Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-07-03
In the Waiting
Room
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1918. by Associated Lit
erary Press.


reached the same depot from the north
with five offspring of various ages and
sizes. She was widow and he wild
over, and the children had not been
whipped more than once around before
there was sort of mutual sympathy
that begot admiration and then friend
ship. One of the widows boys offered
one of the widower's girls a bite of his
fried cake, which was accepted In the
spirit rendered, and ten-year-old girl
belonging to the man made up to the
two-year-old belonging to the woman.
The widower smiled as he saw these
things and presently winked at the
depot policeman, who was strolling
around and took him aside to say:
"Them children seem to take to each
other?
Eyes"
81 reckon that gals mother is wild
der womanH
Shouldn't wonder"
and with seven young uns to care
for she'd be willin' to marry again.
Il should say so. Widower, amt your"
81 am, and these are my five limo
cents, as you might call em."
"Seven and five are twelve" unused
the officer as he looked over at the
widow
"She used to be when went to
school"
"Wellr'
''If there's no law agin 1t I'm goin
over and ask that woman if I'm the
man to make her heart palpitate.'
mo law ut all. Go right ahead We
aim to please our patrons"
The man drew a long breath, braced
up and sauntered over to the woman
and asked:
MADAM am / wrong in believin'
that you are ii widow"
81 have been a widow fourteen
months today" she answered
"Great Scott! But it's just fourteen
months today since my Hammer died
Which way be you goin'?"
"To Illanoy."
'That's just where | am goin' too
Did you promise your husband never to
marry AGAIN?
mo"
'"And / didn't promise my wife
either. Fact is | believe | shall unite
as soon as find some good woman"
"And my children need fathers
care" she sighed as she pulled little
John Henry off the window sill and
bumped him into seat
The man got up and walked around
the waiting room and took closer look
at the children. Then he returned and
said.
Il suppose you've got few hundred
dollars, belong to some church. can
wash and bake and mend and are of
mild and forgivin' disposition"
"Yes. that's me-"
well. I'm kinder religious, even tenn
pered and am worth $1,000 I'm sort
o. struck on you. There's somethin'
about your eyes that reminds me of
Hammer"
"And you look like Alonzo around the
mouth" she sighed.
"Sure your Alonzo is dead, are your"
queried the man after getting drink
of water for one of her children.
"Oh. my. yes, And how about your
departedY'
safe as woodchuck in his hole |
Good woman she was. but she will
have to stay right where she is"
Then he bent over and whispered
something about Chicago and getting
married, and she nodded her head He |
gathered his children under his wing,
took them into a corner and solemnly
and impressivey observed:
children, I'm goin' to get married
to that woman over there and give
you new mother. If any of you is
goin to kick and boohoo about it be-
gin now, so that | can tune you down
before the train goes. Henry, you are
the oldest. Are you goin' to declare
you'll run away or commit suicide? |
Let me know right now, for this is a
good, cool place to prance you around
with a shingle'
Henry said he guessed it would be
all right, and the rest of the crowd |
seemed to agree, and ten minutes later
the widower and widow sat holding |
hands and trying to eat peanuts, and |
the twelve children We're biting and |
pulling hair and kicking to see who
should have a seat on the steam heater.
"This is kinder the work of heavenw
chuckled the widower as he hitched a
little nearer
''You bet, lover she replied as she
another peanut with Ter teeth
BY and by the officer. who had watch
ed the progress of events from a dis
lance, walked over to the couple and
smilingly queried
well. is it all settled?"
"As solid as Il rock replied the man.
Eyes, love him" added the woman.
"Then you'll get along all right"
Sure to-sure to-. said the man as
his right arm stole around the woman's
shoulders. ITS case of love in five
minits and twelve childrap hack of n