The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-06
One Widow S
Mistake

Charles Ford had driven over to Gorse
Lake from Pentville to call at the resi-
dence of the Widow Bush. That made
| "a times On the 25th he declared his
love and asked for her hand. He was
crushed to earth when told that the
Widows heart was not in the affair.
There were reasons-many reasons
why she could not love. AS brother.
he might continue to drive over from
Pentville as long as he wished. but
any future conversation must not
touch upon the subject of love.
Late one afternoon, a week after
the great refusal, the Widow Bush set
out in her auto to go to Pentville. It
was not to see Mr.. Ford and hint to
him that she had changed her mind,
but to visit a relative. At the same
hour Mr.. Ford set out from Pentville
to motor over to Gorse Lake. It was
not to submit new matrimonial pro-
Both motors could have made the trip
before dusk came down but for acci-
dents. Something went wrong with
both machines. Something had to be
tinkered at. There was delay. And
thus 1t happened that an hour after
dark on a moonless night, with rain
threatening at any minute, the two
autos came together on that long hill
1t is impossible to tell how things
happen. In this case both machines
had their lamps lit-both we're rum
ming slowly and carefully-Mr. Ford
perienced, and yet those autos struck
head on. There was jar, but no one
was hurt. It would be some hours be-
fore the Widow Bush could reach
Pentville, or Mr.. Ford could talk bust
! ness with that man in Gorse Lake
ed. The chauffeur took the fourth and
started of to find farmer to come
with team of horses.
And then 1t began to rain, and the
darkness thickened until Mr. Ford
could not see the tip of his nose. The
widow had the shelter Of a tonneau;
he had none. He had to stand out and
take the pour as 1t came.
After the chauffeur had departed
there was silence between the reflector
and the rejected. It didn't last long.
however. At the end of 10 minutes
the widow opened the door and called
out:
"Mr. Ford, am sorry that you are
out in the rain"
"You ought to be. 1t is all owing to
that fool-man of yours!"
"Mr. Ford, are we in danger of
bears?"
yes, we are, and l hope ten or
twelve of them will GOMEZ"
"Mr. Ford. are you smoking?"
YES"
Whats that noise?"
ut sounds like the believing Of
bull"
But will the animal come here and
attack us?"
He may"
1t was a bull, and he had leaped the
pasture fence. He came along down
the hill, believing at every stride and
hoping to find something to demolish,
and the widow began to scream and
threw the door open to jump out
Get back there and stop your
noise!" commanded Mr. Ford, and his
grasp was not gentle as he seized her
arm.
Then he disappeared into the night.
There were stones in the road. He
felt them under his feet and pelted
the bull and started him into a re-
treat. As he came sloshing back
through the mud and water the widow
asked:
"Mr. Ford, don't you think you
ought to follow William and ascertain
the cause of this delay?"
mo, ma'am, don't!" he promptly
answered.
Then will follow him myself"
Then you will stay right where you
are! If William isn't the biggest fool
In the state he has crawled under a
haystack somewhere and won't be
seen until daylight"
That settled things for a long half
/ hour. Then the tonneau door opened
and soft voice said:
"Mr. Ford, please come nearer. You
loved me. didn't your"
Yes" he sulkily admitted.
you asked me to marry you, and
refused. I refused because l had not
read you Alright. I am willing to admit
that l was entirely mistaken in your
character"
"H-how?"
Il took you for a sissy, like nv late
husband-awfully good. but a sissy 7
didn't know that you were aggressive
didn't believe you'd dare face a bel.
lowing bull, even by daylight, with
six-rail fence between you. | couldn't
have been made to believe that Won
would dare order me about. Tonight
you have shown me my errors. Oh.
how mistaken l have been."
Then why don't you say YOU are
coming in here beside me and order
me to move along? 1t seems tn me
we ought to have talk-a new taIk"
And soon after daylight, when the
chauffeur returned with a farmer and
team, he saw the widows sleepv
head resting on Mr.. Ford's shoulder
and lost his presence of mind and
stepped back to exclaim:
We'll hut who'd atbo,,h. ,.,.