The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-09
~ LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

I ANlhOA. ANO nav oSSA
/ taken, but the dividing line had been
guessed at. Therefore, when The car
penter found dead apple tree in his
path he cut 1t down. Three hours later
he was sued for the sum of $25. He
went to the deacon's house to state
the fact.
Was that apple tree on the wild.
ow's land?' he asked.
II dunno" was the reply.
But you ought to have known"
yes, | s'pose l had, but l didn't
think there'd be any fuss raised II we
, got foot over on her line"
What sort of woman is she?"
"She always pays back borrowed
tea and coffee, but she's leetle
techy."
Dye think I'd better see her about
this suit?"
II don't think it would do any good.
The wilder has sued you because you
was workin' for me. You see, we don't
agree"
But why didn't you say 500"
Il forgot to. You see the wilder be-
lieves In sprinklin' and believe in i'm
mersion, and we can never agree as
to which saves the most souls
You'd better cut the water out en-
tirely and be neighbours advised
Stephen as he started off to call on
the widow.
She was at home, and he introduced
himself. III could find the right sort
of a woman Id get married" he
said.
Sir" she gasped.
Il am an even-tempered and Low.
ing man"
"Sir!"
I've got money enough in the bank
to buy little home, and It's time l
settled down and took some comfort.
l know you will excuse me when
say l am pleased with your looks"
"Sir, are you crazy" the widow de-
manded.
mo. ma'am. I'm just speaking .
word In advance, as 1t were."
You are most impudent. sir.
and"
III 1t was q man suing me for that
dead apple tree Id tell him to 90 to.
but with a woman, and especially .
widow, it's different You'll get beat
en- because Deacon Hardy Is the right
party to sue. You will have to show
that q dead apple tree bears apples.
You will be asked II you don't quar-
rel with your neighbors. You will be
asked II your deceased husband was
not glad to die"
The widow was speeches. with sur
prise and anger.
And worst of all, maam-worst Of
all for you. you will be asked your
age! Yes. ma'am, they will ask 1t.
and you must answer or 90 to jail
for contempt! take 1t that you are
under forty, and am sure that your
neighbors do, and what sensation It
will create when you have to swear
to forty.three or forty-four."
The widow Nixon turned pale and
sat down.
You believe in sprinkling instead
Of immersion" continued the car
penter. What will folks say II
you take me into court. me believing
tho same!"
IL"
And later on do you want folks to
say that you sued me before would
marry you? They always get things
mixed up. you know. You can never
make anybody believe that you sued
me for . dead apple tree"
Sir, what 10 all this talk" demand
ed the woman as she suddenly found
her voice.
I'VE are talking about line fences.
dead apple trees. sprinkling. lawsuits
and getting married. Think it over.
widow--think 1t over am fair
minded man and will not take advan.
tage Of you"
With that he walked out Of the
house. The widow first shed tears of
anger Then she went down to the
lawyer she had employed and said
she guessed she would withdraw the
suit.
~ think it's better" he replied. We
can't prove anything but dead ap-
pls tree, and anyhow Deacon Hardy
is the man we ought to have sued"
It thus came about that Mr. Hack.
EFT heard no more Of the suit. For
two weeks he heard no more Of the
widow, either Then he got an idle
day and started of fishing. It was
also an easy day for Mrs. Nixon. and
she concluded to visit friend mile
away. To shorten the distance she
made a cut across the fields, and In
climbing rail fence a silver caught
her dress In such was as to hold her
fast as IL she had been nailed down.
The carpenter heard her cries for help
from where he was angling, and he
fastened to her aid and began:
q suppose you have thought over
what | said the other day."