Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-07-26
ROMANCE
AND RATS
By NJ QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

and farmer, went over to the next farm |
on the east right after breakfast one |
morning and said to the Widow Glenn. |
aged thirty-five:
Mrs. Glenn. broke my hoe last
night. and If your hired man isn't go
ing to use yours today I'd like to Dor
row it,
You can have IL and welcome" was
the reply.
"How's the sick cow?'
Much better"
Find that lost hog yet?'
"No."
"See here. widow. I've been thinking
that you and me had better get mar
ried.'
The widow was on the hack step
and was about to shake the tableclOth
She looked at the man for half a min
ute and then shook and folded the
cloth. and with il on her arm she re
piled:
"Oh. you have. eh? Well. hadnt
thought word about It."
but I'm asking you TO think now"
"JOhn Henderson. you don't know
beans, Did you ever hear of n woman
being asked to marry at this hour in
the morning.
You was looking so mighty purity
that the words slipped out" explained
John. "Just let II 20 till next time"
One day two or three weeks later
the widow started In to make soft soap
There was n fire outdoors with a biz
kettle over il. and she had on an old
dress and her hair had fallen down
and her face WAS smoked and smudged
She was stirring up the contents of the
kettle with broom handle when John
Henderson arrived. He had a packet
In his hand. and as he laid ii down he
said:
That's hOrScrndish. suniower seeds
and dried calves liver grated up and
mixed together. They say it's a sure
thing to keep rheumatism away. Max
ing soft soap. chF"
Yes"
81 was noticing yesterday that the
later bugs was a-getting quite plenty"
Il guess they are
widow Glenn. mcbbe you remember
what was speaking to you about the
other day.
There you go again" she exclaimed
as she rose from the old chair in
which she was seated. Maybe 1 re-
member! Good lands. but do yeu think
a woman forgets n proposal Of mar
| riage In two weeksT'
"But this is busy time o. year. you
know"
And you come here and find me in
my old buds and making soft soap. and
you talk about horseradish and Ia
ter bugs and then bring in matrimOny!
Don't you know that a woman wants
a little romance at time like that:"
But how's she going to get itT'
"Not by talking about later bugs.
you may be sure"
Farmer Henderson had something 10
occupy his mind for the next few days.
He was puZZling over romance.
The soft soap had been made and
stored down cellar. when the Widow
Glenn put on her white dress one day
and strolled in the meadow to gather
daisies. She did look real sweet. and
she knew il, and she knew that Farm
er Henderson would say so II he was
there. Like the wind. she blew where
she listed That's the reason she blew
on to bumblebees' nest. and the first
thing she knew she was being stung In
three or four places. She made for
the house. but got dozen stings be-
fore she reached 1t and fell down
twice climbing over the fence Hall
an hour after the hired girl had got
J her TO bed and was applying poultices
Farmer Henderson showed up. He
had heard OF the catastrophe and had
come to express his sympathy, also
to ask the widow If she had thought
things over and come to decision
The message was taken to her and he
, reply returned That reply was:
| "Tel John Henderson not to com
here again until he gets over being t
fool"
The Widow Glenn had an old bar
on her place. 1t had not been in us
for several years. and at length she dc
J.. cided to have IT torn down. She was
woman who bossed things, and on
day she went out to inspect the oil
structure and see what use the board
C and beams could be turned to. Sh
q was looking about on the inside whe
she heard sQueals and found a score {
rats surrounding her. She could hav
gained the door. but in her sudde
n fright she made for the ladder leadin
up where the hay used to be store,
y In minute she was safe from III
D. rodents, but she was also a prisone
- Fifty big and hungry rats frisked an
squealed for her to come down and
eaten alive. There were cries for hel
but they were unheard for long ha
y hour. Then Farmer Henderson can
). sauntering along and looked into Il