Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-01-11

ing WIDOW with IT.
"Shoo, Who'd have me?"
Who'd have you? Let's see about
that. About twenty-four or twenty
five years old. Strong and rugged.
Not handsome, but manly. Good dispo-
sition. Would treasure a good wife.
Would make a farm blossom in every
fence corner. Would be elected county
supervisor within two years. Why,
man. there are dozens of widows with
farms who are waiting for you"
II never heard of it," said Abe as a
thrill came to his heart
We'll, you hear of it now. I've got
widow in mind at this very moment.
miles down the road.
That was n long afternoon for Abe
He had thoughts many thoughts. He
had so many thoughts and he took so
much time to wrestle with them that
the farmer for whom he worked said
to him when supper time came:
ABE. you must have eaten too much
pork and beans today, and it tired you
out to lug them around"
That evening the hired man did
something that astonished the farmer
family beyond measure. He dressed
up in his best and set off down the
road and did not return until mid
night. At the breakfast table next
morning they tried to pick it out of
him, but he was blushingly silent. He
wouldn't have told for three months
wages. and yet he had only gone on Il
scout. He had walked past the wild
ows farm and felt guilty as he did Sc.
On the next evening he did the same
thing. but felt holder. On the third
evening he got up the courage to call
and ask for a drink of water. The
widow fetched the dipper with her
own hands and passed few remarks,
and Abe went home feeling what love
was. He realized that he was struck
on the widow, and yet he felt that she
was so far above him that he would
never dare approach the subject of
matrimony He said this to the corn
shelter agent when he came along, and
the man replied:
II didn't figure that you would do
any counting in the ordinary way, but
that romance would help you out"
IL guess I'll give it up" said Abe in
despair.
And l guess you won't! I've set
out to do good thing for you, and
I'm going to put 1t through. Now.
then, get down here in this fence cor
ner in the shade and let me talk to
you like Il Dutch uncle"
That talk lasted an hour. Fortunate
ly for Abe, the farmer was away from
home that day; otherwise he would
have been down to see if his hired man
was asleep. Abe's behavior the rest
of the day set the good wife to Won
dering if he was losing his mind. He
was very silent, but she saw on his
face a look she had never noticed there
before-a look of grim determination.
She wondered If he was going to do
or die. He didn't leave the house that
evening, but the next morning he an
nounced that he was going to the viii
lage. two miles beyond the widows
farm. No explanations whatever. He
just put on his Sunday best and start
ed off. He was going to cali on the
widow. not only in broad daylight. but
in the forenoon. His knees were weak
and his heart humping. but he forced
himself forward. At the gate he gave
gasp. but his legs took him to the
side porch, where the woman sat peel.
ing potatoes for the II o'clock meal.
ShA rnnnunivaA him Sk.A
had served with water. but had not
spoken yet when Abe stood before her
with uncovered head and said:
Widow Rodney, I'm Abe Scott. hired
man for Farmer Taylor. I'm wortD
500 and hustler to work. I'm in
love with you and want you for wife.
l can play on the fiddle. play checkers.
and don't snore. If you don't say
yes I'll abduct you and imprison you
In cave until break your naughty
spirit. Answer me yes or no and at
once, for ! am man not to be trified
with"
The widow heard him through and
then laughed so heartily that some of
the potatoes rolled out OF the pan. Abe
stood for n moment with very red
face and then turned and walked for
the gate. He had almost reached II
when the woman called:
Hold on. there. Come back and let's
talk 1t over"
Six months later they were married.
and for the next ten years the corn
shelter man could not think of the In
cident without exclaiming to himself:
Gosh all hemlock. but what fool l
vast"