Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-23
THE WIDOWS BEAU.

had consecrated to the service of God. The
minister had read the psalms and scripture
lessons, and had repeated the first line of the
opening hymn. The eyes of the people were
fixed intently upon him., for he was not only a
sound and eloquent preacher, bat he Was fine
looking one, too, and thus enchained not only
the attention of the true, but the false worship
pers. The house was very still-the clear,
melancholy tones of the preacher were the on
ly sounds that throbbed on the balmy golden
air, which the midsummer's Sabbath morn had
breathed into that holy place.
The first syllable of the second line was
trembling on his lips, when rustic at the
door, and the entrance of two persons, 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
first pew, Immediately in front of the pulpit,
what a nudging Of elbows there was-ay, and
how many whispers, too.
In vain the sound, the good, the eloquent,
the handsome Mr. B. sought again to steal the
attention OF his hearers. They had no eyes,
no thoughts for anybody else but widow c.
and widow C.'s young gentlemanly and dash
ing 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 protestations, hadn't she come out all
at once, dressed in white, and walked into the
church in broad daylight, leaning on the arm
ofayoung gentleman.
les, indeed she had. She would have plead
guilty to all these charges, grave ones as they
were, and to the last how many witnesses had
been subpenaed She was actually dressed
in white, with open corssge, displaying an ell
aborately wrought ehimtrite, drapery sleeves
trimmed with the richest Mechlin lace, under-
sleeves Of the same expensive material, with
a white lace hat with orange buds and flowers,
with Kid gloves and light gaiters-sucll was
the description every lady had on her tongue,
terepeat over as soon as the service was ended.
And the gentleman-he was dressed in style
didn't he wear white pants of the latest pattern
and wliitc vest, and coat OF 'ssatin finish, y
and white kids, too; and didn't he sport a mas
siye chain, and didn't he gaze often and low
ingly on the fair features beside him
All, yes. he did so, and there was no further
room to doubt. Widow C. had cheated them.
She had won beau, laid aside her mourning,
put on a bridal attire and was going TO be mar
ried in church. But who the beau was, and
from whence he came, it was difficult to solve.
Services proceeded. The choir sung and the
minister's prayed and preached-the people Won
dercd when the ceremony would take place.
But to their utter astonishment they were
left to wonder,
For when the bcnedictioR was pronounced,
widow C. and the strange gentleman walked
with the rest of the congregation quietly out
of the church. When they reached the pave
ment, he offered her his arm very gracefully,
and she placed her hand very confidentialy on
the beautiful coat sleeve, as they passed on.
What a morning that was in Harlem! What
world of conieetures, surmises, inquiries and
doubts rolled over and over in the brains of
not only gossiping ladies', but sober, matter
of-fact gentlemen. The like OF such thing
had never occurred in the annals Of the village
there was something new under the sun-a
lady had beau, and nobody knew it.
Widow C. didn't your ears burn that day ?
And we wonder they didn't drop Oft; surely
they must have been crisp and crimson.
The Rev. Mr.. B. preached to crowded house
that afternoon no compliment to him, though.
Every one was sure the wedding would take
place then, but everybody was sadly disap-
pointed; and if tongues had run at railroad
speed before, they travelled then on electric
wires. The minister might have preached in
Greek that day, and the sermon would have
been quite as edifying. But one subject occu-
pied the village mind-the widows beau.
1t actually seemed, too, as though the lady
tried to make all the talk she could. After
tea. arm in arm with the strange gentleman,
she walked the whole length OF the village,
aad away out into the country, and never re-
turned till the moon was high.
ga nice looking dPessI guess she had, -
drawled out grandma w. rs she listened to the
story of the handsome widows wanderings.-
s'I'm glad | hain't got to wash it, all drabblcd
up with dew, as it must have been; but don't
'spose she thought or cared word about it,
she's SO carried away with him. But I'll give
her piece of my mind the first time have a
chance see if l DON'T
But the good old dame began to fear she
would never have the desired chance. She
hurried through her washing on Monday, and
hobbled over to the widows as soon as possi-
BILE, but the door was lockod, and one of the
neighbors said Mrs. C. and gentleman went
IN =, a corria pe nobodv knew where very ear
ly in the morning-ssYes and never got home
until nine O'Clock in the evening" Look ont
widow you. character is On The carpet,