Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1912 — Going To Kansas [ARTICLE]

Going To Kansas

By Donald Allen

(Copyright, 191 X, by Associated Literary Press) A year or so after the death of iFarmer Lee the farm opposite was purchased by Henry Griggs, an old bachelor, whose sister was his housekeeper. The widow hadn’t the slightest thought of marrying again. The old bachelor would have taken to his 'heels and made three circuits of the barn if anyone had suggested such a thing, to him. Although the widow had no thought of husband number two, and although the bachelor had no thought of wife jnumber one, they had to be neighbors. They had to borrow and lend. They had to talk about crops. They had to do errands for each other at the village, Mr. Griggs couldn't cross the road to borrow the widow’s hoe without blushing and , stammering About it, and the widow couldn’t jeross to borrow a little baking powjder without feeling that she might be charged with “running after’’ the bachelor. It made things embarrassing. Now and then, after his evening chores were done, Henry would sneak over and sit with the widow on her porch, but when he tried to talk he ichoked up. One day a tin peddler, who had picked up a little gossip here and. there, stopped to buy a sheepskin from Henry and say: “Nice widow woman, Mrs. Lee is?” I “Mlgh—mighty nice!” was stammered in reply. “Why don’t you marry, her?” “Lands alive!" “It would make a good match." “But you see—” “I think she’d have you.” "Don’t—don’t talk!” begged Henry as the sweat started on his forehead. “She’s awfully nice, but —’’ The peddler, laughed and drove on. He had heard that there were such cases, but they all came right in the end. Was it what the peddler saifi that made bachelor Griggs suddenly realize that he was in love with the widow? It wasn’t as sudden as falling off a fence. It took about an hour for the realization, and then it was a feeling that had. come to stay. Mr. Griggs blushed as he owned It to himself, and how on earth he was ever to face .the widow again drove his blushes aWay and left his, cheeks as pale as bleached celery. Was it the reflex of the bachelor’s feelings that made the widow pause one morning with the dishcloth in her hand and confess to herself that she liked Henry—aye, more than liked. On the evening of that day, as the couple sat on the piazza and saw the hens go to roost and the peacock seek his couch, Mrs. Lee broke a long silence by saying: “Mr. Griggs, I’m thinking of moving to Kansas.” “By gum!” exclaimed Henry as he almost fell down the three steps.--“Land is cheaper and richer there." Henry made a choking noise in his throat. “And—and there are fewer widows.” ~ “I—l—wouldn’t go a step if I was you!” the bachelor blurted out. . “Well, well see about it How is your oats coming on?” Just enough and no more! Just enongh to give Henry pains and aches and swimming of the head, but not enough to make him go out and hang himself to the limb of a sour apple tree. It was a long, bad* night for him. He fully realised that Kansas Was a drawing card, and that he ought to walk into the other farm house before milking his cows in the morning and offer the woman inducements to stay, but yet he shook at the Idea. How could he say it with her looking him fall In the eyes? Even if shr turned her back and hid her faqe sh the roller towel he might break down before she knew what he was talking about ; When day cams it proved to be the longest in Henry Griggs’ life. There was lets of work to do, but he lay for hoofs under the straw stack and plumed and thought and wondered. When be crossed the road again at twilight the widow was waiting to •ay: ; - ' ~ - “The more I think about Kansas the more I like the idea." *ti - Henry turned pale and slapped at a mosquito. -V ' “Too get two crops of some things la a season, and the winters are not as cold as here " *Tv*—l’ve heard they have bears, wolves and rattlesnakes out there!" whispered Henry. "Yes. I suppose they have, but what’s a poor widow to dor

There was- Henry Griggs' opportunity to reach for the woman’s hand and announce that be was not the bleak-hearted villain to see the likes of her driven out among the beasts and serpents for the lack of a devoted husband, but he failed to take advantage of it He blushed and mumbled, and it was only when the widow said she believed that clear white hens laid more eggs than speckled ones that his heart went back to normal. Next morning at breakfast his sister looked at him for a long minute and then said: “Henry Griggs, something ails yon!” “Got cold; I guess,” he replied, trying hard to fetch a cough. “It’s worse than that You’re bound for*the grave!” “I can’t beJ| “You’d beuer see a doctor at once. Whatever ails you. you mustn't let It get too long a start Mebbe sulphur and molasses would help you.” Here was -another golden opportunity. The sister was an old maid who had given up all hope of marrying, but she wouldn’t have been a bit put out at the brother’s doing so. Had he told her that he was in love with the widow Lee she would have advised him to walk right over there and say so, but Henry sat there and shivered and trembled and said nothing. That day he spent in the potato field, but mostly lying in the shade. Twenty times he determined to tell hie love, and twenty* times his courage failed him. That night he did not make his usual call, and next morning when he went to feed the hogs his head swam so that he fell down. The sister saw it and exclaimed: o“Henry Griggs, don’t-vtell me that nothing ails you! We are going to have a doctor here' as soon as we .can get one! ” And then that same tin peddler came back, and hopped off his wagon to ask about paper rags, butter, eggs, old copper and whatever else could be sold in the market. On being told about Henry he sat down and looked at his tongue and then said: “I think I can Bave you if there is no delay.” “How? What?” “Come across the road with me.” -“But —hut —” “You come on, or I won’t guarantee that you’ll live the day out!” The widow Lee was washing the last plate from breakfast. She looked her surpileeratHMlm'pefldier said: “Widow, I hear that you are thinking of removing to Kansas?” “Yes.” “Because a widow, has a better show there?” "The soil is more fertile there, you know.” “Never mind the soil. This Is the great and sovereign state of Ohio.” “Yes.” “And do you for one moment suppose that a son of this great and sovereign state is going to see one of its nicest widow women driven off to Kansas in order to find love, peace and comfort? Never! Perish the thought! Mr. Griggs, your arm around her! Mrs. Lee, your head on his shoulder!” . “But—” “But—” “That’s right! Fine pose! Figure out the rest for yourselves, as this is my busy day,-.and I’ve got to trot So long. Easy as pie when you know how. No Kansas—no yawning grave!”