Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-22
Evening Star S
Daily Story
THE WIDOW FROM AFFAIR
BY GRACE KERRIGAN.

hhR bhN Is a Stranger lllC CtAh-
ty it Is more than an event. II the
buyer is a widow who has come all
the way from Kansas to buy a farm
in Ohio, it is an event outranking a
cyclone in which twenty barns are
overturned.
Yes, James Sheldon had sold his
farm.
He had sold it for cash down.
He had got his price for it.
Yes, he had sold it to a widow
from Kansas.
Yes, she was going to farm it her
self.
Yes, she thought she knew her
business.
The Ingham County Sun gave
these particulars, and it was coun-
ty paper to be depended on. 1t mad
never predicted the coming OF the
grasshopper or the later bug, but
that the insects showed up on time.
True. the sun, while on the sub
iect. might have stated whether the
Widow barrow would get married
again il she had a good chance, and
whether she was homely or manu-
some but il was silent on those
points.
Farmer Sheldon moved out ana inc
Widow barrow moved in.
THE day she moved in about fifty
neonle passed the farmhouse The
object of each and every one was to
catch sight of her, though every last
t,ne of them had seen widows by the
dozen.
The farm adjoining on the west be-
longed to Joab Waycroft a Whoever
with one son. HIS name was Moses,
and he had limited around that he
should marry soon after his majority,
If he could find the right party. HIS
father was not quite fifty yet. and
though he had thrown out no hints,
he intended to double up again when
CHARGE came his way.
OF course the Sheldons had told the
Waycrofts that they were going TO
sell. but they could tell nothing about
the widow. as she had bought through
an agent. and was not to arrive until
a certain date. The evening previous
to the date Mr.. Waycroft carelessly
remarked to his son: $50 the wilder
arrives tomorrer."
yep" was the reply.
81 wonder what time?
She'll be in Medina on the early
train, and by the time she drives out
here 1t will be 10 o'clock
You seem to know a hull lot about
it, Moses"
the widders?"
Don't be a fool"
After this admonition there was
silence for five minutes.
''She comes as stranger and |
s'pose I orter go over there and BID
her welcome to our midst" the father
said.
oh, therell be at lesat a dozen
there"
who said SOP"
i've, heard 'em say SO, and I shall
be one of EN-
What in punk you goin' fur?"
ITO take her by the hand and well
come her. Of course. That's only man
ners. We don't want her to think re
are O. couple of heathen." t
Moses, / run this farmH
"You do, dad"
'And this housed"
yep"
'And our manners"
mot disputed"
tits for me, as head of the house,
to go over there and welcome the
wilder as q naybur, and for you to
finish hoeing that patch OF corn.
but you orter put new handle
an that hoe" protested Moses
Never you mind about me, but do
as / tell you."
II wanted to see her the first thing
and warn her agin some of the old
widowers around here who are half
crazy to marry anything that comes
along"
Moses, do you mean me?"
"Of course not, dad. You are neither
old nor would you marry again, even
If Y,ripNaar offerad horeelf -
well. you had best be little more
careful of your words"
Nothing further was said that night
nor until after breakfast next morn
ing. Then the father observed: 81
s'pose others will be there, and had
better wear my Sunday suit"
For sure, dad. You'll probably
mention me?"
What for?"
why, tell her your son will call
soon"
You may not call for year. Get
the chores done up and then go for
that corn"
Farmer waycroft had an hours
work yet to do before he could leave
the house. He had been to the viii
lage a couple OF days before and pur-
chased a bottle of hair dye. This
1nQSt 81 VII W ulb dJ NAlSh0lS "
knock five years off his age. There
was an odor of bad eggs and sulphur
but the farmer stood it for the sake
of results. When the job was fin
fshed and he surveyed himself in the
glass he smiled and nodded.
Moses will notice it, of course, but
I'll tell him that 1 upset a bottle of
ink on my whiskers. If he says he
don't believe 1t I'll turn to and lick
him, old as he isi''
The widow had arrived by the time
the other farm was reached. She
thanked everybody, but hadn't much
time to talk. Farmer Waycroft was
aware that she glanced at his whis-
kers with a smile, but whether of ap2
prevail or not he couldn't exactly
make out. He found her to be a
brisk little women of less than forty,
and he did some pleasant thinking as
he walked home. Moses was hoeing
corn most furiously. and the father
suspicioned something, but waited
till evening 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 out |
side things II / can marry a nice
wilder with nice farm I'm goin' to
do it,
But this one is ten or fifteen years
older than you are"
II have read that true love takes
no account of years"
"Pm atellin' you agin, young man,
to keep away from the widder'si''
almost shouted the father. I'm not
aoin, tn sec a son of mine make a