"Indeed I would," said Bill, with a languishing look.
"He"s six feet under ground!" explained Mrs. Brown, dryly.
"Dead?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Crane.
"Yes; he"s been dead these three weeks."
"And you are a widow?"
"That"s so, stranger."
"But you don"t mean to stay a widow?" interrogated Crane.
"Well, it is kinder lonesome. It seems natural like to have a man round."
"I wonder if she"s got any money," thought Crane. "I"ll find out if I can."
"Yes, Mrs. Brown, I feel for you," he said. "A woman can"t struggle with the world as a man can."
"I don"t know about that, stranger. I can take care of myself, if that"s what you mean."
"But a woman needs a man to protect and work for her," insinuated Crane.
"I don"t need any one to protect me," said the widow; "and, as for support, I"ve got a matter of five thousand dollars laid by, and a good claim that"ll pay for the workin". I don"t think I shall need to go to the poor-house yet awhile."
Bill Crane"s eyes sparkled. The widow Brown seemed wonderfully attractive in his eyes. He was willing to barter his young affections for five thousand dollars and a claim, even if the widow had been thrice as homely as she was. If he had known that Mrs. Brown was bent on marriage his way would have been clearer. His mind was made up. He would woo and win his fair hostess if he could.
"When did Brown die?" he inquired.
"Three weeks ago, stranger."
"You must miss him."
"Yes, he was a quiet man, Brown was. He never gave me any trouble, and it was natural to see him round."
"You must not mourn for him too much, Mrs. Brown."
"I shan"t make a fool of myself," said the widow. "He"s gone, and he won"t come back. There"s no use cryin"."
"She"s rather a queer specimen," thought Crane. "She hasn"t broken her heart, it seems."
"You ought to marry again," he said.
"I mean to," said Mrs. Brown.
"Well, that"s frank," thought Crane. "There ain"t any nonsense about her."
"Your second husband will be a lucky man, Mrs. Brown."
"Well, he"ll have a good livin", and, if he treats me right, he"ll get treated right too."
"This is a cold world, Mrs. Brown. I"ve been drifting about till I"m tired. I"d like to settle down with a good wife."
"If you want to take Brown"s place, say so," remarked the widow, in a business-like tone.
Bill Crane was staggered by the promptness with which his hint was taken, but did not hesitate to follow it up.
"That"s what I mean," he said.
"What"s your name, stranger?"
"William Crane."
"You haven"t got another wife anywhere, have you?"
"Of course not."
"I"ve got to take your word for it, I s"pose. I guess I"ll take the risk. I"ll marry you if you say so."
"How soon?" asked Crane, eagerly.
"Well, there"s a parson a few miles from here. We can ride right over and be back by sundown, if that will suit you."
"A capital idea, Mrs. Brown. You won"t be Brown long," he added, sportively. "How will you like to be called Mrs. Crane?"
"One name will do as well as another," said the widow, philosophically.
Crane wanted to make inquiries about the five thousand dollars and the claim; but he reflected that it might be inferred that his views were mercenary. It would be more politic to wait till after marriage. He did not understand the character of the woman he was going to marry. She understood very well that Crane was marrying her for her money; but she felt lonesome, and it suited her to have a husband, and she was willing to overlook such a trifle.
The widow had a horse of her own. Directly after dinner it was harnessed, and the two rode over to Dirt Hole, a small mining settlement, where the Rev. Pelatiah Pond, a Methodist minister, united them in the bonds of matrimony.
When Mr. and Mrs. Crane reached home, Bill ventured to inquire, "Have you got the money in the house, Mrs. Crane,--the five thousand dollars, I mean?"
"It"s put away in a safe place."
"You"d better let me take care of it for you, my dear."
"Not at present, Mr. Crane. A year from now I will let you have half of it, if you behave yourself."
"As your husband, madam, I insist."
"Stop right there, stranger--Mr. Crane, I mean," said the bride, decidedly. "Do you see that? and she whipped out a revolver.
"Good gracious, Mrs. Crane! Do you want to murder me?"
"No, I didn"t marry you for that; but I want you to understand that the money is in my hands, and I don"t allow any man to insist. I may let you have some of it when I get ready. Do you understand?"
"I believe I do," murmured Crane. "I"m regularly taken in and done for,"