The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-07
A Page Planned to Please
And Benefit the Women
Winning a Widow

sCopyright. 1911. hs Associated
Literary Press.

again. Moreover. he had mace w NE
mind to marry the widow hopkihS
who lived on a farm a mile away
He had known her fer three years
She was amiable. thrifty and friend
H. She must tie aware that ne was
forehanded, good tempered and thar
when his good wife had been calIei
10 10 she had left two good pairs OK
shoes behind her. There were farni-
ers who were stingy about buying
shoes for their wives. taIt ne was not
one
Farmer Gregg made up his mind
about a second marriage the same as
ne would have done about buying
piece OF land IL would be good
ihing for him. and FOR the widow NO
disrespect to her Whatever. but why
waste time that might be USED IN
hoelng potatoes II was summer, and
4 in summer farm work is always drN-
ing.
After breakfast one morning. the
Nfdower walked down the road TO
the widows place. He wasn't at all
sFakS. ON the contrary, he was very
calm He-feHFa- her sweeping the
kitchen after having cleared break
last away. and he WAS kindly greeted
The widow had only asked him II
the later bugs were doing much dam
age To his field when he quietly said:
VSni hAtt5 , f+ N'ttAt W '&+1'N 49,"
marry me"
Good lands" she replied as she
leaned on the broom handle.
'Will you do il ."
Mrs Hopkins stood the broom up
In the corner. removed the apron she
was wearing, and then turned ON him.
Jasper Gregg, who do You think /
ann" she demanded
The widow Hopkins
| I've rot feelings
I've got feelings and I've got dignity.
You are here with your old clothes
on. the same as If you wanted to
borrow a shovel. and yet askin me
right out to marry you! You've got
hickory shirt ON. patches on your
trowsers and your hat is old and
rusty / never heard the likes OF
your impudence. Is this the way you
won your first Wife,"
IL just thought Ia ask" replied
Jasper, a good deal astonished
well. you can just think Il heap
OF other thoughts. You want a coal
or. your back next time you ask me
TO marry yon. This getting married
amt like going out and blowing corn.
There's dignity about IT."
Well. I'm sorry IL I've hurt your
feelings. / didn't go to do II. -
I'm forgiving You, Jasper, but
think il over and youll see that there
must be dignity about It,"
The matter was given due refiec-
ton. and at the end Of fortnight
MIR. Gregg donned his best suit ana
creased his boots and paid another
visit, He appeared at bad hour
The widow was down on hands and
knees and giving the kitchen floor a
glorious old scrubbing with sand and
soap. She had an old dress on. and
her hair was fiyina.
Merry on me, but you here" she
exclaimed as Jasper appeared in the
door.
YES. It's me"
And got your best clothes on"
Yes. l have come TO ask you over
again.
Hear the man, Lock at me! Jas
Der Gregg, did you ever hear OF a
man asking woman to be his wife
when she was scrnhbin' a dinged old
Kitchen fioori"
Can't say ] ever did"
And no one but fool would do
II. Can't ! pound il into your head
that I've got feelings and dignity
You go right back nome! Why,
Wouldn't say yes now If king was
10 offer me his palace"
Mr.. Gregg's feelings were a bit
hurt. He had lost an hour and n
half from farm. and he couldn't un-
derstand why woman scrubbing a
r moor couldn't set the wedding day
as well as one all dressed up and
seated In the parlor. He almost
! made up his mind that the. widow
was tinicky and had better be left
1T widowhood. As the days went by,
however. he forgave her and made
ready for his third visit This was
made OF Sunday afternoon. She
: s'sresy '@ssss'sfa's he seraihbtng Or that
day. On the eontrars. she. would. be
dressed up and sitting on the porch.
Things had happened that Sunday
morning. There WAS a calf TO be tied
UP, and while the hired man WAS
busy al something else the widow
Hopkins took the calf In hand In
the scrimmage she received a kick
that laid her out. With the help of
the hired girl she crawled into the
L@9se~ and into bed. 49,. os.rse.'. 49,.
When Jasper Gregg arrived and en-
0red the sitting room his nose was
greeted with the odor OF camphor
and IMMINENT, and the hired girl ex-
planned what had happened He was
ordered to take seat near the door
Of the bedroom, and the patient
called out.
Jasper Gregg. what sort of a man
do YOU call yourself p
Why, widow, what's wrong"
You're all dressed up amt Won ?''
Yes"
Boots creased ana hair oiled 20
"Yes"
And you've come TO ask me- IN
marry YOU! Lordy. Lordy, but what
idiots some men are. They inst 70
right ahead the same as If they WAS
plowln clay land, and never think of
other Ioiks. Here I've been kicked
by frolicky calf and the breath
Knocked out Of ne for a week 10
come, and you are here to talk about
marriage
But | didn't know about the kick
ing he protested.
Well. you know IL now, and vou'ye
got 10 give me a chance to have some
dignity. ! swan, If III be kicked by
calf in the forenoon and then prom
Use to he somebody's wife in the at
ternoon. You go back home"
This is three times SARAH he
called.
i don't care if it's three hun
dredt"
Jasper Gregg walked home with his
hands behind his back and his eyes
on the mayweeds along the dusty
highway. Three times he had asked,
and three times he had been thrown
down. The widow Hopkins was not
fer him. The hay season was coming
on ana ne could spare no more time.
He hanished her from his thoughts
rs far as he could, and the next morn
Ing went down into field to mend a.