The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-05-19
WHEN THE
TIME CAME
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Mrs. Sarah Drew was New Hamp.
shire widow. She owned farm, and
Jake White was her hired man. He
was q good nan and a good worker
and had been with the family for
three years when Farmer White died. |
It will never be known to outsiders
whether Mr.. White, when told that he
was to be gathered to his fathers.
called Jake to his bedside and said:
II must go. but l am consoled by
the thought that leave Sarah in good
hands. Give her year or so to mourn
my loss and then propose matrimony."
Three years went by and Jake had
he thought he was encouraged to
speak out and other times when he
was prepared to come in from the field
after a hard days work and learn that
the widow was engaged to the sew
ing machine agent who had that route.
The widow, too, had thoughts. 1t was
more than once whispered about that
Jake was in love with this or that
farmer girl, and she had come to feel
that his loss would be double one.
Mrs. Drew had been a widow for
four years and Jake White had done
bushels and bushels of thinking when
winter came on. When the foot or
more Of snow which heralded the
change of season had got packed
down on the highway Providence put
it into Jake's head to get out the big
hand sled and propose a ride down
the long and Winding hill. Providence
didn't 60 so far as to put the widow
next as to what would happen, but it
meant well by both. 1t had been a
long time, and Providence meant to
hurry things up bit. Half dozen
of the neighbors were to take part in
that moonlight sleigh ride, but for
one reason or another all backed out,
leaving the two alone. Probably this
was another trick on the part Of Prov
idence.
About the time the sled was drawn
out for the glide Elder Henderson.
who lived just beyond the foot of the
hill, was saying to his wife:
martha, F bought ten bushels Of
taters Of the Wilder White yesterday"
"We'll need 'em all before spring."
was the reply
II was gofn' for 'e1n tomorrer. but
it's such q nice night that I dunno
but I'll yoke up the oxen and jog along
now"
might as well, l guess, but look
out that the taters don't get frostbit.
You know how nighsighted you are
in the moonlight. If you hear sleigh
bells you'd better give 'em the road"
"Nighsighted" he indignantly sniff
ed. Don't you go to maxim out that
I'm hundred years old. Why, could
pick up pin on the darkest night you
ever saw. I've got just the same
rights as anybody, and I'm dinged IL
I give more'n half the road" 4.
The oxen were yoked in due time
and started out. There were bags to
hold the potatoes and blankets to
cover the bags, and any old sport
would have given odds Of two to one
that the elder, the oxen and its cargo
would arrive at the top Of the hill
right end up after climb Of twenty
minutes. The wager would have been
made without taking Providence into
consideration, and the old sport would
have lost.
The Widow White was bundled up
and seated on the sled. In fact, she
was strapped on. Jake sat close be-
hind her, dragging the foot that was
to steer the sled straight course. AS
they were ready to start it came over
him to speak of his love- A feeling
came to the widow that he was going
to, but the time was not ripe. Prov
idence figures those things down to
minutes and seconds. As Jake shut
his mouth on his words and started
the sled Elder Henderson, near the
foot Of the hill, started singing a
hymn. He not only loved the sound OF
his singing, but he thought the oxen
ought to be encouraged. His voice
came floating up the hill, and as Jake
caught it he said:
e Mrs. White, that's Elder Hender
son.
Eyes"
, "Hes probably coming after thos,
potatoes with his oxen and sled"
"Well?"
e Hell be in the middle of the road
J. and as our sled is already gettinl
s away from control there's going t
d be smashup. l want to say to yo
that have loved you for the las
three years and to ask you If you vii
marry me?"
| "Oh, Jakev'
g "It's the elder and the oxen for sur,
It Yes or MOI"
n cts so suddenv'
f. Fright in the middle Of the roat
% and we'll be into them in ten seconds
:. "Must I-I"-
: "Five seconds morev'
II 'Then-yes!"
y, Elder Henderson was marchiu
IL ahead of the oxen, hero leading tt
way. He was struck and sent fyin
and his tune cut short. Then the sic
N struck the oxen and flung thRfhstn'
a the ditch and made long jump ov'
the other and a minute later was
~ the foot of the hill and Jake WI
saying: &
1--WE might say the first Of. ne
week for the wedding!"
ey It didn't come of quite as quick
Sc that, as they waited for the elder
81 cuts and bruises to heal SO that
could be guest. but things came
right in q little time, and favorl
J, saying Of the elders Is:
' Gall the hand Of Providence, sir. Il
r eIn 70