Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-04-23
THE WIDOWS BEAU.
~ MIS- cARrLIxE oOULs.

II uI80 CANkIN6 UOCLBs
Services had commenced Ia the neat little
sanctuary which the inhabitants Of Paramount
had consccrated TO the service q s3od. The
n mister had !, ached the psalms and scripture
lesson and the first Ines Of the opening hymn.
The eyes Of the people were fixed intently.
upon him for h. was no. only good sound
eloquent preacher, but be Va. = fne looking
one too, and thus unclaimed not only the at
tenticn Of the true but the false wOrsb;ppars.
The house was very still the clear melOdious
tones Of the speaker were the only sounds
that throbhed on thu balmy golden air, which
the mldsummer's Sabbalh morn had brcathed
into that holy place.
The first syllable Of the second line was
trembling on Lis lips, when . rustic at the
door and the entrance Of two persons, lady
and Gentleman, dissolved the charm. In .
second every eye turn d from the pulpit to
the broad aisle, and watched with more than
ordinary eagerness the progress Of The couple.
A most ~ arching ord.a were they subjected
too, and when fairly and quietly seated in the
front pew, immediately in front Of the pulpit
what nudging Of elbows 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 attention Of hls hearers. They had no
eyes Or thoughts for any body else but Wild
ow G. and widow CO young, genteel and
dashing attendant.
How she had cheated them. Hadn't she
said she didn't feel as though she could ever
wear anything but mourning? And in spite
of these protesl atiens, hadn't size come out
all at once, dressed il white and walked into
the church in 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 subpenaed. She was ac-
tually dressA in whte-with an open cor
sage, displayed an elaborate wrought chemi-
scttc, drapery sic, yes trimmed with the rich
est NJ, chin lace, undsrsleeves Of the same
expensive material, with white lace nat
with orange buds and 10 wers, with kid gloves
and light gaiters-such Was the description
every lady had on her tongues end to repeat
As soon as the service was ended.
And the gentleman-he was dressed in
stvle-ddn't he wear white pants of the la
test pattern, and a white vest, and coat Of
'ssatln fn.sh," and white kids too; and didn't
b. sport massive cham, and didn't he gaze
often and lovingly on The fai, features be-
side hn9
All, Yes, he did 90, and there was no fur
Their room 10 doubt. Widow G. had Oh, ated
them. She had won beau, laid aside her
mourning, put on :. bridal attire, and was
gong to be married IN church. But who the
beau was and from whence he came, was
more difficult to solve
Services proceeded. The choir sung and
the minister prayed and preached-the peo-
pie wond,r red when the ceremony would
take pnce.
But to their utter establishment they were
left to wonder.
For when the b. ned iction was pronounced,
widow q. and the strange gentleman walked
of church. When they reached he pavement
she placed her arm very confidently on the
tie beautiful coat sleeve as they passed on.
What morn that was in fairmount! What
q world of CON lectures. surmises, inquiries,
and daebts rolled over and over in the
brains Of not only goss piping ladies, but So
ber matter of fact gentlem n. The Ike of
such o thing had never occurred in the ann .ls
Of the village-There was something new I'M
der the sun; lady had beau and nobody
knew it.
Widow G. didn't youp ears burn that day ?
All, we wonder they didn't drop Of; surely
they must be crisp and crimson.
The Rev. Mr.. B. preach.d to q crowded
house that afternoon; no compliment to him
though. Every one was sure that the we'd
ding would take place then. but everybody
was sadly disappointed; and if tongues tme
run at railroad speed before, they travelled
then on elect, ic wires. The minister might
have preach in Greek that day, and the
sermons would have been quite as edifying.
Bat one subject occupied the village mind
the widows b "a.
Itaclu.lly seemed, too, rs though the la
dy tried to make Gil the talk she could. After
tea, arm in arm with he strange gentleman
she walked the hole length Of the village,
and away out in the metery and never re-.
turned till the moon VS. high.
ga nice look ing dress guess she had -
drawled out Grandma W., Is she listened to
the Widows wand'rings.
ppm glad hain't got to wash it all drab.
bled up with dew as it must have been; but
don't suppose she thought or cared q word
about it, she's 90 carried away with him.
But Pll give her peice of my mind the first
tim" have chance, see if don't.n
But the good old dame began to fear she
would never have the desired chance.
She hurried through her washing on Mon
day and hobbled over to the widows as
soon Is possible, but the door was loo. ed,
and one Of the neighbors said that Mrs. Z.
and gentleman went of in carriage no.
body knew where, very early in the morning.
"Yes, and q yer got home until nine O'Clock
in the evening"" Look out widow! your
character is on the carpet.
II sh" knew it. app ,rentiy she didn't care
for the n It day she went sailing with her
beau and h. a. It day rambling with him of