The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-04-24


Ananias Slime had at last made up
his mind. OF all the desirable widows
and spinsters in Ounce Harbor none
seemed SO attractive as Mrs. Elm Bevis,
who was the proprietor Of the Ounce
Harbor dry goods store. II any one
had remotely suggested to Ananias that
the profitable little business had en-
HANGED the charms Of the Widow Be-
Wis in his middle aged eyes he would
have laughed one to scorn. Still. being
half proprietor Of a dry goods bust
Hess was infinitely better than being
porter in a village bank. Any n
would admit that!
When he put the question to Mrs
Bevis it was noontime and her two rosy
checked clerks had gone home to din
ner. Ananias had assured himself that
they two we're alone. and he had
promptly possessed himself Of the Wild
ew's generous hand and told her the
story of his lonely life and his longing
for a home. provided she would pre-
side over it.
"Oh, Ananias," she simpered. II new
sr dreamed-I never thought-oh" she
shrieked a. Ananias imprinted a kiss
On her work worn hand.
That evening Ananias called upon
her and discussed their early marriage.
There's only one obstacle to a fancy
wedding" said Ananias when EN- Be-
~ had outlined a plan for the cere-
nony to take place in the Baptist
church. with her little niece as flower
piEi and white satin ribbons festooned
from tho tops Of the pews.
and that isl" asked EN- in 4 dis
appointed tone.
NY landlady."
"Hetty Rowell? Ny land, you amt
engaged to her. he your inquired the
widow sharply.
mot IL I know it." said Ananias eau
tiously, "but somehow l never know
where I stand with Widow Rowell.
En-! l swan l never proposed mar
rtage to her in my life. bat half the
time she talks like she was engaged to
me! I wish we could be married in a
few days. added Ananias.
But what's your hurryT' protested
Nm. ia like a chance to make some
wedding clothes and get ready"
II know it. my love-" cooed Ananias
in her ear. but 1 am afraid Of the
Widow Rowell. Great blizxards. l am!
/ talk In my sleep. You know. What
II she should hear mo saying some
thing about you! 1t would be all up
n the air."
By the time Ananias went home he
had persuaded his 6ancee that she
could select a very presentable trous-
seau from the stock Of her own de-
partment store; SO. relieved of this
nOment0us question. Em agreed to
elope with Ananias on the following
Thursday, and Ananias wrote a note to
the Rev. Josiah Twigg apprising him
Of the coming event and asking him
10 consider the matter as entirely con-
hdential.
That night Ananias let himself into
his boarding place and tiptoed up to
his room with unusual caution. One
never knew when the Widow Rowell
would pounce out. And one never
knew in what part of the house she was
seeking a nights repose. She had a
pleasantly careless custom Of taking
prospective guests through her spa.
eious old house and permitting them to
choose whatever suited the mo-
nent's fancy. provided it was Olsen.
gagged. A for herself. she slept around
~ fancy dictated-One night the west
front chamber appealed to her. for she
loved to hear the roar Of the waves on
the beach; the next night it might be q
small ball room for the moment unoc.
pied that would tickle her restless i'm.
pulse.
What Ananias did not know was
that ON this particular evening the
widow had been approached by the
proprietor Of the Ounce Harbor hotel
and asked to accommodate q half doz-
en guests for whom be could nnd no
room until the following day. Mr..
Rowell sweetly assented and gathered
up her own belongings and carried
them into q tiny room next to the room
Of Ananias Slime. Here she dropped
her weary limbs upon a most uncom-
Portable cot and slept.
The sound Of the softly closed front
door aroused her. If that was Ananias
Slime tiptoeing in at such q late hour
she would have a serious talk with
him in the morning. Either he had
been courting-and that was not to be
allowed, for Hetty Rowell felt that she
had a prior right to the affections Of
Mr.. Sline-or he had been to lodge
meeting. and as It wasn't lodge night
why, be must have been counting! So
there the widows logical mind calcu-
lated the matter. as we know. quite
correctly.
She dozed on to sleep again and
awoke to the resounding snores Of Mr..
Slime in the next room. 81
'.Drat him!'' she muttered, turning
over. But she could not sleep again.
She got to thinking about Ananias and