Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-01
MISCELLA A N Y.
The Widows Beau.
ny MISS CAROLINE A. SoULE.

BY MISS CAROLINE A. soULE.
Service had commenced In the neat little sane,
nary which the inhabitants of Fairmount had
cnnSecrated to the service Of God The minister
had reached the psalm and scripture lesson, and
the first lines Of the opening hymn. Inc eyes OF
the peoole were fixed intently upon him, tor he
was not Only good sound aud eloquent preach
or. but he was fine looking one too, and thus
chained the attention not only of the true bn,
the false worshippers. The house was very still
the clear melodious tones OF the speaker were
the only sounds that thrUbbed on the balmy, gol-
den air, which the midsummer Sabbath morn
had breathed into that holy place The first syl-
liable of the second line was trembling IN his lips
when a rustic at the door, and the entrance OF two
persons, 4 lady and gentleman dissolved the
charm. In a second every eye turned from the
pulpit TO the broad aisle and watched with more
than ordinary interest the progress OF the couple
A most searching ordeal were they subjected to
and when fairly and quietly seated in the from
pew. Immediately in front OF the pulpit, what
nudoinp of eb1ws there was--aye, and how many
whispers, too.
In vain the sound, the good, the eloquent. the
handsome Mr.. B., sought again to steal the at
tention of his hearers. They had no eyes OF
thoughts for any body else but widow Z. aud wild
ow C's. Young, genteel and dashing looking at
| tendant.
How she had cheated them! Hadn't she saiC
she didn't feel as though she could ever wea
anything but mourning2 And in spite of thest
| prulestaliOns, hadn't she cume out, all at once
| dressed in white, and walked into the church II
the broad daylight, leaning On the arm of young
gentleman?
Yes indeed she had. She would have plead
guilty to all these charges, grave ones as they
| were, and To the last two how many witnesses
had been supenaed She was actually dressed
I'm white. A beautiful robe of India null, tucked
to the waist, with an open corsage displaying ar
elaborately wrought chemlsette, drapery sleeves
trimmed with the richest Mechlin lace, under
sleeves Of the same expensive material, white
Grape shawl, white lace hat with orange buds
and flowers, white kid gloves and light Cutters
such was the description every lady had on he
tonpues end, to repeat over so soon as the service
was ended.
And the pentleman-he was dressed in style
ra,, ba ,....- .,ta r...,s af tho Iatast naiInrn
and white vest, and coat of''sa,ln hnlsh, and
white kids, too and don't he sport massive
chain. and didn't he gaze often aud lovingly OF
the fair creature beside him
Ali. YES, he did So, and there was no further
roon to doubt. Widow G. had cheated them
She had won beau, laid aside her mourning, pu
On bridal attire, and was going to be married II
church. But VINO the beau was, and whence h'
was. was mure difficult to solve.
Service proceeded The choir sung and th'
minister prayed and preached-the people won
dered when the ceremony would take place.
But to their utter establishment they were lei
to wonder.
For when the benediction was pronounced
widow T.. and the strange gentleman walked VIII
the rest of the congregation, quietly out OF Church
When they reached the pavement, ne offered he
his arm very QracouSly, and she placed her han'
very confidingy on the beautiful soft coat sleeve
as they passed ON. 49,,
What nurning that was In Farmount! Wha
world of conjeclures, surmiseS, inquiries an'
dr,bts rolled over and over not only in the braiI
IF gossipinr ladies'. but sober matter of fact gen
tlemen "rhe like of such thing" had neye
nccnrred in the annals of the village. There wa
sometbinr new under the sun: a lady had a beat
and nobody knew it.
Widow c., didn't your ears burn that day
All. we wonder they didn't drop OIL; surely
they must have been crisp and crimson
The Rev. Mr.. B. preached to a'crOwded house
that afternoon; no compliments to nun thongn'-
Every one was sure the wedding would take place
then but everybody was sadly disappointed; an(
if tongues had run at railway speed before. they
travelled then on electric wires. The minister
might have preached in Greek that day. and hi;
sermons would have been quite as edifying. Bu
one subject occupied the village mlnd-ihe wId-
VS. baau.