The Glenwood post., 1912-05-25
HivinS the
Bees
BY Clara inez Deacon


Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press.)
When the widow Skinner sold her
farm on the High Hin road and
bought another in the Red Bridge
neighborhood she became the nearest
neighbor OF farmer Roberts. widower.
Why they took an aversion to each
other at first sight neither OF them
could explain, but an aversion there
was where there should have been
neishborly lriendliness.
Farmer Roberts made up his mind
In day. almost, that he should neith-
er borrow nor lend any tools or i'm
piements OF any sort The widow
made up her mind just as quickly that
she wouldn't be friends with man
who threw stones at her geese the
very first day she moved in.
There was the widower who needed
a wife, and there was the widow who
would have been much better off with
husband to manage things, and in
stead OF taking the sensible way they
avoided it.
What | want her to understand"
said the farmer to a friend, lis that
IL any OF her hogs git into my 'tater
held | sh'an't spare her cause she is
woman"
or course the widow heard OF the
threat, and she wouldn't have been a
ree-born American woman if she
hadn't answered back.
The old skeesicks, but he hadn't
better pick no fuss with me! The
first time find that jumping old COW
OF his in my corn he'll see that I'm
not helpless woman"
There are even more chances to
pick fuss with a neighbor in the
country than in the city. 1t was not
long before one OF the widows hogs
came squealing home with a bleeding
ear. He had rooted under the line
fence and feasted on the widowers
potatoes A week later the jumping
COW came home minus a horn. The
Widow could throw a rock or handle a
cluo as well as man.
There was a creek flowing through
both farms. One day the widows
ducks took a voyage of discovery up
stream. Farmer Roberts waited until
they reached his line and he wrung
the neck of the old drake who was
acting as pilot. The body was tossed
back on the widows land with a grin
OF satisfaction. She discovered it,
and day or two later the widowers
biggest and favorite rooster lost his
life while exploring strange barn
yard
Things like these do not pass in the
w
A minister in the village three miles
away heard of them and drove out to
t'dk of peace on earth and good will
to men, but he rather muddled in
stead OF helping things.
Am | going to take his sass just
because Pm woman!" demanded
the widow. NO, sir He begun this
ere fuss, and he's got to come to me
and say he's sorry before III stop!"
You see," said the widower when
it came his turn to talk, she never
asked me a question when she came
TO buy that farm Just went right
ahead as if she's bought farm every
week in the year. If shed been the
right kind of a woman she'd have
come to me for advice. never
knuckled down to any woman yet,
and I'm not going to begin now
OF course, things could not go on
long without legal trouble,
The widower picked some goose
berries over the widows line. and she
sauntered out that way and called
him a thief. This epithet. being over
heard by a third party, constituted
defamation of character. and suit was
brought While the law was delaying
the case to let it get ice-cold the
widow helped herself to pears from a
tree clearly the property of the wild
over. He was on the watch for overt
acts and called her a robber The
epithet was not overheard by third
party, but she insisted on bringing
suit just the same, asserting that the
man made many gestures with his
hands as he talked.
The minister drove out from the vii
lage again. This time he took an
other tack. He began on the widow
with:
Mrs. Skinner, you are a lone wom-
an"
But nobody can scare mel" was
her prompt reply.
No, of course not, but how much
better not to have cares and worries
and troubles. You being widow.
and Mr.. Roberts being a widower 1t
would seem to me that"
Hold right on, Mr. Taylor!"' she
interrupted 81 know how 1t would
seem to you, but you can save your
breath A widow don have to marry
some old poke OF a man to keep her
rights
The farms adioin. and you could
be so happy"
Yes, the farms adjon. but the
,uiloI,.n: don't