Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-27

thanked everybody. but hadn't much
time 70 talk. Farmer Waycroft was
aware that she glanced at his whis-
kers with smile, but whether of
approval or not he couldn't exactly
make out. He found her to be brisk
little woman OF less than forty, and
he did some pleasant thinking as he
walked home. Moses was hoeing corn
most furiously, and the father sus-
pieioned something, but waited till eve
ming to ask:
Moses, did you go over to the
widow's?"
Why. Jest ran over to see If she
got here safe"
But | told you to keep away from
there"
Look here, dad. I'm not kid. I'm
twenty years old. I'm working for
you as a hired man, but you mustn't
try to boss me about outside things.
II can marry a nice widder with a
nice farm I'm goin' to do it."
But this one is ten or fifteen years
older than you are"
Il have read that true love takes no
account Of years."
I'm a-tellin' you agin, young man,
to keep away from the widder's!"
almost shouted the father. I'm not
goin' to see son of mine make a
fool Of himself If can help it."
Thanks, dad, but what about them
whiskers Of yourn!"
Moses, can't father spill ink on
his whiskers without bein' insulted
about 1t! l he can't then you had
better draw your wages and dig out
O. here!"
That was the beginning Of thing
that lasted three months and caused
much rancor. Moses refused to be
convinced that young man of his age
shouldn't have matrimonial designs
against widow even ninety years
old, and the father kept his whiskers
colored Jet black and put his best
foot foremost. There was hardly an
evening but that one or the other
called, and by tacit consent they d.
vided the evenings. One sat sulking
| at home while the other was absent
and when the absent ono walked
into the house he was greeted with:
so you hung on until the widow
had to kick you out!"
"On the contrary, she wanted tc
know what my great hurry was tc
get home"
"Ill bet she hoped you'd never come
again!"
why, she asked why didn't com,
oftener!"
Their habit had been to work to
gether in the field-to sit and smok,
and talk together-to take turns abou
cooking and to eat together, but al
this was changed. Both went to Farm
er Oxford at different times to ask
favor. When 1t was the father h
said:
Il want you to talk to Moses. Tha
boy is making a perfect dunn fool O
hisself. He is In love with the Wilde
Darrow, and he thinks she is Idle
| nun to take up with a boy OF hi
age. Talk to him and make him III
I derstand what ninny he is.
And when It was Moses he woul
say:
"You have noticed dads whisker
OF course?"
I wall. yes. I've kinda noticed 'em
a "And smelt emf"
r Jest whiff or two now and then
What dye 'spose he dyed 'em fur
n Il don't know"
ITO make the Wilder Darrow thir
he is ten years younger'n what he Il
II Talk to him and tell him what a 70
he is. BY George. but when an o
man gets giddy what circus
|. makes OF himself! Talk to dad. T,
y him to wash of that dye and 70
Il reading his Bible and prepare for Il
gravel"
This state OF affairs continued I
weeks. and after a bit the wide
Darrow had knowledge OF II. 81
had a vein OF deyiltry. and she help
II along in a way. She kept bo
father and son from talking love, b
n was charmingly friendly and tir
- went on until the father said to hi
~ self one day:
Il am goln' right over there
le night and pop the question"
nA
10 thought and said the same thing.
They lodged each other at the hou
,e and met at the Widows gate.
IA They glared at each other. Tn
4, breathed hard. They breathed hard
90 They were about to clinch in dea,
conflict when the widow came tr
ping down 10 say:
4, When ] left Kansas I was engae
. to n nice man. lie will be here
"' morrow. and We are TO be MARI
- the day after. You are both inyit