Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-26

he<had a knee motion to beat the band
When the widow came to town she was
not annoyed by men gazing at her. Her
horse occupied all their attention.
| 1t happenede just at this time that
Elder Parker had to make journey
: to Wisconsin and stay of some weeks
! but he heard about the widow and her
horse In fact, he was told that he
might as we'll sell his stopper for the
best price be could get, for he was no
longer king of the highway.
ooh, he isn't, eh?" shifted the elder
| when he read the letter. "Got new
widow and a new horse, have they?'
The drop of the sporting blood was
waking up It caused the elder to cus
short his visit by several days, though
| he wouldn't have owned it even to him.
self for hundred dollars. 1t was one
of his fellow church members that said
to him when he returned home:
"Well, elder, we are all anxiously
: waiting"
ed.
ooh. no. We want to see which is
the best horse"
How do you mean?''
"There are those who say that you
must keep off the Red Bridge road or
you will have to swallow the dust OF
better horse"
Brother Barmalee, do you take me
for jockey" was demanded.
"Of course not, but you have been
driving the fastest horse in the country
and"
"And what if have sir?'
"Why-why-"
"And what if continue to drive the
fastest horse in the country"
There was no reply to that. but 1t
was generally agreed that the question
of speed would be settled before many
days, That is, no one knew what the
Widow Holmes would do, but she did
not look like woman that would per-
nit ANYBODY to raise a cloud OF dust
in front of her.
After he had been home three or TOUR
days the elder began to jog his horse,
| but on another road. The stopper
wanted limbering up, but If not 10 beat
| the widows horse for, what then?
One morning the good man was seen
to take the Red Bridge road. Not
word did he say and not look did he
look. but a hundred men realized what
was on the tapis. 1t was one OF the
DAVIS when the widow was sure to come
| to town. In wagons, buggies and on
F.! foot the men began to stream OUT
| By and by the elder came Jogging
back from UP the road
"Hey, elder, is there going TO De d
racer" :,
Race? Race" he queried as he pull
ed up.
childlil1e and bland when he turned
about and logged the other way, ana
there was a low murmuring OF the
crowd. The Widows rig was in slsnt
far away. The elder had gone up the
| road a mile before he encountered ner
He didn't bow. She didn't look at MN
He passed and then turned ABOUT Sne
settled down and got firmeE grip on
the lines, SHE'D bit to the left to give
him a fair half of the road, and ms
sleeper came trotting up. No word was
given to 60 but for thirty rods 1t was
an even race. Then the eleder's horse
| began to gain, and his owner began &c
J chuckle. He had opened up a space OF
| fftv feet when the widow uttered a
cluck like a pullet. The gap was closed
| in five seconds and In another nVe 1he
lead had changed. When the mile was
I'D the elder was way back IN the dus'
cloud.
sYou see" he said when he arrived
! addressing both the crowd and the
widow, 1T takes mile or so to warm
this horse up
Mrs. Holmes bowed and turned hel
| RIG about and trotted back to the start
ing point. The elder had got the bit ir
his mouth as well as his horse, anc
principles we're a forgotten thing FOL
the moment 1T was a fair start, but ne
! wasn't in it. In the mile he was bea ter
ten lengths.
The next day he was caller at the
widows farm. Her horse couldn't bt
bought nor dickered for, but he found
the woman pleasant and genial. He
came again end again. always hav1ns
the horse as an excuse, and In tht
course Of time it began to be talked
about that counting was going on. |
was something so near like that stat'
Of bliss that the WIDOW 1ound oppor
tunity to say:
If I ever marry again the hors'
goes to my husband. I shall part witt
him in no other way"
The elder wanted time to think tn
matter over. Having firmly made III
his mind the good man hied himsel
out to the farm to make his declaration
! He found himself up against 1t a
once.
"If we were going to be married
should wish the event to take place Of
the 10th of November, which is m,
birthday"
"Perfectly agreeable, my dear-per
fectly"