Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-10-04
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Inc Town OF ddIIey hHeN Tic WIZ
ow Burns as moderately well off and
having daughter who was very plain
faced and very bad tempered.
The widow also was spoken Of as
being an obstinate woman and very
commanding. When she wanted
mudhole in the street in front OF her
house filled up she commanded the
town authorities to do it, and the nuis
ance vanished or there was row.
When the town wanted a footbridge
over Mill creek, behind her house, to
accommodate q score of workingmen,
she said those sons Of toll could either
wade the creek Or take the long way
around, and they are taking that way
VET.
The town bought a site for new
schoolhOuse. The new building would
cut off the widows view Of the mill
pond and she threatened injunctions
and lawsuits until the site was
changed.
When the good wife of Jonas Rich
ards died some gossip that had been
buried for twenty years was, revived
The Widow Burns, as girl, was en-
gagged to Jonas Richards, as a young
man. They had a quarrel and sep
aration, and each found and married
new love. Now that death had freed
them the gossips were ready to wh1s-
per.
Mr.. Richards had only one child-a
daughter, Nellie, eighteen years old.
Between her and the widows daugh-
ter, Vic, there was feud, as matter
town it was between pretty face and
a plain one, with the usual results.
Up to the time Mr.. Richards became
a widower Vio's mother had very few
words of consolation for her when she
lost a beau, but later on she one day
said to her:
'That Richards girl may have a
stepmother some day to bring her to
time"
"You don't think her father will
ever marry again?" was queried.
''It wouldn't surprise me-
'But who could it be?"
"Never you mind"
''Why, mother you must know some
thingw
''Is it true that she is engaged to
Frank HASKELL" asked the mother.
eyes, they say So"
"And when is the marriage to come
off,"
"There's no date set He is waiting
for an estate to be settled up"
"The step-mother might forbid him
the house."
But her father?'
"Oh he would do just as he was
told by his new wife, even to locking
the girl up if she made too much fuss.
Not word of.this to anybody, daugh-
ter. I'm rather expecting Mr.. Rich
ards to ask me very soon to be his
wife, and of course I shall say yes
and name an early date"
How the wiles of the Widow Burns
healed the long-standing quarrel-LOW
the widower was drawn to her-hOW
he was influenced by her, though he
had not proposed marriage-need not
be told Suffice it that one evening he
said to- his daughter:
''I have changed my mind about
Frank HASKELL"
"Why, what do you mean, father?"
was asked.
"He is not to come here any more.
and neither are you to meet him any
where"
But we are engaged ~
"YOu must break it."
81 must have good reasons to-"
''It is enough that I say So"
There were no threats. The. next
DAY Nellie Richards met Frank Has
kell on the street, and as they walked
she told him what had occurred.
1T is the doings of the Widow
Burns" he replied. ut is more than
whispered that your father and she
are to be married in few weeks. We
must do something"
There was a woman passing her va.
cation in Hanley, and it was under
stood that she was lawyer. Young
Haskell secured an interview with her.
to ask if she were a member of the
profession and to add:
II want some legal advice. I am
engaged to a girl whose father has
turned me outdoors"
''It is not the first case of the kind"
"She is willing to elope with me-"
"Well, why don't you do it?"
Because she is only eighteen, aid
under the laws Of the state it would
be abduction"
HAS she got any friends over at
Grafton, for instance?
II think So"
''Well, I am going to drive over there
Thursday morning. If I should find a
young lady near the schoolhouse at
about nine in the morning I should
ask her to ride with me. You had
better go over Friday to see tailor
If you are near the post Office at eleven
o'clock you may see young lady look
ing anxiously around. Perhaps she'll