Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-10-06
COURTING THE WIDOW,

ssYou must ccme with me tonight, Shirley
and will chow you one of the most bewitch.
ing little widows you ever beheld. | am sure
woman-hater that you are, you viii own your
self conquered at once. Say, will you come
and see my beauty ?''
s.No. thank you," replied his friend, 81
have something to employ me, especially to-
night; but if l had not, Ellcry, should be of,
for / haze all of old Weller's- fear of the
svidders.' look on them a most designing
race-wth their woebegone voices and ever
ready tears for the sdear departed Ii should
ever lose my senses so far as to marry one, |
hope she at least has had the honor of having
her first husband hung; as l believe that
would be the only means | should have TO
prevent his virtues being brought up in COM
parison with my faults"
s.Ha! ha ~ laughed Ellery. ssAll this
TRADE against widows drawn forth by my luck
less invitation But you entirely too
rerdant, my friend the subject. L will bet
somcthing handsome that you will fall in love
with q widow yet. But good evening, | must
go and make myself killing; for. beside the
widow, there will be lots of pretty girls at
Mrs. Empton's to might: and always, for the
honor of the buttons, look handsome"
This conversation was held at Shirlcy's
room, where lie was sitting, lazily improv ising
the guitar, when Ellery gave the invitation n
Though not woman-hdler, as his friend had
stated, yet, from his retiring habits, he did
not often seek the society of the ladies'
When released from official duty, he pre- fer
red enjoying himself with books, music, and
male friends; and this induced some of his
brother officers to bestow upon him the cog
nomen of sswoman- -hater."
where's the friend you promised to bring?'
inquired Mrs. Martin of Ellery.. l must con-
Tess that l have quite curiosity to behold
Lieut.. Shirley, after all you have been telling
me of him.
81 regret exceedingly not being able to re-
deem my promise,'; he replied; ssbut prior
engagement prevented me from doing
How do wish you would enter into little
innocent plot of mine against him for a week
or so. Say yes like the child's bargain, be-
fore 1 tell you"
"No, excuse me, Mr.. Ellery-I shall do no
such thing. Tell me, what is your plot %
sTell me, too, Mr.. Elery," said young
lady of about twenty. who approached, and
whose merry eye betokencd a kindred spirit
to his own-sstell me too, and will answer
for it that sister Julictte enters heart and soul
into your plans, whatever they may be.
'sI shall be 4 thousand-fold indebted TO you,
Miss Jennie,p said Ellery. ssWell, now for
my plot, rather the outline of it, if you
will accept my arm 10 lead you TO that easy
seat, for must confess ] should like some
woman wit to perfect my Ideas -
ssNonc of your plots and cOnspiracies for
me I'll have none of them," said Mrs. Mar
tin, the widow, as she left them TO obey her
aunt's previous request for music, and where
We must leave her, seated at the fine toned
piano, discoursing most excellent music, and
holding her audience enthraled as if by mag
ic. As for Elery and Jeannie they had ''no
music in their souls'-at least, for the time,
and were therefore the better fitted for .strea-
sons, stratagems and piots;' in which, We leave
them engaged.
1 am sure reader, had you seen Juliette
Martin, you, like Ellery, would have cailed
hcr ga bcwitching little creature" Her del
1cate form, large, beautiful eye of light basel,
her brown hair, nearly approaching taxcn,
needed not the cherry mouth, or complexion
like the sunny side of a peach, to set her
down at once as beauty. Then her manner,
too, was so soft, so insinuating that you could
not choose but love her. She had married at
her fathers command, a man whom she high
" esteemed, if she did not love with young
girls romantic fiIrore, and whose sudden death
had lett her with an infant daughter, and n
competency, alone in the world at the age of
tweuty-one Many offers of marriage had al
ready been refused by her, although she new
er asserted that she did not intend marrying
again.
Jeannie Martin, her husbands young sister,
,Sas now on a visit to her; she resided with
rher aunt, Mrs. Empton, and from her gay,
cheerful disposition, had rendered herself a
favorite with every one of their social circle.
The plot disclosed by Ellery was now en-
tirely revealed by Jeannie to her sister-ln-l law,
at bed time; although she obtained from her
the somewhat reluctant promise OF allowing
her TO perssnate the uidoD for few days, the
farce beginning the next morning, with an
excursion planned to the country.
al do not ask you to fb, sister Julette, y
said the merry girl, ':ony not to unmask me-
wish TO tease that young fellow, somehow or
other, for pretty little speech of his that has
come 20 my ears.''
t'But will not lend my aid in the least, if
any one will be injured by your frolic," said
Mrs. Martin.
81 beg you not to frightcn yourself in the
shghtest, returned Jeannie. mo one, as
sure you can be harmed.''
..Well NnIv for fcu rdarr Z