
hurry, and my husband did. In fact
the last one said I'd better buy hogs
with the money"
A week passed and neither the
widow nor the widower had taken ar
order. Then the widow came driving
over to Grafton and to the deacon'i
place of business. When she had go
seated she said:
"Mr. Carter, I've been thinking
over your case, and think it's al
awful shame the way you have
neglected your wife's grave Yot
couldn't have loved her."
And did you love them two hus
bands Of yoursi" he retorted.
MY case is different. II you'd onl,
give me an order to show around
could get start and make some
money"
But why don't you give me al
order?"
Deacon. your wife is lying vi
there, probably grieving at you
neglect, and you are here buying but
ter and eggsl What do you think thu
people around you are saying?"
How is 1t over in Medina. in you
case?"
The widow said she didn't want Il
say right out that the deacon choke'
his wife to death to get rid of her
but she was a woman who had sus
picions. and when those suspicion
were aroused 1t took a great deal t
lull them That was her fling as sh
left for home. and the deacon WASH
quick enough to answer that he hal
heard Of wives using slow poison.
In the course Of another week b.
drove over to Medina again. He In
terviewed two or three persons Of
the tombstone business, and thel
brought up at the Widow Lees.
Il was sort of expecting you," sh
said in greeting. I've talked wit
several people about you, and the,
say you are man to give a widow
a fair chance. Have you come owe
to give me an order?"
mot exactly. l just wanted t
drive past the graveyard"
II see. Wanted to be sure tina
both Of mine were there yeti Well.
hope you feel better"
widow, it don't seem to me tina
you appreciated them two husbands. ("
Don't #? Then let me tell 20
that in both cases there was a eli
Gus In town within a month afte
their death and ! never went. HOY
! about an order for your dead wife?"
Driving slowly home that day tn
deacon unused to himself:
Pretty bright widowl House an
lot. House as neat as a pin! Seem
like good worker! hadn't though
Of marrying again. but"
And when he had departed fror
her house the widow unused to he
self:
well, maybe he thought heap {
his wife, after all. Seems to be
good man. He's had one and Nv
had two. but a man needs a wife an
woman needs q husband. II W
were both out Of the tombstone bus
ness"
Ten days passed. and again III
deacon drove up to the widows gat
He had letter from Chicago sayin
that he was no hustler. and that h
book samples should be turned owe
to another canvasser.
I've got letter reading Just Ii
same" said the widow when b
handed her his. Deacon, II you
only given me an order"
"Or II you'd given me one"
well. I'm ashamed thai ! said
had suspicious Of you"
That's all right. II ] ever hinte
that your husbands died on purpos
to get a long rest beg pardon"
i rAnd as I'm going to have boile
dinner today I'll invite you to stay"
i with pleasure. widow"
The deacon drove home by moo
light that night. and on the way
kept saying to himself and smiling:
She'll be number two and Ill
number three. but what Providen'
brings about nobody should kick owe
I'm! l wouldn't have believed TIL
any human being could cook such
boiled dinner as that"