The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-11-12

4
and white vest, and coat Of a "satn finish,''
and white kids, too, and don't he sport a IN as
sive chain. and didn't he gaze often and loving
ly at the fair creature beside him?
Yes, he did so, and there is no further room
20 doubt. Widow F-----had cheated them.
She had won a beau, laid aside her mourning,
put on a bridal attire, and was going 20 be
married in church. Who the beau was, or
whence he came, was more difficult to solve.
Service proceeded. The choir sung, aud the
preacher prayed and preached-tEe people
wondered when the ceremony took place.
To their utter astonishment they were left
to wonder. @ ~
For when the benediction was pronounced,
widow E. aud the strange gentle man
walked with the rest of the congregation quiz
etly out of the church. When they reached
the pavement he offered her his arm very grace
fully ana she placed her hand very confdingly
on the beautifully soft coat sleeve as they
| passed on.
| What morning was that in Fairmount.-
What a world of eoniectures, surmlses, in
aniries and doubts rolled over and over in the
brain not only of gossiping ladies, but sober,
] matter of fact. The like OF such thing had
never occurred in .he village. There was some
thing new under the sun: lady had beau,
and nobody knew it. "
Oh, widow E., didn't your ears burn
all that day2 ~ ~ tsEEE Ta
We wonder they didn't drop off. Surely
\ they must have been crisp and crimson,
| The Rev. Mr.. D. preached toa crowd
ed house that afternoon; no compliments to
him. though. Every one was sure the we'd
ding would take place then; but everybody
again was disappointed, aud il tongues had run
! at railway speed before, they travelled then on
| the electric wires. The minister might have
preached in Greek that day. and his sermon
| would have been quite as edifying. One sub
iect alone occupied the village mird-the
widows beau.
/ Il actually seemed too, as though the lady
tried to make as much talk as she could
After tea. arm in arm with the strange gem
tleman, she walked the whole length of the
village, and away into ihe cemetry, and never
\
Look out, widow! Your character is on the
CARPET. aa
If she knew it, apparently she didn't care,
| for the next day with him rambled off to the
mountains, and the next with him off in car
riage to the station-house. and there rot only
wept as she parted with him, but actually en-
braced and kissed him.
"What, in broad daylight?" exclaimed
grandma W "Well, il ever heard of
or see the like ont"
| Little Nell, thr old lady's youngest grand
chrld, wondered to herself whether it really
was any worse in broad daylight than any 9th
er time. Perhaps you will wonder, too. We
do, at least. 1s
| There was a large attendance that after
noon at the weekly meeting of the sewing so
ciety. Every body went that could possibly
leave home.
And what a chattering there was when the
hustle of assemblage was over. There was
but one topic; but that was all sufficient, all
engrossing-the widows beau--fer he mus
be her beau, OF ought TO be.
Il
to wonder about. Bit suddenly every magpit
tongue was hushed, universal stroke of dumt
palsy seemed to haye fallen on the group, as
looking up, they perceived the very lady abopt
whom they were so eagerly conversing. stand
ing in the doorway.
!. ssGood afternoon, ladies,H she saiG, in bel
usual quiet wav. .T am glad to see so larg,
and happy gathering. It's a beautiful day
for orr meeting." -
And then she proceeded to The table and help
ed herself to block of patchwork, inquired
for the sewing silk, which having received
she sat down in the only vacant chair, and
commenc ed hemming very red bird with a
yellow wing On a very green twig, which lat.
ter had already been hemmed on to a square
piece of cloth. and the whole, when completed
was designed to form the twentieth part of a
bed qnilt. She seemed all engrossed with the
birds bill, and spoke to no one. Everybody
| wondered if she heard what they were saying
4 when she came in--but her placid countenance
raised the most fearful, and every one.longed
to commence personal attack. Old grand
i ma W was the first to commence. She
meant to ''do up the matter'' very delicately,
and in SO roundabout away, that the lady
should not suspect her Of curiosity. So she
began by praising Mrs. E-'sdress. 80
"Why, it is really beautiful. Where did you
get itp"
81 bought it," was the quick reply.
ssHere?', s .s5rgnr ,g.s .ssE
| "No.o .
sWhere them"
"Ia New York, last sprihg.o .fgg
"Oh. you did, did you? But thought you
were ne yer going to wear anything but black
| again!'
Every one scrutnized the lady's face ia
search OF blush. but it continued as pale as,
usual az she answered: <st}sk
/ 81 dii say so once, but have finally chang
ed my Iny mind" .t
"Yoa have, ha; what made you?''
! e"0h have good reasons" +f8aAt sA
Here the hearers and lockers on winked and
blinked, and looked very vx7ressiyely at each
| other 81 $50
'But did you not spoil your beautiful white
dress OH Sunday night, wearing it up to the ba-
rying fround?' 3 = HFF
/ IL did not wear it,"