The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18

ldTm On inc I1l6u E1ii iOou anu
bought another In the Red Bridge
neighborhood she became the nearest
neighbor of farmer Roberts. widower.
Why they took an aversion to eacn
other at first sight neither of them
could explain, but an aversion there
was where there should have been
neighborly frieDdliness.
Farmer Roberts made up his mind
In day, almost, that he should Meth
or borrow nor lend any tools or I'm
plements of any sort. The widow
made up her mind just as quickly that
she wouldn't be friends with a man
who threw stones at her geese the
very first day she moved In
There was the widower who needed
wife, and there was the widow who
would have been much better of with
a husband to manage things, and In
stead of taking the sensible way they
avoided 1t.
What | want her to understand"
said the farmer to a friend. rs that
II any of her hogs git into my later
field | shan't spare her cause she is
a woman"
OF course the widow heard OF the
threat. and she wouldn't have been a
free-born American woman II 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 a fuss with neighbor in the
country than In the city. 1t was not
long before one of the Widows hogs
came squealing home with bleeding
ear. He had rooted under the line
fence and Toasted on the widower's
potatoes A week later the jumping
COW came home minus horn. The
widow could throw rock or handle
club as well as man.
There was a creek flowing through
both farms. One day the Widows
ducks took 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 1T.
and a day or two later the widower's
biggest and favorite rooster lost his
life while exploring strange barn
yard
Things like these do not pass in the
country without being commented on.
A minister In the village three miles
way heard of them and drove out to
talk 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 I'm woman!" demanded
the widow. mo, sir! He begun this
ere fuss, and he's got to come to me
and say he's sorry before I'll stop"
You see." said the widower when
1t came his turn to talk, "she never
asked me a question when she came
to buy that farm. Just went right
ahead as II she's bought farm every
week IN the year. II she'd been the
right Kind of woman she'd have
come to me for advice. l never
knuckled down to any woman yet.
and I'm not going to begin now"
or course, things could not go on
Icing without legal trouble.
The widower picked some goose
berries over the widows line, and she
sauntered out that way and called
him thief. This epithet. being over
heard by third party, constituted
defamation Of character, and suit was
brought. While the law was delaying
the case to let 1t 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
epithat was not overheard by third
party, but sho 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 viii
lage again. This time he took an
other tack He began on the widow
with:
Mrs. Skinner. you are lone wom-
an"
But nobody can scare met" was
her prompt reply.
mo, of course not, but how much
better not to have cares and worries
and troubles. You being a widow,
and Mr.. Roberts being widower, IT
would seem to me that"
Hold right on. Mr.. Teylor!" she
interrupted II know how 1t would
seem to you. but you can save your
breath. A widow don't have to marry
some old poke of man to keep her
rights"
THE farms adjoin. and you could
be 80 happy"
Yes. the farms adjoin. but the
widow and widower don't speak and
never Will"
IF you and Mr. Roberts would sit
down together and"
But we won't! He's the sort OF a
man who thinks he can boss the
earth, and I'm the sort of a woman
who can be coaxed but not be driv."
Maybe Providence will come to
the rescue" sighed the good man as
he turned away
"Mebbe She will. parson. II She
don't there'n be about sixteen more
lawsuits before things are over with"
Mr.. Roberts proved just as stub