The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-25
A Willful
Woman
By OSCAR cox

living in the county of Kent, met a
lass called Mary Griggs at a Maying
and conceived strong love for her
He danced with her around the May
pole and looked at her languishing
ly, but his modesty and the strength
OF his love tied his tongue so that he
could say nothing to her.
And so he danced and ogled and
ogled and danced. but never a word
could b. say to the girl
Mary had been keeping company
with Richard Doyle. a maker of armor.
but the moment lie laid eyes on John
Ochiltree Doyle saw that she was lost
to him i'm favor of his rival. He drew
away sulky. thus leaving the field to
the man who had supplanted him.
The day after the Maying John
waited for Mary to come out of her
fathers thatched cottage and Joined
her. He managed to wish her good
morning and said that the crops
promised TO be good and that one of
his cows had calved but besides this
he said nothing. Mary was a girl of
spirit and would not help him out She
said to herself that he should talk to
her like any other man or she would
have none of him. lie continued to
show her by his expression that he
was enamored of her, and when he
looked at her his eyes had a melan-
choly expression.
Now, as soon as John got away from
her his tongue was unloosed. and he
could say what he liked lie told his
mother of his trouble and convinced
her that it was impossible that he
should tell Mary his love and ask her
to marry him.
Then" said his mother, Mary must
propose to you"
"She will never do that" sighed
John.
"She must be made to. My son
wishes her for wife. and he must
have her. Besides, Mary is a good
girl and will have a good dowry
wish her for daughter in-law.
have made up my mind that, since you
are unable to ask Mary to be your
wife, she shall claim you for her hus-
band"
"And how will you do that, motherT
Never mind, so that do it. We
women have to get through the world
by exercising our wits. We are not
men, to force our way so we have to
plan
Things went from bad to worse be-
tween John and Mary. Determined to
force him to declare himself. she en-
couraged her former suitor. This
made John iii. and so great was his
aiiing that his mother feared he would
die. She went to Mary and. telling
her of Johns condition and the cause,
begged her to do that which was ex-
pected of the sterner sex-ask John to
be her husband. Mary vowed that she
would be no mans wife who had not
the courage TO ask her. and. though
John might die, she would not do his
part for him.
Not long after this sheep belonging
to a neighbor was found In John Ochil-
trees fold. John was arrested for
sheep stealing and thrown into prison
"The lad has lost his mind for love of
you" said Johns mother to Mary. The
lass was secretly troubled, but tossed
her head and said that man who was
afraid of a girl had no mind to lose.
John was tried and convicted and
sentenced to be hanged.
Then Mary began to regret that she
had refused to be persuaded. But 1t
was now too late. She had driven
John into insanity. for she believed
what his mother said. or she had unin-
tentionally bewitched him so that he
had stolen a sheep. She sat at home
mourning her sad fate at loving a man
so defective. Johns mother brought
a request from her son that Mary
would be present at his execution.
Mary declared that she could not en-
dure such "A sight and would not go
But she was at last persuaded to grant
this last boon to man she was now
persuaded she had driven to the scat
fold, and on the morning Of the hang
ing she went there with her lovers
mother.
A crowd was gathered around the
culprit. John. with the rope around
his neck. had ascended few steps of
the ladder. He stopped and seeing
Mary below. said to her:
"Mary. save me.'
How Gun / do that. Johnr'
1T Is the law that IL one about to be
executed be claimed In marriage by
any woman he shall go free"
rs that so?" Mary asked of the
sheriff.
IF you claim this man In marriage
dare not hang him."
"Oh. Mary" cried John. "have mercy
on me-"
Save him." whispered the culprit's
mother.
Mary hesitated NO" she said at
last; "let him hang"
John staggered, then seemed reliev.
ed He climbed nimbly up the other
rungs of the ladder, and the sheriff
was about to swing him of when
Mary cried:
Hold. claim this man In mar