The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-03-14
One Widow S
"a Mistake

Once week for six months Mr.
Charles Ford had driven over to Gofse
Lake from Pentville TO call at the resi-
dence OF the Widow Bush. That made
"A 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 were reasons--many reasons
why she could not love AS a brother,
ne might continue to drive over from
Peniyille as 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 Pentwlle 1t
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 Pentyille
70 motor over 70 Gorse Lake It was
not 70 submit a new matrimonial pro-
posal but to see a man on 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
inkered at. There was delay And
thus II happened that an hour after
dark on 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 we're run
ming slowly and carefully-Mr Ford
was prudent and the widows man ex-
perienced, and yet those autos struck
head on. There was jar. but no one
was hurt 1t would be some hours be-
fore the Widow Bush could reach
Pentyille. or Mr. Ford could talk bust
ness with that man IN Gorse Lake.
Three of the four lamps We're smash
ed The chauffeur took the fourth and
started off 10 find farmer TO come
with team OF horses.
And then It began 10 rain, and the
darkness thickened nnill Mr. Ford
could not see the tip Of his nose Tho
widow had the shelter of tonneau
he had none. He had TO stand out and
take the pour as It 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 / am sorry that you are
out il the rain"
you ought to be. II IL all owing to
that foolman Of yours"
MIR. Ford. are we in danger Of
bears2"
Yes we are. and hope ten or
twelve OF them viii comeiT
Mr.. Ford. are you suoking?"
Yes"
What's that noise?"
TT sounds like the believing OF a
bull"
But VIII the animal come here and
attack us?r
~He may"
II was 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 back there and stop your
noisei" 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 and pelted
the bull and started him into re-
treat As he came sloshing back
through the mud and water the widav
asked
"Mr Ford! don't you think you
ought TO follow William and ascertain
the cause Of this delay?"
NO ma'am. l don'tl" he promptly
answered.
Then | win follow him myselfi"
"Then you will stay right whore 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 tonneau door opened
and a soft voice said.
"Alr Ford. please come nearer. You
loved me. didn't your
Yes. he sulkily admitted
"You asked me TO marry you, and
refused refused because had not
read you Alright am willing to admit
that was entirely mistaken IN your
character"
"H.howg"
Il took you for a sissy, like my late
husband--awfully good, bat a sissy. I
didn't know that you were aggressive.
didn't believe you'd dare face bel
loving bull, even by daylight, with
slx.rail fence between you. | couldn't
have been made to believe that you
would dare order me about Tonight
you have shown me my errors. Oh.
how mistaken have beenr
Then why don't you say you are
coming In here beside me and order
me to move along2 It seems to me
we ought to have talk-a new talk"