Smyrna times., 1917-09-12
BY HENRY WALDRoN.
y Hh n AAn AHW

Snseu W JOudS rlcndruSp as young !
man. They had a quarrel and a sep
aratiOn, and each found and married a
new love. Now that death had freed !
them the gossips were ready to whis-
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 a matter
Of course. With the young men of the
town it was between a pretty face and
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
thingv"
as it true that she is engaged to
Frank Haskell" asked the mother.
"Yes, 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 fatherT
"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 1 shall say yes
and name an early date"
How the wiles of the Widow Burns
healed the long-standing quarrel-how
the widower was drawn to her-how
he was influenced by her, though he
had not proposed marriage not
be told. Suffice 1t that one evening he
said to his daughter:
81 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-"
GGIt ia enOuph 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.
'It is the doings of tie 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 1t was under
stood that she was a lawyer. Young
Haskell secured an interview with her
to ask If she were a member of the
profession and to add:
"I want some legal advice. 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, and
under the laws of the state 1t would
be abduction"
"Has she got any friends over at
Grafton, for instancef'
'I think So"
swell, 1 am going to drive over there
Thursday morning. If should find q
young lady near the schooihouse at
about nine in the morning should
ask her to ride with me. You had
better 60 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 shell
lead you to the house Of minister"
"And about the feet" asked the eli
ent.
"Oh. as am on my vacation. / shall
charge you nothing"
Miss Nellie Richards took a wall
next morning as soon as her father lef
the house. 1t ended at the school
house door. She was sitting on thC
steps when q lady drove up In 6
buggy.
After three days the newlywed!
came home to face the music. Ther'
. was no music. Mr.. Richards extend
ed a hand to either and said:
children, I'm glad you did it
darned glad"
(Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure NEVADA
per syndicata)
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