The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-19
Going To
Kansas
BY Donald Allen
(Copyrisht. 1919. BY Associated Literary Press)

Copyright 1871. BY Associated Literary Press)
A year or SO after the death Of
Farmer Lee the farm opposite was
purchased by Henry Griggs. an old
bachelor, whose sister was his house.
keeper. The widow hadn't the slight
est thought of marrying again. The
old bachelor would have taken to his
heels and made three circuits of the
barn if anyone had suggested such a
thing to him.
Although the widow had no thought
OF husband number two. and although
the bachelor had no thought Of wife
number one, they had to be neigh
bors. They had to borrow and lend.
They had to talk about crops. They
had to do errands for each other at
the village. Mr.. Griggs couldn't cross
the road TO borrow the widows hoe
without blushing and stammering
about it. and the widow couldn't
cross to borrow little baking pow
der without feeling that She might
be charged with running after the
bachelor. 1t made things embarrass-
ing. Now and then, after his evening
chores were done. Henry would sneak
over and sit with the widow on her
porch, but when he tried to talk he
choked up.
One day a tin peddler, who had
picked up little gossip here and
there, stopped to buy sheepskin
from Henry and say:
Mice widow woman, Mrs. Lee is!"
"Migh-mighty nice!" was STAN
mered In reply.
why don't you marry her!"
Lands alive!"
1T would make a good match"
But you see"
Il think she'd have you"
"Don't--don't talk" begged Henry
as the sweat started on his forehead.
She's awfully nice. but"
The peddler laughed and drove on.
He had heard that there were such
cases. but they all came right In the
end.
Was it what the peddler said that
made bachelor Griggs suddenly real
lie that he was in love with the
[ widow? II wasn't as sudden as fall
ing of fence. 1t took about an hour
for the realization. and then 1t was
a feeling that had come to stay. Mr..
| Griges blushed as he owned 1t to
| himself. and how on earth he was
ever to face the widow again drove
J his bushes away and left his cheeks
| as pale as bleached celery.
Was it the reflex OF the bachelors
| feelings that made the widow pause
one morning with the dshcloth In her
hand and confess to herself that she
liked Henry-aye, more than liked.
On the evening Of that day, as the
couple sat on the piazza and saw the
hens 20 to roOst and the peacock
seek his couch. Mrs. Lee broke a long
silence by saying:
"Mr. Griggs, I'm thinking Of NOV
ing to Kansas"
by gum" exclaimed Henry as he
almost fell down the three steps.
Land is cheaper and richer there"
Henry made choking noise In his
throat.
"And-7and there are fewer wild
ows."
"I--I-wouldn't go step If was
you" the bachelor blurted out
well, Wen see about 1t. How is
your oats coming on?"
Just enough and no more. just
enough to give Henry pains and aches
and swimming of the head, bat not
himself To the limb OF sour apple
tree. ii was long. bad night for
HIM lie fully realized that Kansas
was a drawing card, and that he
ought TO walk into the other farm
house before milking his COWS in the
morning and offer the woman induce
ments to stay. but yet he shook at
tie idea How could he say 1t with
her looking him full in the eyes?
Even IL she turned her back and hid
her face In the roller towel he might
break down before she knew what
he was talking about.
When day came It proved to be the
longest in Henry Griggs' life. There
was lots Of work to do. but he lay
for hours under the straw stack and
planned and thought and wondered.
When he crossed the road again at
twilight the widow was waiting to
say:
THE more I think about Kansas
the more I like the idea"
Henry turned pale and slapped at
a MOSQUITO.