The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-28
SLOW WITH WIDOWS
But Mrs. Crabtree's Lemon Pies
Were Good and She
Was Coy.
BY CARL JENKINS.

BY CARL JENKINS.
OF course Deacon Hartley. widowel
knew that there was such q person 1,
the village Of Dalton a. Mrs. Graf
tree.
He knew that she was q widow.
He knew that she attended BIZ
church.
In fact he passed her house at leas
ten times Z week.
The Deacon knew things and woull
not have denied them. but he wa,
going slow on widows. During tn,
eight years he had been = widowel
four different attempts had been mad.
to lasso him for another trip In thu
saddle Of matrimony-two by widow,
and two by old maids.
The Deacon was q sly old bird Of
sixty. He was comfortably we'll Of
the days passed peacefully, and be
wasn't taking any risks. And the four
attacks on him by the four women had
made him 20 suspicious Of the sex that
Il woman stopped him on the side,
walk and asked the time Of day there
seemed to be a hidden motive some
whore.
Tho widow Crabtree had never
sought to advance herself in the at.
tention Of the Deacon. II he bowed a.
they encountered each other at the
church door she bowed. II he remarked
that It was q 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,
- 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 Z
sly bird, but she may have had
thoughts and plans. IT. Just possible
that she may have picked up q hint
from remark dropped BY q neighbor
'ne day. The Deacon's name hap
pened to come into the conversation,
md the neighbor said:
isn't it queer about the Deacon's
How do you mean!"
"Why. he's a regular flend for lemon
ne. He wants one at every meal"
You don't say"
And that's about all he does want.
les had about three housekeepers .
ear since his wife died, and has let
hem all go because they couldn't
make good lemon pies. Aunt Sally
ninth is there now. but she was tell.
ng me the other day that she don't |
xpect to stay long. He says her
smon pies would kill a dog"
Nothing further was said, but there
'as germ of big idea. The Deacon
ways went to the postoffice after sup.
er. Sometimes he passed the widows
nd sometimes he went the other way.
he took her chances the afternoon of
le conversation and baked a lemon
le. Mrs. Crabtree had never boosted
her skill as a pie-maker, but when
came to a lemon pie she had a
visit OF the wrist that turned them
ut for king.
At six o'clock on that summer eve
Ing the Deacon came walking down
pruce street. He had just got up
ON the table, and on that table had
zen lemon pie. Aunt Sally Smith had
,ne her level best. The Deacon had
1t the pie in halves and lifted half up
his hand and taken bite of It and
lclaimed:
Take the darn thing OIL"
But It's fine pie, Deacon"
1T tastes like a raw carrot!"
Mercy on mel"
Feed 1t to the 'pig!"
Deacon, you must surely have
ten green cherries and got a bad
ste in the mouth. Inever took such
Inns with a lemon pie"
You never knew how to make one.
I'd you are too old now to learn. By
AXIS, l wish knew of woman with.
a hundred miles Of here that knew
Nv to make lemon plea real lem.
| pie!"
Aunt Sally started to the kitchen ,
It'll quivering chin. and Deacon Hart. I
showed back from the table and {
It his hat and cane and started for
e postoflice. The widow Crabtree ,
rs watching for him. He came down I
'ruce street with a scowl on his face. ,
ID as he reached a point opposite I
r gate she opened the door and I
lied:
Just a minute, please. Deacon" t
well, what is it,"
Il am going to ask you rather A =
my question. Do you like pies?" 6
Il don't care for mince or apple" I
"But lemon"
i can eat three a day II they ara :
ade right" said the Deacon az his !
outh began to water.
u made one this Afternoon. and II
ould like your opinion Of It. WIN
u come In and sample it?" =
BLESS me, yes" \
That Die was on tina fahla xvo,x,> .