The Washington herald., 1914-07-21
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A $4,000 WIDOW.
BY CARL JENKINS.

In a village like Rawsonville. which
had about a thousand inhabitants, what
does the widow OF a carpenter turn to
for a living when he is killed by fall
and hasn't left SO in cash behind him?
She must support herself by her
needle or by a days work. For a few
weeks she will get sort Of sympathy.
The minister will call and tell her
Providence intended II so and she must
bear up under it; Deacon Smithers Will
lean over the gate and tell what rip
ming old time the angels are having up
in heaven: women will drop in and
snirf and snun and hope she will get
along some way. and then everybody
feels he has done his duty. and she
can live on crusts half her time.
Mrs. John Baker was less than forty
wears old when her husband was
brought home dead. and there wasn't
the faintest hope she would ever marry
again. How John Baker ever fell in
love with and married her was always
a puzzle to people. 1t would have been
hard TO find a palmer woman in a
weeks hunt. In addition to that she
had a lop-shoulder and stiff knee
That she was good natured and no
complainer was the most praise ever
given her.
The widow washed and scrubbed and
earned a dollar here and a dollar there
and she got along somehow. Three
years had gone by since the tragedy
when one day she dropped into the
once OF the local weekly paper for
some old newspapers to lay under a
Garnet. 1t wasn't her carpet, but she
was cleaning house that day for an
other woman. The editor had just add
ed two new subscribers to his list and
taken in two additional dollars for
prInting some auction bills. and he was
sure that this was n good world TO live
in. He asked the widow how she got
along, and when she replied that she
couldn't complain, he said to himself:
Here is a poor devil of woman who
is taking adversely as it comes and
aid her. and I'll be hanged IL don't
do it,
And he turned to her with: See here
Mrs Raker. want to ask you a qIcs-
ton, and you needn't feel embarrassed
10 answer. Would you marry again II
a good man asked for your hand?"
But I'm homely and lame, sir she
blushingly replied.
yet a good man might want you.
Where would he come FROM" was
the shy query.
mo one can tell Can take 1t that
you will encourage him when ne turns
Up?"
Il shan't turn him outdoors" she
laughed.
i have a scheme. Mrs. Baker. Are
YOU a woman that can keep a secret
''Suppose I announce in the paper that
brother OF yours has died and left
you $1,000
But I have no brother"
win YOU feel obliged to tell folks that
you haven't?'
"N-o-o, but where would the money
come in? Folks would want to see IT.
Then let 'em want. l want to state
that you have a legacy of s2O.Gn, and
that you may marry again"
II shouldn't like to lie, sir"
You needn't. Just keep still and an
swer no questions
But won't you be lying. sir?"
I'm Newspaper work we call 1t stretch
ing the truth. Lands alive, widow, If
We printed nothing but what We could
swear to we could not I'LL a column a
week.
But don't get me into any trouble"
Not a bit Of 1t. You read what
have to say about you in Fridays paper,
anc you are neither to afirm nor deny
IT."
The next issue Of the paper astonished
a thousand people, though it had Cnly
80 regular subscribers. 1t stated that
the welI-known and well-liked Widow
Baker had lost her only brother by
death, but although they had been es-
tranged for years he had left her the
handsome legacy of $4,000. She would
put the sum at interest and continue to
live as she hada since her husbands
death. Gossip had II that she might
marry again, but II was the editorial
opinion OF the editor that only a mighty
good man could win her.
There, I have done one good deed in
this world II ! never do another" said
the editor to himself as he read the ar
tIcle in print.
my, but willis know II to Be lie.