The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-07-14

& For two or three days following, Joe Chick
, weed said very little, but thought much. One
: morning he met his mother with smiling
: lace and sort OF triumph in his look. The
old lady was somewhat surprised at her sons
manners.
J Why, what on arth's the matter now,
Joe y said she, hope you amt gon' to 60
crazy"
!" Not by long shot" replied Joe, g amt
quite so big fool as that"
I" Then what ails you ?"
I "oh, I've got it all arranged at last--pve
got 'em now"
"Who? What?'
Why, Melindy. and that vagabond Reub.
Sparks-ha ha ha I'll surprise them"
Well how you goin' to do il -
Oh, it's all right" said Joe, laughing
slyly-" III do il, darn'd if don't. I'll cit
the sneakin critter!" |"
But how-how, joel Can't you speak
out What's got into the boy 7" asked the
old lady, dying with curiosity to know what
was his plan.
well, now, I'll tell You all about it," be-
gan ice, assuming more sober tone.
Well, just wish you would"
You know the widder has always favored
my keeping company with Melinda"
"Well z"
"And do believe she's desp'rate down ON
that ieller. Sparks, coming into her family"
"Yes"
" In that case she wouldn't very willingly
let property so into his hands"
" But, 'cording to the will of old Mr..
Martin, the property ain't to go out of her
hands till she's dead"
"Just so-but Sparks would have all the
benefit. And now I'm going to floor Reub.
Spark !"
Well, let US hear ~
- The widder Martin herself amt a bad
looking woman" Joe remarked, in a sort of
mysterious tone, glancing up suddenly into
his mothers face.
No-but what's that got to do with the
matters' replied the old lady. Immediately.
I" And she ain'tyery old. neither" contin.
ued he, with the same air.
Why, she can't be morn forty
" So ! should think; and has good chance
Of living forty more."
Well, and what Of il -
Just this said Joe. leaning over to reach
his mothers ear" RI marry The wiider!"
Mrs Chickweed, expecting, as she was,
something startling, wasn't prepared for this.
She uttered an exclamation Of unbounded sur
stdsS slts,, ,.es = ,s~~s.
"Well," said Joe, Il hope you don't see
anything thal's agin it."
No-nOn stammered his mother, re-
covering somewhat from the shock she had re-
ceived. But are you really in earnest, Joe
will you marry the widder!"
"ro be sure will, and that's the whole
Of il. I'm going up 10 see her this very day.
I'll marry her il she'll have me, and be res
venged on Melinda, for cutting me as she has
for that blasted Sparks. I'll teach 'em what's
what"
Joe was as good as his word. lie sought
the widder and made his proposal. She was
more astonished than she knew how 10 cx.
press, but she was more gratiied than she
was astonished. Fresh ana fair as she was,
considering her years, she had never given
over the idea OF winning another husband; but
il had never entered her head that she could
possibly secure so young and estimable a
prize as Joe Chickweed.
Joe made it a special prov,so in his proposal
that they should be married privately the day
before the marriage Of Sparks with the Wild
ow's daughter, and that il should be kept a
secret until that wedding had taken place. To
this the widow readily agreed, although il
was hard task sometime for her TO restrain
the enjoyment she experienced, and prevent
The secret being discovered.
The evening before the nuptials of Sparks
and Melinda at length arrived, and all the
preparations for the ceremony on the ensuing
Iday we're completed. When darkness sat IN,
while Melinda was so occupied with the
company and conversation Of her snon.to be
husband as TO be completely obliyinns to all
else, Mrs. Martin cautiously left the house,
and meeting Joe near at hand, she FASTENED
with him 10 the residence OF the Chlckweeds.
The minister who lad been duly admonisl'cd
10 secrecy, was in attendance; and in les.
than half an hour thereafter Joe was mar
ricd man, aud tic no.lnngcr widow was or
her way back 10 her hnme-partlng from Joe
with single but very enormous Kiss, viii
which lie was content to satisfy himself. con-
sidrrinn what was to follow from so doing or
the morrow.
The wedding passed or next day TO The
entire satisfaction ol all parties. The atlall
Itook place in the morning. at the hour oi
noon all the guests, with the exception ol jos
ICbickwced. whu had been formally invited
had departed. Why lie rcmained so long i
lpuzxlcd the newly married pair TO surinise
as they had not supposed he would be presen
al all. Joe took Il very easily, however, ant
seemed quite uurmbarrassed by The osea
sional banterings ol the happy Sparks.
~ spose." said Joe. addressing himself 4
the ncwiy.married husband. as they were al
n assembled in the patlor together 'spos'
/ You'll take up your residence in the 'Illas'
+. right away-bdy you a nice house and liS'
. iashionably!"
q ooh, no." replied ST. Sparks" don
I know as shall
"Wcli! Well, now. I calculate you don
/ have any idea of settling on a farm i--yol
! amt used 10 that kind of work, you know.