Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-08-10
The
Woman-Tamer
b CLARA DELAFIELD


the feed store. Nope. they don't speak.
And yet there was a time when the
4 Jusson Brothers were known as David
anI-what was the other fellers
| name?
Twenty years they'd lived together
in the old homestead since old Mrs.
Jng ION died. She was a woman, she
WIS. Bent up old TUCSON every time
he come home with a load, and was
sail to take the strap to Tom and Bill
after they'd reached twenty-five. l
guess it was old Mrs. TUCSON that i
male the boys decide never to marry.
/ Car you blame 'emf
''No woman should ever come be-
tween them, they said, and there they |
/ live.l, doing their own chores, two old |
| crus, bachelors Wouldn't have a ]
wonmn on the place. One night Tom
him that runs the feed store-come
home with strange look in his eye
Bill eakes squirt at him and says,
"A woman put that there
"lam denied II for a long time, but
at last the truth come out. He'd met
Mrs. Johnson, the widow OF the sta
ton agent, and 1t seemed to have been
case of love at first sight-least-
ways. on Mrs. Johnson's part. Tom,
like fool, had fell for her at the
church sociable, which he still at
tended every year. because old Mrs.
TUCSON had larruped him for not going
twenty years before.
"Next night Mrs. Johnson walks in
at the door.
".This is my brother BILL says Tom.
uncomfortable like. Pleased to meet
YOU says Mrs. Johnson. As for Bill
TUCSON, he nearly swoons when he
sees what's coming after Tom. Mrs.
johnson had a figger Ike bag Of
beans, and red hair. She looked de.
termined, but 1t was the red hair that
finished Bill. He took greater dis
like to her than to any woman he'd
Il ever seen.
"Why, you poor boys says Mrs.
Johnson, do you live like thisf You
Y want woman's hand around.
Strengthening things. out for YOU
"Bin and me don't like things
straight says Tom timidly.
at don't matter, it's good for you.'
says Mrs. johnson, and puts In two
hours raising Cain generally about the
homestead. When she was through,
Bill couldn't find his pipe, and Tom
only had one slipper.
..What'u 1 do about It, Bill?' asks
Tom thaf night. i won't get clear Of
her till she's married me. Help me.
BILL
L "Bill pondered You don't deserve
: 1t, Tom," he said. but I'll do what !
: can for you, When she comes In to-
morrow night, to tidy up again, you
hide in that there closet
I "Sure enough, next night Mrs. john
! son was round to the house with q
\ bundle. I've brought you boys some
! homemade cakes she says. Where's
: TomT
"Bll cackled. Toms OUT he said.
Fact is, / didn't like to mention 1t
before, but Tom goes on a spree now
and again. He's over to Lentville. rails
ing Cain in the saloons All this, OF
course, happened some years ago.
'lIrs. Johnson looks at him In
queer kind Of way. He hasn't got any
other vices has her she asks.
"Bill thought while, because ne
wasn't very quick. I dunno If you'd
9. call gambling a vice. he says What
: I objects to Is the way he treats won.
!. en- when his temper's up,
q "'How's thatT asks Mrs. johnson
: quickly.
= "Beats 'em,' says Bill. That's why
= we can't keep woman about the
= \. place. Hes like a fiend, Mrs. John
= SON. But that amt nothing to hi
u language
= "I see I was mistook in him. Mrs
i johnson signs, and doesn't stay verI
: long. When she was gone, Tom popi
:. out of the closet.
"sWhadya mean by telling that pacl
}. Of lies on meT he rOars to BIZ. NOV
u you've druv her away. Temper, have
- n Language, chr Well. you'll see
~ bit of both nowv
= "With that he lets fly with his fists
. It was the first quarrel the brother
:, had ever had, and Bill, seeing now tina
Fl Tom had really wanted the WIDOW
~ johnson, and had been purtending gu
60 Of deceitfulness, watms up too The
o. was pretty evenly matched, ana the
or went at 1t hammer and topgs TO
er neafly half.an-hour. At last, when the
or was beth wore out and both showe
signs Of wear and tear, the Widoy
ed Johnson walks In on 'em again.
In .Bill opens the door. I had to com
Ills back, she says, I was so worrie
'ry about your poor, weak brother. ough'
sc MT you to 60 over to Lentville and Sc
~ II you can persuade him to leave the
ut- den Of iniq
~. sfWith that she spots Tom, standin
ep- sheepish In the parIor, and In minut
me she takes in what's happened, Sn
INK takes one step toward him, but Tom
II too quick for her. He was out OF To
Let window in twinkle. And the Wide
Do Tohusnx, %asutc In Rill JuQSQYl'S arm