Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-08-22
Nj | $ G. L. l. l. A n Y
THE WIDOWS BEAU.
nv Mss CAROLINE 4. souLE.

lhc minister hau rcachcl thc I-llm anu
scripture lesson, and the Lrst line Of the
opening hymn. The eyc- Of the people were
Fixed intcntly upon him, for he was not oniy
good, sound and eloquent preacher, but a
fine looking one, too, and thus Cuchaincd
not only the attention Of the true but the
false worshippcr'. The hou,c wasv very still
the clear, mel0lious tones Of the speaker
were the only sounds that thrObbed on the
lalmy. golden air, which tho midsummer
Sabbath morn lad lrcathcl into that holy
place. The first syllable Of the second line
was trembling on h' lip', when 4 rustic at
the door, and the entrance Of two persons, a
lady and gentleman, dissolved the charm.
In second every eye turned from the pull
pit n broad isle, and watched with more
than ordinary cagcrnoS' the progress OF the
couple. \ most searching ordeal were they
subjected 70, and when fairly and quietly
STATED in the front pew, Immediately in front
Of the pulpit, wlata nudsins Of elbow.
there was-nYc, aud how many whispers
too.
In vain the sound, tho good, the eloquent,
the handsome Mr.. B., sought again to steal
the attention of his hearers. They had no
eyes or thoughts ror anybody else butwilow
c. and widow C.'s young, scntccl and DASH
ing looking attendant.
How sho had cheated them Hadn't sho
said she didn't f,ol a, though she could ever
nythins but molrnins? Aud in spite
OF these pro,.,tati,n', hadn', she come out
all at once, dressed in white, and walked
into tho church at broad daylight, leaning
on the arm Of youn. gentleman?
Yc., indeed, she had. Shc would have
plead guilty to all these charges, grave ones
a. they were, and TO the last two how many
witnesses might have hocn subp~narl. She
was actually dressed in white. Abauiilul
ROB, Of India null. tucked IN the waist,
with an oP'u cor.agr displaying an clabor.
atcly wroush, chymi."ttc, drapcry sleeves,
trimmed with the richest, Mcchlin lace, un.
dcr.l,cycs Of the same expensive material, a
white Grape shawl. white lace hat with
omnsc buds and flowers, white kid glove
and lish, gaitcrs-sueh was the description
every lady had on her tongu9's end % TO.
peat over as soon as the service was cnicl.
Aud the ccntlcmlu--hc was dressed in
style. Didn't he wear white pants Of the
latest pattern, anl a white vest, and coat
or satin finish" and white kids, too and
liln'thc.upp1rt a massive chain, AMI didn't
be- gaze often and lovingly or the fair crca.
turc 5r.iIc him?
Al, Nc,, hr lil 81, and thor, was NJ f1r.
thcr room to doubt. Widow c. hal cheat.
cl them. She hal won beau, laid aside
her mourning, put on bridal attire, Onl
VA, going to ho married in church. Eat
who the tau was, or whence be came was
more difficult to solve.
Service proceeded. Tho choir sung AMI
the minister prayed aui prcachcl--;hc poo
pie wondered when the ceremony would
take place.
But to their utter a,,ori,hmcnt they wcrl
LEFT to wonder.
Tor when lhob,urliction was pronounced,
widow c. anil the strange gentleman walked
with the rsst or the congregation, quietly
out Of church. when they reached the
pavement, he offered her hi' arm very grace
fully, aul she placed hc- hand very cpniil.
insly On the beautiful solt coat sleeve as they
passol on.
What morning that was in Fiirmount
What u world Of conjVtur1., surmisrs, in.
quiri,s AMI doubt, ROLLED over AMI over in
the brain Of not only s,ssipius ladies, but
sober ma,tcr.ol.iact gentlemen. " The like
Of such u thing " had never occurred IN the
annals Of the village. There was something
new under the ,un; ; lady had beau and
nobody knew it.
Widow e. didn', your ears burn that day ?
Al, We wonder they didn't drop of surc.
" they must have been crisp aud crimson.
The Rev. Mr.. d. preached to a crowded
house that afternoon no compliments TO
him though. Every one was sure the we'd
ding would take place then; but everybody
was again sadly disappointed and iftonsues
had run at railway speed before, they
travelled then ON electric wires. The minis.
ter might have preached in Greek that day,
and his sermons would have been quite as
ciilyins. but one suhjcct occupied the vii
lago mind-thc widows beau.
1t actually seemed. too, az though the
lady tried to make all the talk she could,
Alter tea, arm in arm with the strange gem
tlcman, she walked the whole length OF the
village, and away out into the cemetery and
ncser returned till the moon was high.
/ "a nice looking dress | guess che had, y
drawlcd out grandma w, as she listened to
the widows wand,rinSs.
81 am glad haint got to wash it, all
draJblci up with dew as it must have been
but don't s'poso she though, or carcd
about 1t, she's 50 carried away with him.
But III give her piece Of my mind the first
time have chapce see # don't"
( But the good old dame began to fear she
should never have the desired chance. She
hurried through her washing on Monday
and hobblod over to the widows as soon as
possible, but the door was locked, and one
Of the ncighbors said that Mrs. G. and the
gentleman went or in a carriage, nobody