The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-25
SISTER HANNAH'S VISIT
BY c. B. LEWIS.

In a comfortable way on her income
She was neither homely nor cookbook
ing. She had a widowed sister living
in Iowa, and one day that sister ar
rived on a visit. Her name was Han
nah, and, like most other widows, she
was full of business. There were
things she wanted to know about al
most before she had taken her bonnet
off, and there was one thing in par
ticular that she lost no time in bring
ing forward
Now, then she said, as she got
seated In the big rocking chair, Il
want to know why you haven't mar
ried. It's nothing less than burning
shame that you have lived 10 your
age without catching a husband
Il haven't been asked was the
embarrassed rcpIy of the sister
But whg Goj?'
II don't Know
Then ue'l aDd out. Haven't you
kept company With anyone?'
Yes.
For how long,"
Please let's not talk about it, sister,
Were the Perkins family well when
you left hoae?"
Never you mind the Perkins fam
lily, but pay attention to this other
matter What's the name of the man
you've been keeping company with
It's Henry Goodheart. don't know
whether you'd call it keeping company
or not He comes Sunday and Wed
nesday evenings and talks for awhile. :
Twice week, Ell? And how long
has he kept this up"
mime years"
Dorothy Spencer" exclaimed Sis
ter Hannah, as she almost sprang out
of her chair DO you mean to tell me
that a man has been daWdling around
here for nine years and never said a
word about MARRIAGE"
"But he's one of the most bashful
men you ever saw protested Dorothy,
"and II
You are going to say you couldn't
ask him to marry you. Of course you
couldn't but you could have brought
him to time years ago"
Hes very nice man, and every.
body thinks SO. guess he thinks |
don't want to get married to anyone
what business has he to think
that? OF course YOU want to get mar
ried. Every woman does. All widows
and single women are just dying to
be asked Nine long years and he has
not asked for your hand. | thought
there was a niger in the fence some.
where, and have come on to see about
II. | have been married three times
in eighteen years, and I'm expecting
the fourth man to come along any day.
l didn't keep company with any of my
husbands over six months. After that
time had passed Just wanted to know
what they were hanging around for,
Dorothy something has got to be done.
That Goodheart, or Goodliver, or what
ever his name Is, has got to come to
time"
Please. Sister Hannah. II you
should go to mixing in I'd be so
shamed that I'd feel like running
away"
You leave 1t to me, and don't worry
I'm older than you are. I've had three
husbands and know how | got EN-.
They were all bashfu men. shant
do anything to shame you"
1t was conspiracy of one. Neither
Dorothy nor Mr.. Goodheart was taken
into the widows confidence She had
Sunday evening came and he showed
up on his bi-weekly tour. The widow
liked him. He was slow, but sturdy
and honest He didn't look nor talk
love. He talked more of sunflowers
and onions than he did of love. Dor
othy was i'll at ease as she did not
know what was coming, and her heart
beat like a triphammer as the widow
finally said:
Mr.. Goodheart, think shall take
Dorothy back to Iowa with me when
60"
He gave a start of alarm and the red |
came to his face He made no reply, |
however, and soon took his depar-
ture.
How could you!" exclaimed Dor.
othy, with glance of reproach, as the .
gate was heard to latch behind the
man.
Il wanted to jar him." replied the
widow. He'll be over here within a
day or two and ask you to make him
happy"
But it will look as if we were drag.
ging him in by the hair of the head"
Never you mind the looks. The
great object is to get married"
Mr. GoodheaFt didn't show up till
his usr ! ednesday evening. how
ever, aeal the til he was expect
ed the idoN was /, he gate to meet
him. when the. b saluted each
other she said.
Mr. Goodheart, | want to ask you a
in confidence"
"Y -"
Understand that sewing machine
ageht who cont through these parts
is very much smitten on Dorothy Is
his occupation an honorable one? Do
you thrN hia .he man TO love and