Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-12-23

"Why, Malinda and that vagabond Reu
ben Sparks-ha ha I'll surprise him."
ooh, it's all right" said Joe, laughingly.
"I'll fix the sneaking critter."
"But how-.how, Joe? Can't you speak
out? What's got in the boy?" cried the
old lady, dying with curiosity to know what
WIS his plan.
DWELL, now I will tell you all about it,"
began Joe, assuming more sober tone.
"Well, I just wish you would"
"Yow know the widder has always favor
ed my keeping company with Malinda"
"Well."
"And do believe she is desperate down on
that feller, Sparks, coming into her family"
dyes"
"In that case she wouldn't very willingly
let her property go irto his hands,
"But 'cording to the will of old Mr.. Mar
tin, the property amt to go put Of her hands
till she is dead"
"Just so-but Sparks would have Ill the
benefit. And now Pm coming to the point
its just there I'm going to floor Reuben
Sparks"
"Well, do let me hear"
"The widder Martin herself amt 9. bad
looking womau," Joe remarked, in sort Of
mysterious tone Of voice, glancing up sud-
denly into his mothers face.
,"No; but what's that got to do with the
matter?" replied the old lady, impatiently.
"And she amt very old, neither" contin.
ued he, with the same air.
"Why, she cant be more'n forty"
$50 I should think ; and she has good
chance of livin forty more"
"Well, what of it?"
"Just this" said Joe, leaning over to his
mothers ear-"I'll marry the widder!"
Mrs. Chickweed, expected as she was,
something startling, wasn't prepared for this.
She uttered an exclamation of unbounded
surprise, startled upward from her seat, and
then sank back and fixed her eyes with a
vacant stare upon her sor's face.
"Well," said Joe, 81 hope you don't see
anything agiu it."
"No--no," stammered his motheer, re.
covering somewhat from the shock she had
received; "but are you really in airnest, Joe
will you marry the widder?" .- .
"To be sure I will, that's the whole of it..
I'm going up to see her this very day. I'll
marry her, if she'll have me, and be re-
veuged on Malinda for dotting me as she
has for that blasted Sparks. I'll teach 'em
what's what.
Joe was as good as his word. He sought
the widow and made his proposal. She was
more astouished than she knew how to ex-
press, but she was more gratifed than aston
ished. Fresh and fair as she was, consider.
ing her years, she had never given over the
idea of winning another husband; but it
had never entered her hend that she could
procure so young and esrimable prize as
Joe Chickweed.
Joe made a special proviso in his propo-
sal, that they should married privately the
day before the marriage of Sparks with the
widows daughter, and it should be kept a
secret till that wedding hid taken place.
To this the widow readily agreed, although
it was hard task for her to restrain the en-.
| joyment she experienced and prevent the Sc
cret being discovered.
The evening before the nuptials of Sparks
and Malinda at length arrived, and all the
preparations for the ceremony on the ensu-
ing day were completed. When the dark
ness had fairly set in, while Malinda was so
occupied with the conversation Of her soon.
to-be husband as to be completely oblivious
to all else, Mrs. Martin cautiously left the
house, and meeting Joe Lear at hand, she
fastened with him to ths residence OF the
Chickweeds. The minister, who had been
duly admonished to secrecy, was in atten'
dance aud in less than half an hour there
after, Joe was married man, and the nc
longer widow was on her way back to her
home-parting from Joe with single, but
enormous kiss, with which he was content
to satisfy himself, considering what was to
follow from so doing on the morrow.
The wedding passed of next day to the
entire satisfaction of all parties. The affair
took place in the morning, at the residence
of the bride, and at the hour of noon all the
guests, with the exception of Joe Chick
weed, departed. Why he remained so long
it puzzled the newly married to surmise, a:
they had not supposed he would be present
at all. Joe took it very easily, however
and seemed quite embarrassed by the occa
sioDal bautering of the happy Sparks.
"S'pose," said Joe, addressing himself tc
the newly made husband, as they were as
sembled in the parlor together, 81 s'pose
you'll take up your residence in the village
right away-buy you nice house and live
fashionably?'
20 no." replied Mr.. Sparks-"don'tknoV
as shall"
"What we'll, now, I calc'late you don''
have any idea of settling on farm ?--you
amt used to that work, you know"
"Don't know but 1 may" said Sparks
assuming careless air and tone; "coming
on hot weather, you know, aud living in
town is a bore in summer, Yes, think
shall try country life for while; 1 amt il
the best of health, and farm life may i'm
prove me-"
"Well," responded Joe, deliberately
"can't say that I'm sorry you're going t.