The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-05-05
Widow 5
Mistake

Once q week for six months MI.
Charles Ford had driven over to Gorse
Lake from Pentville to call at the resi-
dence Of the Widow Bush. That made
~ times. On the 25th he declared his
love and asked for her hand. He was
crushed to earth when told that the
Widows heart was not In the affair.
There we're reasons-many reasons
why she could not love. AS a brother.
he might continue to drive over from
Pentville al long as he wished, but
any future conversation must not
touch upon the subject of love.
Late one afternoon, a week after
the great refusal, the Widow Bush set
out in her auto to go to Pentville. It
was not to see Mr. Ford and hint to
him that she had changed her mind,
but to visit a relative. At the same
hour Mr.. Ford set out from Pentville
to motor over to Gorse Lake. It was
not to submit a new matrimonial pro-
posal, but to see a man IN business.
Both motors could have made the trip
before dusk came down but for acci-
dents. Something went wrong with
both machines. Something had to be
tinkered at. There was delay. And
thus 1t happened that an hour after
dark on a moonless night. with rain
threatening at any minute, the two
autos came together on that long hill.
It Is impossible to tell how things
happen. In this case both machines
had their lamps lit-both were rum
ming slowly and carefully-Mr. Ford
was prudent and the Widows man ex-
%perienced, and yet those autos struck
head on. There was a jar. but no n
was hurt. It would be some hours be-
fore the Widow Bush could reach
Pentville, n Mr.. Ford could talk bust
ness with that man in Gorse Lake.
Three of the four lamps were smash
ed. The chauffeur took the fourth and
started off to find a farmer to come
with a team of horses.
And. then it began to rain, and the
darkness thickened until Mr.. Ford
could not see the tip of his ose The
widow had the shelter of a tonneau;
he had none. He had to stand out and
take the pour as 1t came.
After the chauffeur had departed
there was silence between the reflector
and the rejected. It didn't last long,
however. At the end Of 10 minutes
the widow opened the door and called
out:
"Mr. Ford. I Am sorry that you are
out In the rain"
"You ought to be. It Is all owing to
that fool-man of yours!"
"Mr. Ford. are we in danger Of
bears?"
Eyes, we are, and 1 hope ten or
twelve Of them will GOMEZ"
"Mr. Ford, are you smoking7"
"Yel."
Whats that noise?"
"It sounds like the believing of a
But will the animal come here and
attack us?"
HE may"
It was a bull. and he had leaped the
pasture fence. He came along down
the hill, believing at every stride and
hoping to find something to demolish,
and the widow began to scream and
threw the door open to jump out.
Get backs there and stop your
noise!" commanded Mr.. Ford, and his
grasp was not gentle as he seized her
arm.
Then he disappeared into the night.
There were stones In the road. He.
felt them under his feet apd pelted
the bull and started him into a re-
treat. AS he came sloshing back:
through the mud and water the widow
asked:
"Mr. Ford. don't you think you
ought to follow William and ascertain
the cause Of this delay"
mo. ma'am. I don't!" he promptly
answered.
Then I will folloY him myself"
"Then you will stay right where you
are! II William isn't the biggest fool
In the state he has crawled under a
haystack somewhere and won't be
seen until daylight"
That settled things for . long half
hour. Then the tonneaui door opened
and a soft voice said:
MI. Ford please como nearer. You
loved me, didn't you?"
"Y-e-s." he sulkily admitted.
"You asked me to marry you, and
I refused. I refused because I had not
read you Alright. I am willing to admit
that I was entirely mistaken In your
character s?is
"H-how?".
II took you for q sissy. like my late
Enthusiastically good. but q sissy. I
didn't know that you were aggressive.
/ didn't believe you'd dare face . bel
lowing bull. even by daylight. with q
six.rail fence between you. l couldn't
have been made TO- believe that you
would dare order mo about. Tonight
you have shown me my errors. Oh.
how mistaken I have been!s
Then Why don't you say you are
coming In here beside me and order
me to move along? It seems to me
we ought to have a talk-a new talk"
A. .oou cf&nr dov1auh$ -t,~u A..