The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-11
SLOW WITH WIDOWS
But Mrs. Crabtree's Lemon Pies
Were Good and She
Was Coy.
BY CARL JENKINS.

He knew that she was q WIDOW.
He knew that she attended his
church.
In fact he passed her house at least
ten times a week.
The Deacon knew things and would
not have denied them, but be was
going slow on widows. During the
eight years he had been q widower
four different attempts had been made
to lasso him for another trip in the
saddle Of matrimony-two by widows
and two by old maids.
The Deacon was a sly old bird Of
sixty. He WAS comfortably well of.
the days passed peacefully. and he
wasn't taking any risks. And the four
attacks on him by the four women had
made him 80 suspicious Of the sex that
II woman stopped him on the side
walk and asked the time Of day there
seemed to be a hidden motive some
where.
The widow Crabtree had never
sought to advance herself in the at
tention of the Deacon. II he bowed as
they encountered each other at the
church door she bowed II he remarked
that 1t was fine morning she agreed.
On one occasion he asked whether old
Mrs. Thompson was dead or not, and
she had replied that she guessed not.
as she had seen her out mending the
stable door the afternoon before.
1t cannot be said that Mrs. Crab
tree was either sixty years old or q
sly bird, but she may have. had
thoughts and plans It's just possible
that she may have picked up hint
from a remark dropped by neighbor
one day. The Deacon's name hap.
pened to come into the conversation
and the neighbor said:
isn't 1t queer about the Deacons
appetizer"
"How do you mean?"
why, he's a regular fiend for lemon
pie He wants one at every meal"
you don't say"
"And that's about all he does want.
He's had about three housekeepers q
year since his wife died. and has let
them all 90 because they couldn't
make good lemon pies Aunt Sally
Smith is there now, but she was tell
ing me the other day that she don't
expect to stay long He says her
lemon pies would kill dog"
J Nothing further was said but there
was germ of big idea. The Deacon
always went to the postoffice after sup
per Sometimes he passed the widows
and sometimes he went the other way
She took her chances the afternoon Of
the conversation and baked lemon
pie Mrs Crabtree had never boasted
of her skill as a pe-maker, but when
it came to lemon pie she had a
twist of the wrist that turned them
out for a king.
At six O'clock on that summer eve.
ming the Deacon came walking down
Spruce street He had just got up
from the table, and on that table had
been lemon pie Aunt Sally Smith had
done her level best The Deacon had
cut the pie In halves and lifted half up
in his hand and taken bite Of It and
{ exclaimed:
Take the darn thing off"
"But It's fine pie, Deacon"
1T tastes like raw carrot!"
, Mercy on met"
Feed it to the pig"
, Deacon. you must surely have
eaten green cherries end got a bad
! taste in the mouth never took such
pains with lemon pie"
, you never knew how to make one
and you are too old now to learn. BY
, jinks. wish knew of woman with
in hundred miles Of here that knew
, how to make a lemon pie-a real lem.
on pie"
J Aunt Sally started to the kitchen
with quivcrine chin, and Deacon Hart
, ley showed beck from the table and
rot his hat and cane and started for
, the postoGcc The widow Crabtree
was watching for him. He came down
/ Spruce street with scowl on his face
and as he reached a point opposite
her cate she opened the door and
called:
Just a minute, please, Deacon"
We'll. what Is IT."
, 81 am going to ask you rather Q
funny QUO ton 10 you like pies?"
u dent carc for mince or apple"
Tut lemon?"
Il can eat three a day If they are
made right" said the Deacon as hi.
mouth began to water.
81 made ono this afterncn, and
should like your opinion OF II. VII
you come in and sample it?"
"Eloss me. yes"
That pie wcs On the table waiting
. for him. His eyes began TO dance a
: the first look. 1t was q noble loolline
pie It seemed to smile in his face
There WIS Juice there. There was
crust there as faky as the bark on
: spring willow At last he had founC
! the hope of his heart.
The widow cut the pie In quarter!
and PASSED him one Of them. He att
this standing gD, and with great gUsto
Then he ata the next section sit.in,