The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-13

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lost your way. heard the other da,
that woman from Ryefield was thin
ing of buying the Clixton place. l
don't happen by any chance that yot
are the woman"
"Yes. it happens by a good many
| chances that ! am | have bought this
place and am on my way over for it.
Shoe! That's right next door Il
me, end am glad of it,"
1t Is needless to say that in due
time both safely arrived In Berea, ant
while the widow went about CLOSING
the transaction, and making ready tc
move over from Ryefeld the following
week, Hezikak turned his old horse
into the pasture and went into supper
to astonish his housekeeper by saying:
Well. Betsy, have seen my second
wife this afternoon"
WAS that the woman driving the
buggy behind yours as you came
along"
That's the one. How did you like
her looks?"
Il don't know whether she will ever
be your second wife or not. don't
think it will be for you to have all
they say about it"
When the widow arrived next week
with her household effects, she found
Hezeikak had done something for her
which he had never done for himself
He had moved the grass in the front
yard, cut down all the weeds and bur.
docks, and thereby made great i'm.
provement around the place. He was
also on hand when the goods arrived
to help unload and carry them in.
When the widow arrived she was
very much pleased, and said
why, Mr.. Williams. you certainly
must be a good man"
But you see, you are a wilder
Mrs. Blackwell, and widders have hard
time of it."
1t was after three of four week dur,
ing which time HeZeikak had con.
tinued to play the part of good Sa.
marian, that he sat down on the rail
fence at the back of his garden and
had muse with himself:
Darn fine woman; darn fine" he
began.
TIP with the lark in the morning
and working like a beaver all day.
Makes the best hot biscuits and
custard pie of any woman in Stone
county.
The widower pulled silver from
tine rail and chewed at il for a while
and then continued:
"Hczeikak, you want a wife You
are slow old poke and you y
someone to hustle you up. You have
not made a dollar in five years and
you won't in the next five unless some.
body gets you out of bed before the
dew is off the grass.
81 can't say that | am so madly
In love with the widow Blackwell as
to want to jump over a preCipice for
her sake. providing there was a preci.
pice within fifty miles of here. or TO
drown myself in a lake, provided
there was anything bigger than duck
pond within a days walk of Berea.
az like and admicr her mighty darn
well, however, and if | can get her
feeling the same way towards me love
will come and so will matrimony.
ITezeikak, you have got to do little
conspiring"
Hezelikak kept up this thinking for
long week and he finally got plot.
He went over to the widow one morn.
ing and asked: widow Blackwell,
did you hear any strange noise around
last night?"
mo, l don't think did" was the
reply.
Some one was sure sneaking
around our place last night" he con
tinued. 81 have found my spade and
hoe gone this morning. Have you
missed any of your tools"
"Why, no. But let me see? Yes
the ak and the long-handled shovel
are gone. There surely must have
been thief around here last night"
II not only heard him, but l saw
him" said Hezeikak in very solemn
tones. From the back door saw
him jump the garden fence, but
didn't yell at him for fear of arous
ing you"
"My stars! How dare a thief come
around here"
Widow, there are more thieves
around Bereal than any other town in
the state and far more than thieves
What do you mean?" she gasped.
~ mean robbers-burglars! might
as well tell you the honest truth. II
is dangerous for widow to live alone
In this town. l should have told you
so the day we first met, but you hat
bought the place and it was no use tc