The Meeker herald., 1917-09-22
A WiIlful
Woman
D. OSCAR cox

tDal JOuu OCulIlIe6. = yOuuk ISTuNT
living In the county Of Kent. met =
lass called Mary Griggs ut q Maying
aud conceived \ strong love for her,
He danced with her around the May
pole and looked ut her languisbing-
~. but bis modesty and the strength
OF his love tied his tsngiie 10 that be
could say nothing to her.
And 80 be danced and Ogled and
ogIed and danced. but never q word
could he say to the girl.
Mary had been keeping company
with Richard Doyle. q maker Of armor.
nut the moment lie laid eyes OH John
Ochiltree Doyle saw that she WINS lost
to bin In favor Of his rival. He drew
away sulky. thus leaving the Geld to
the man who had supplnnted him.
The day after the Maytng John
waited for Mary to come out Of her
fathers matched 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 4 girl Of
spirit and would not help him out. She
said to herself that be should talk to
her like any other man or she would
have none Of him. He continued to
show her BY bis expression tbat be
was enamored of her. and when be
looked at her bis eyes had q melan.
chOly expression.
Now. assoon as John got away from
her bis tongue was unloosed. and he
could say what be liked. He told bis
mother Of bis trouble and convinced
her that It wns impossible that be
should tell Mary bis love and ask her
to marry him.
.-Then." said bis mother. "Mary must
propose to you"
"she will never do that" sighed
John.
"sbe must be made to. My son
wishes her for q wife. and he must
have her. Besides. Mary Il good
girl and will have q good dowry.
wish her for q 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. motherr'
Never mind. 10 that I do It. We
women have to get through the world
BY exercising our wits. We are not
men, to force our way. 20 We have to
plan"
Things went from bad to worse be-
tween John and Mary. Determined 10
force him to declare himself. she en-
couraged her former suitor. This
made John III. and 20 great was bis
ailing that bis mother feared be 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-ssk 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 q 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 q
you" said Johns mother to Mary. The
lass was secretly troubled. but tos9ed
her head and said that q 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 It
was now too late. She had driven
John into insanity. for she believed
vnphm L. 1rkh n~ ~kSA haA nd
tentionally bewitched him 20 that be
had stolen q sheep. She sat at home
mourning her sad fate at loving man
10 defective. Johns mother brought
4 request from her son that Mary
would lie present at his execution.
Mary declared that she could not en-
dnre such sight and would not 20.
But she was at last persuaded to grant
this last boon to q 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.
crowd was gathered around the
culprit. John. with the rope around
his neck. had ascended q few steps Of
the ladder. He stopped and. seeing
Mary below. said to her:
MARY. save mev'
How can do that, Johnr'
ut II the law that if one about to be
executed be claimed In marriage BY
any woman be shall 60 free"
rs that soF' Mary asked Of the
sherin.
III you claim this man in marriage I
dare not hang him."
'-Oh. Mary" cried John. 'have mercy
on mel
Save him." whispered the culpr,t's
mother.
Mary hesitated. no" she said at
Dast: "let him hang"
John staggered. then seemed reliev-
I'd. He climbed nimbly up the other
funss Of the ladder. and the sheriff
was about to swing him of when