The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-03
One Widow S
Mistake

Once a week Tor six months Mr..
Charles Ford had driven over to Gorse
Lake from Pentgille 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. 1t
was not to see Mr. Ford and hint to
him that she had changed her mind,
but to visit relative. At the same
hour Mr.. Ford set out from Pentville
to motor over to Gorse Lake. 1t was
not to submit a new matrimonial pro-
posal, but to see a man on business.
Both motors could have made the trip
before dusk came down but for acct
dents Something went wrong with
both machines. Something had to be
tinkered at. There was delay. And
thus it 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 were run
ming slowly and carefully-Mr. Ford
was prudent and the widows man ex-
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.
Three of the four lamps were smash
ed. The chauffeur took the fourth and
started off to find farmer to come
with team of horses.
And then it 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;
1T lldu llOIlt. NE HutI W SIdUu OuL anu
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.
MI Ford, I 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 7 hope ten or
twelve of them will come"
Mr. Ford, are you smoking?"
Yes"
What's that noise?"
1T sounds like the believing of a
bull"
But will the animal come here and
attack u.s."
lie may"
II was Il bull, and he had leapcd the
pasture fence. He came along down
the hill. believing az 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:
MI Ford, don't you think you
ought to follow William and ascertain
the cause of this delay?"
NO, 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
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 you?"
Yes" he sulkily admitted.
You asked me to marry you, and
| refused. | refused because | had not
read YOU Alright. / am willing to admit
that was entirely mistaken in your
character"
"H-how?"
81 took You for sissy, like my 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 a
siX-rail fence between you. | couldn't
have been made to believe that You
would dare order me about. Tonight
you have shown me my errors. Oh.
how mistaken I have been!"
Then why don't you say you are
| coming in here beside me and order
me to move along? 1t seems to me
We ought to have a talk-a new talk"
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 rraSppra Of ,,,;.l