The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-07-19
A Willful
Woman
By OSCAR cox

IL was In the reign OF King Edward
" England. the fourth OF that name.
that John ochiltree. a young farmer
living In the county Of Kent met
lass called Mary Griggs at a Maying
and conceived a strong love for her.
lie danced With her around tho May
pole aud looked ut her languishing-
ly. but his Eiodesty and the strength
OF his love tied his tongue so that he
could say nothing to her.
And so he danced and ogicd and
oged aud danced. but never a word
could he say TO the girl.
Mary had been. keeping company
with Richard Doyle. maker OF armor.
f, but the moment no laid eyes on John
Ochiltree Doyle saw that she was lost
to him In favor OF his rival. He drew
away suIky. thus leaving the Geld to
the man who had supplanted him.
The day after the Maying John
waited for Mary to come out OF her
fathers thatchcd cottage and Joined
her. lie managed to wish her good
morning" aud said that the crops
promised 10 be good and that one Or
his cows bad calyed. but besides this
be said nothing Mary was a girl OF
spirit and would not help him out She
said 10 herself that he should talk TO
her like any other mqp or she wYnM
have none OF him He continued to-
show her by his expression that he
was enamorcd ol her, and when he.
looked at hef his eyes bad a meian-
choly expression.
Now, ag soon as John got away from
her bis tongue was unlooscd. aud he
could say what he liked He told his
mother OF bis trouble and convinced
her that Il was impossible that he
should tell Mary his love and ask her
to marry him. :
Then said bis mother, -Aiary must
propose 20 you"
"she viii never DO that" sighed
John.
"shc must be made TO. Ny son
wishes her for wife. and he must
have her. Besides. Mary Is good
girl aud will have a good dowry.
wish her for a daughterln.law. 1
have made up my mind that. since you
are unable 10 ask Mary 10 bo your
wife. she shnll claim yon for her hus-
band"
"And how will you do that. motherT'
Never mind. no that I do L. We
women have TO get through the world
| by exercising our Wits. We are mot
men. 20 force our way, 80 we have 10
plan"
Things went from bad 10 worse be-
\ tween John and Mary. Determined 10
force him 10 declare himself, she en-
couraged her former suItor. This
made John III. and 10 great was bis
aillng that his mother feared he would
die. She went 60 Mary and. telling
her OF Johns condition and the cause.
begged her 10 do that which was ex-
pected OF the sierner sex--ask John 10
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
10 n nelghbor was found In John ochii-
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 10 Mary. The
lass was secretly troubled. but tossed
her head and said that man who was
afraid OF girl had no mind 10 lose.
John was tried and convicted and
sentenced 10 he hanged.
Then Mary began 10 regret that she
had refused 10 be persuaded But "a
was now too late She had driven
John into insanity. for she believed
what his mother said. or she had unin-
tentlonally bewitched him so that ne
had stolen a sheep She sat at home
mourning her sad fate at loving a mhn
so defective. Johns mother brought
a request from her son that Mary
would he present at his execution
Mary declared that she could not en-
dure such a sight aud would not go.
But she was at last persuaded TO grant
this last boon 20 a man SHE was now
persuaded she had driven to the scaf-
fold. aud ON the morning OF the hang
ing she went there with her lovers
mother
A crowd was gathered around th
culprit. John. with the rope around
his neck. had ascended few steps ot
the ladder. lie stopped aud. seeing
Mary below. said 20 her;
MARY, save me-!
How can do that. lohni"
III Is the law that n one about 10 be
executed be claimed IN marriage by
any woman he shall 80 free
lis ilat soT Mary asked OF tho
sheriff
III you claim this man IN marriage
dare not hang him"
"Oh. Mary" cried John. have mercy
on mel"
save him" whispered the c'iiprirs
mother.
Mary hesliated. NO. she said a'
last: "let linn hang"
john staggered, then secmed reliev
81 a.. affr,l,al rfrublv mn fllaI uiHQi