Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-07-08

of yours, and that all is vanity, or rath-
err should say, that one thing is need
full"
"Ah, Mr.. Plant, l understand you
you mean the furniture is complete
except one article"
"Exactly SO. Yes-that is-if you
think any thing is wanting" replied
Paul in considerable perturbation, and
glad to escape the appearance of find
ing fault, by any sort of equivoque.
The widow clapped her handker-
Ghetto her face, and exhibited or pre-
tended to exhibit, a slight emotion.
"My dear Mr.. Plant" said she, in a
tender voice, "it is impossible not to
understand you. You mean hus-hus-
band?"
ga husbandn' exclaimed Paul, star
tied by the audacious boldness of the
suggestion.
81 knew you meant So" returned
the widow, sinking into the chair. "Oh,
oh my dear sir, feel quite over-em-
embarrassed" Paul's intellects were
in such cloudy state at this moment
that he thought she was about to faint.
He caught her hand, and was just 60
ing to call for hartshorne, when she
opened her eyes with an appearance Of
greater languor.
"Oh, Mr.. Plant! the sincerity of
this avowal; you are sincere, Mr.. PHI
ant"
"Certainly-yes," exclaimed Paul,
for he could say nothing else; he was
a lost man. The widow kept fast
hold eff his hand. Paul struggled to
say something-he felt how desperate
ly he was situated-"Mrs. Wilful," said
he in great agitation, 81 do not wish to
be deceived-the fact is, must speak
plainly"
"My dear Mr.. Plant, never tho't
you deceiver. Oh! there are some
men who are so deceiving"
Paul was at his last gasp as the wild
ow uttered this pathetic exclamation.
81 must see the matter right this mo-
ment," thought he, DOR it will be all
over with mel" He threw himself
into an attitude of earnest entreaty.
"Listen to me one moment, madam y
said he, with as much firmness of voice
as he was master of--but luckless man
His foot catching in the hearth rug,
tossed him on his knees in an instant,
and the attention Of the whole company
being aroused by the fall, every body
looked around, and beheld Paul in sup
plication at the widows feet. He re-
NAMED transfxed with horror and vex-
alton for two thirds of "a minute, and
then, without uttering word, made a
leap for the door, and bottled out Of the
house.
The next day, Paul's adventure was
the talk of the town, and the congratu-
lations and coincidence which he re-
ceived from his friends on his engage
ment to the widow Wilful, almost
drove him stark mad. "Paul, my
dear fellow, give you joy-but who
would have thought you had the cour-
age to do it," "Paul, how could you
do such a thing?" "Paul, I wish you
much happiness; but widows are such
cunning thingsn' "Paul, it's all over
with you them" &c. Such were the
salutations to which he was subjected
for week, ay, for nine days; for so long
must wonder be allowed to last, es-
pecially when it gives privilege to a
man to remind him Of his misfortunes
AS to denying the thing, that, of
course, was out of the question with
Paul, besides, had not a whole house
full of people seen him on his knees be-
fore the widow? and did not the whole
town affirm that 1T was certainly
match? Paul gave up in despair all
thoughts of gainsaying or denial, and
only hoped that some lucky accident
would pop in between him and the
dreadful catastrophe.
"Well, Paul, my conquering hero,
when is to be the happy day." asked
his friend Tom Sly, with look COM
pound with roguish sarcasm and good
natured concern.
80 yes, very happy day 1t will be
certainly" replied Paul, shrugged up
his shoulders.
"Pretty soon, suppose"
"0h yes-soon enough, no doubt
ofthat, eh."
cleft it all pretty much to her, eh?
Well that's quite right-woman love