The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-31
THE EVENING STORY
Loved by Three.
(By Joe Cowper.)

(By Joe Cowper)
Yes, Silas Scott was a good man
a good man." sighed Farmer Thomp-
son as he drove home from the lat
ter's funeral one May afternoon.
After touching the off horse with
the whip he continued: 'Allus willin'
to lend and .allus bought a new hoe
if he broke a borrowed one"
The nigh horse needed touching UP
now, and after it had been done the
old farmer unused:
Leaves a good farm and a mighty
fine wilder woman. I've knowed her
since she was gal, and she's one of
the best"
A crow sat on the top rail of the
roadside fence, and Farmer Thomp-
son shook the whip at him.
Il hate to see a woman left wild
der. They allus have heap of trou-
BILE to git along. Every piano man
and tin peddler that comes along
cheats en-
The off horse stubbed his foot on
a stone and came near going on his
nose, and Farmer Thompson's mus
ing was interrupted for half min
ute. Then it went on.
Lets see! Let's see! Hammers
been dead four years. Give the Wild
der Scott a year to mourn and thatll
make five. Why shouldn't I do it?
By gum, I Will Yes, sir, when the
year is up I'll"
But just then he overlook old Mr.
Savin and felt it his duty to stop and
offer him a lift This put an end to
any further. musing for the time be-
ing. although when he reached home
the farmer finished his sentence with:
''-Ill ask her plump out to marry
me!'
-Four weeks later the farm next to
the Widow SCOTS on the west was
sold to a farmer named Harris. He
was widower, and this put the widow
between the farms of two widowers.
The men were about the same age,
and of course they met at an early
date. 1t was the duty of Farmer
Tbompson to go over to the other farm
and say: -,
Come to be naybur. have ye?'
Yes
Wall I'm Il nayburiy man, and
,aIlus ready to do anything to obleege-
1 heard you was a widower."
Eyes, and 1 heard you was
Just so. Yes, I'm a lonely old
man.
That was as far as they pursued the
subject at that time, but two or three
new arrival had been to call on the
Widow Scott, Farmer Thompson threw
himself in the others way to ask:
Don't think of gettin' married agin,
I 'spose?"
"Oh, I hain't maxim no secret of
it. I've seen the Wilder Scott. It's
too soon to begin courtin' now, but
I'm goin' to try to win her by and by.
You are, of course. too old to think
of marryin' agin."
ooh, you think so, do you! Say,
I'll bet you are ten years older'n I
ami
IT'S right the other way. Anyhow,
tn to oh TsV10
goin' in to win her.
In a day or two Farmer Thompson
went over to borrow the widows hoe.
although he had two of his own, and
he took occasion to ask:
Wilder, I 'spose that man Harris
has been around here!'
Yes"
What do you think of him?'
why, he seems to be a nice man"
He's a widower, you know?'
II believe he said something of the
Sort
There's somethin' about his looks
I don't like. Reminds me of a snake
in the grass. I don't want to do any
body an injustice, but it was jest such
a lookin' man that stole my old mare
one night six years ago"
Mercy on me. but I hope we haven't
got horsethief in our midst!'
Cant never tell. widder-can't never
till we know about him. This is a
mighty deceivin world. I shall look
out for YOU
And the next day Mr.. Harris called
to ask if sunflowers did we'll in that
locality. and after being assured that
they did. he asked:
You have, of course. knowed Mr.
Thompson several years.
Since 1 was a little girl
WAS he meyer arrested for barn
burning?'
Good lands, No.
Ever brought to book for breach
of-promise?"
Never"
Ever poison anybody's well?''
why, Mr.. Harris, how queer you
talk! Mr.. Thompson has always been
considered one of the best men in the
county. I have never heard the
slightest thing against him.
"And I hain't sayin' a thing agin'
him, wilder. I'm simply tellin' you
to look out for men who go around
mutterin' to themselves like he does.
They are plannin' something bad. I
sorter feel it's my duty to look about
you. Any time you feel troubled, let
me know"
Things went on for months in a very