The Colorado statesman., 1912-01-13

sibly have made sale, but 1t would
only have been after week and
after he had listened to the gossip OF
est.
The stranger would have learned
that Nancy Friars, the old maid, had
almost taken dose of paris green
because she had to go home alone
from prayer meeting; that Mr.. George
bcott and wife were thinking of sep
arating because she liked Goldfish and
he didn't; that Tom Henderson. the
carpenter, had been disappointed in
love, and that 1t had made wreck OF
him; that old Mrs. Travers was using
wrinkle remover and many, many
other things. The biggest and best
thing would have been saved till the
last, and he would have been expect
cd to exolaim that 1t was fierce.
Philetus Narmore was a feature in
Hillsdale. He was forty-fve years old
and widower; he owned the wooden
ware factory and sung bass in church
On Sunday; he was in charge of the
fireworks on the Fourth of July, and
ne had been known to give five dol
lars to the heather OF Africa all at
once; he had brought about the arrest
of horse thief, and he had speculated
In Wall street and made 1928. The
stranger would have been told this
astounding news as an appetizer,
and then the real corn beef and cab
baBe would have been set before
him.
There were three widows in Hills
dale when Mr.. Narmore became q
widower. 1t WAS four weeks after
the death of his wife before he
smiled in public. Two hours later the
gossips We're betting two to one that
he would marry one of the widows
within six months. He didn't, how
ever. He didn't within a year. He
didn't at all.
1t was said that any one OF the
three widows would give her old
shoes to catch the widower. This
was probably exaggerated. Had he
proposed to Mrs. Dakin, Mrs. Stevens
or Mrs. Everett the proposal would
have been received with downcast
eyes and taken under adyisement.
There would have been no rushing
into his arms. In a month or SO he
would have got his answer. 1t would
have been a timid yes or no. The
chances were even that he would have
been turned down.
Mr. Narmore called on each OF the
widows. Why not? The gossips said
ne was counting, but they were mis-
taken. He called to talk about the
weather. potato bugs, church affairs,
ny screens and things of that sort. He
always sat with his hat in his hands.
and he always rose up exactly with
the clock striking nine.
Each of the three widows received
private and confidential advice as to
how to catch" the widower Mar
more. They should invite him to
dinner; they should simper; they
should look at him coyly and archIy;
they should sigh and talk OF their
loneliness; they should boast of their
economy and how much work they
could get through with in a day. Even
old maids who had never had a beau
and never would have one sat down
and looked as wise as Solomon and
said:
All, II you only understood how
to handle man as well as | do you'd
bring Mr.. Narmore to his knees with
In week"
Perhaps the three widows didn't
want to marry again. Perhaps. but
for the arrival of fourth widow in
the village they would not have re-
sorted to rats and puffs and powder
and told white lies about their ages.
The fourth widow was a Mrs. Harper.
She was no younger or more attrac-
tive than the other three. She was
seemingly handicapped by trailing in
at the end of the string.
Within a week Mrs. Harper had
heard all the gossip. Within a fort
night she had been introduced to Mr..
Narmore. Within a month she had
sent for her father to pay her a visit
He was sixty-tve years old and had to
come all the way from Illinois, but he
came
The widower Narmore had a fad.
1t was known to every one in Hills
dale, and yet those three widows.
each one of whom might possibly
have answered yes to proposal.
hadn't the acumen to take advantage
of it. Mr.. Narmore was checker
fiend. He didn't care for horss
races. dog fights. pugilism or base
ball, but seat him in front OF a checker
hoard and he WAS there for oil ntoh.
If necessary to beat the other player.
He was the champion OF HillsdaIe
county. In fact, he claimed the cham
pionship of the state.
Father" said the widow Harper,
when her parent arrived, aren't you
accounted one Of tho best checker
players in Pekin7"
an Pekin7 Why. Mary, was
champion Of all Illinoy years ago; in
NHd Inua ua,, r,,,k