The Washington herald., 1914-12-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A LITTLE STRATEGY.
BY DONALD ALLEN.

why, susan, l am SurprlSeO.
81 don't see why. Amanda
You have been a widow for three
years"
Yes"
You are only thirty-elght years old"
That's ALL
And SO you own this house and lots
of money in the bank"
''Weu?'
We'll when you tell me that there
is no man shining up TO you I must
wonder what sort of a male population
you have got around here
1t was Mrs. Amanda Baker, a mar
red sister, who had come on a visit TO
Nthe widow Spicer.
Il hadn't given a thought to marry
ing again. said the widow.
Nonsense! Your John was a good
man and a good husband, but he was
only one out of a million"
Amanda
- But you are not I believe he went
to heaven. and he has got happiness
enough. Besides, he can't know whether
you are a widow and have to shovel your
own paths all winter, or you have a hus-
band to do that and lots of other things
for you
h""But lots Of people think we should
marry but once" protested the widow.
And lots of people are fools for think
ing so! 1 don't believe in husband and
over to try another mate, but I do be-
lieve in a widower or widow getting mar
ried again. There is everything to say
for ii, and nothing against it. We were
placed here to take what comfort We
could. Any one but an idiot knows we
can take more of it in the marriage
state than in the other
Would you marry again if Peter
should die?"
Most certainly I would, and he'd do |
the same. Peter is very handy man I
to run down cellar, feed the pig, shut !
up the hens thaw out the pump when !
it's frozen, and kill off rats when they |
,get too thick, and if he dies some other I
good man must replace him. He likes |
hash and hot biscuit and picked peaches, |
and when die he'll have look around |
and find somebody 10 do as well as I
have"
But they say there is no love in a
second marriage"
That's why they are generally so
. happy. There is respect and common
sensc in place Of y-pambyism.'
Nothing more was said on the subject
until two or three days later. Mrs.
Baker walked around alone and had a
look at the men.
Susie, who is Mr.. Atkinson" she
asked one evening.
Why, he keeps a dry goods store"
Yes, l know. I was in there. He
is fne-looking man.
''Yes?"
Something tells me he is a widower."
II believe So
You believe so?" Why, you know he
is" DO you do your shopping there?"
Sometimes"
What kind of housekeeper has he
got?"
An old maid sister, older than he is"
And I'll bet she can't cook for shucks,
and she makes his bed with the foot the
,f-l,. hn- Fg r-i1 q
needs the care of a good wife"
Il think he could have his pick among
half a dozen"
But you don't size him up right. He
Wis bashful and difident. I'll bet his wife
had to do the proposing He realizes
the need of a wife, but that he must go 1
through the courtship again scares him
half to death"
The poor man.
Something tells me, sister, that he
has thought of you"
IF he has, he has kept very quiet
about it,"
, Il told you he was bashful. When he
proposes it will be very sudden and
through excitement My Peter is just
such a man. We were riding out one
evening. and not talking a word of
Iove, either In fact, 1 wasn't really
Sure that 1 loved him, and he hadn't
given me a hint as to his feelings.
What do you suppose happened when
the horse suddenly bolted and ran
away?"
Why you were both thrown out"
Nothing of the sort Peter slipped
an arm around my waist and hugged
me up to him and yelled at the horse
TO go ii and said to me: Amanda, you
are the only girl in all this world for
me. Will you be my wife?"
And love came to yoU?"
1T just bubbled right up"
And the runaway horse?"
He stopped so dead still that we al
most went over the dashboard. There
was no need of his running away any
further"
Sover the circumstance, the elder con-
tinued: WAS the bridge over the
river swept away last spring."
Yes, we had a big freshet"
And there is narrow foot bridge
now"
Yes Only the few people living on
But Mr. Atkinson uses it?''
He lives in the big house on the
hill"
And he always comes home to din
He does, Amanda, but have you
teen spying?'
Not exactly. It's what you might
call laying the groundwork. Susan,
can you row a boat?"
this miIlpond for ten years?"
Let's see?" unused Mrs. Baker. "At
this season of the year it is dark at
$3.50 o'clock, and Mr.. Atkinson crosses
at G. That will do nicely. know
you've got a hand saw around the
house, because I've seen it."
Sister" asked the widow, as her
face grew anxious, you must tell me
what sort of a job you are putting up"
II want you to do as 1 tell you, from
$50 to this evening you will be In
%our boat just below the foot bridge"
kS'weI?''
IF any one falls off the bridge res
cue him"
But how can any one"
You never mind that, but do as I tell
you. There is such a thing as diplo-
macy, but you are too big a goose to
practice It Get the saw and leave it
at the front door, and don't you at
tempt 10 Spy on me and see what use
make OF 1T"
Il was in vain that the widow be-