The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-06
The Evening Story
The Widow From Altar.

When q farm passes to other hands
it is an event Of Importance to farm-
ers for five miles around If the buy
er is a stranger in the county 1t Is
more than an event. If the buyer Is
a widow who has come all the way
from Kansas to buy 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 1t.
Yes, he had sold it to 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 1t was a county paper
to be depended on. 1t had never pre-
dicted the coming of the grasshopper
or the later bug but that the insects
showed up on time. True, the Sun,
while on the subject, might have stat
led whether the Widow barrow would
get married again If she had a good
chance, and whether she was homely
or handsome, but it was silent on
+ those points.
Farmer Sheldon moved out and the
Widow barrow moved in.
The day she moved in about fifty
people passed the farm house. The
object of each and every one was to
catch sight of her, though every last
one of them had seen widows by the
dozen.
The farm adjoining on the west be-
longed to JOab Waycroft, a widower
with one son. His name was Moses,
and he had limited around that he
should 0ftor his a f0r
ity. 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 chance 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
certain date. The evening previous
to the date Mr.. Waycroft carelessly
remarked to his son: so the wilder
arrives tomorrer.'
| Yep" was the reply.
| Il wonder what timer"
She'll be in Medina on the early
train. and by the time she drives out
here it will be 10 o'clock
You seem to know a hull lot about
| it, Moses"
Amt it my duty to keep track OF
the widders?''
Don't be a fool!'
After this tdmonition there was 81
Hence for five minutes.
She comes as a stranger and s'pose
orter go over there and bid her well
come to our midst the father said
| "Oh, there'll be at least q dozen
there"
who said SOP
1 I've heard 'em say so. and I shall
be one of EN-"
jv
J ITO take her by the hand and well
come her. of course. That's only man
Eers. We don't want her to think we
are a couple Of heathen."
I Moses, l run this farm!''
You do, dad"
And this nouse!'
Yep"
And our mannersr'
Not disputed
4 IT'S for me, as head Of the house
der as naybur. and for you to finish
hoeing that patch Of corn.
But you orter put new handle II
that hoe" protested Moses.
Never you mind about me, but do a.
1 tell you.''
II wanted to see her the first thing
and warn her agin some Of the OLE
) widowers around here who are hal
t crazy to marry anything that comes
, along"
+ NAoseS. W Sou mean me
OF course not, dad You are neithel
old nor would you marry again. evel
il a princess offered herself
well, you had best be a little NOR,
t careful Of your words''
y Nothing further was said that nigh
T, nor until after breakfast next morn
ing. Then the father observed: &c
:. s'pose others will be there. and hat
! better wear my Sunday suit"
For sure. dad. You'll probably hav'
y quite a talk with her. Will you men
ton me?''
What for?''
|. why. teil her your son Will cal
: soon.'
. You may not call for a year. &c
the chores done up and then go for tina
corn
Farmer Waycroft had an hour
work yet to do before he could Ieav'
J. the house. He had been to the vi