, 1861-10-17
The Widows Beau.

had consecrated to the service Of God. The
minister had reached the psalm and scripture
lesson, and the first line Of the opening hymn.
The eyes Of the people were fixed intently upon
him, for he was not only good, sound, eloquent
preacher, but he was q fine looking one, too, and
thus enchained not only the attention Of the
true, but of the false worshippers The house
was very still-the clear melodious tones Of tho
speaker were the only sounds that throbbed on
the balmy, golden air, which the midsummer
Sabbath morn had breathed in that holy place.
The first syllable of the second line was tremb-
ling on his lips, when rustic at the door, and
the entrace Of two persons, q lady and a gentle
man, dissolved the charm. In q second every
eye was turned from the pulpit to the broad
aisle, and watched with more than ordinary ea-
gerness the progress Of the couple. A most
searching ordeal were they subjected to; and
when quietly seated in the front pew, immedi.
ately in front Of the pulpit, what nudging Of
elbows there was-aye, how many whispers,
too.
In vain the sound, the good, the eloquent Mr..
D. sought again to steal the attention Of his
hearers. They had no thoughts or eyes for any.
body else but the widow and the widow E-'s
young, genteel, and dashing looking attendant.
How she had cheated theml Hadn't she said
she didn't feel as though she could wear any
thing 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 Of young
gentleman
Yes, indeed, she had. She would plead guilty
to all these charges, grave ones as they were
and on the last two, how many witnesses had
been subpenaed! She was actually dressed in
white; beautiful robe Of India null, tucked to
the waist with an open corsagc, displaying the
elaborately wrought ctemiSette, drapcry- trimmed
sleeves trimmed with the richest Mechfn lace,
underseeyes Of the same expensive material,
white Grape shawl white lace hat, with orange
bud flowers, white kid gloves and light gaiters-
such was the description every lady had on her
tongues end to repeat over as soon as the service
was ended.
And the gentleman-he was dressed in style.
Don't he wear white pants Of the latest pattern,
and white vest, and q coat Of "satin inish,"
and white kids, too, and don't he sport massive
chain, and didut he gaze often and lovingly on
the fair Creature beside himI
Yes, he did so, and there is no further room
to doubt. Widow E had cheated them.
She had won beau, laid aside her mourning,
put on her bridal attire, and was going TO be
married In church. Who the beau was, or
whence he came, was more difficult TO solve.
Service proceeded. The choir sung, and the
minister prayed and preached-the people won.
dered when the ceremony took place.
To their utter astonishment they were left to
wonder.
For when the benediction was pronounced,
widow = and the strange gentleman
walked with the rest Of the congregation quietly
out Of the church. When they reached the
pavement he offered his arm very gracefully,
and she placed her hand very con6dingly on the
beautiful soft coat sleeve as they passed on.
What q morning. was that in Fairmountl !
What world Of copjectures, surmises, inqui-
ries and doubts rolled over and over in the brain
not only of gossiping ladies, but sober, matteroE
fact. The like Of such thing had never occur
red in the village. There was something new
under the sun lady had beau, and nobody
knew It
0, widow E., didn't your ears burn all
that dayP
We wonder they didn't drop of. Surely they
must have been crisp and crimson.
The Rev. Mr.. D. preached to q crowded
house that afternoon no compliments to him,
though. Every one was sure the wedding
would take place then; but everybody again
was disappointed, and II 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 subject alone occu
pied the village mind--the widows beau.
It actually seemed, too. as though the lady
tried to make as much talk as she could. Alter
tea, arm-in.arm with the strange gentleman, she
walked the whole length Of the village, and away
into the cemetery, and never returned till the
moon was high.
Look out widOwl your character is on the
carpet
II she knew II, apparently she didn't care, for
the next day she went calling with her beau,
and the next day with him ratnbled off to the
mountains, and the next with him of in car
riage to the station-house, and there not only
wept as she parted from him, but actually en-
braeed and kissed him.
"what, in broad daylightS" exclaimed grand.
ma W. swell, Il ever heard or see
the like ont"
Little Nell, the old lads youngest grandchild,
wondered to herself whether It really was any
worse in broad daylight than any other time
Perhaps you will wonder, too. We do, at least
There was large attendance that afternoon at
tho weekly meeting Of the sewing society.
Everybody went that could possibly leave houIe.
And what chattering there was when the bus.
tie Of assemblage was over. There was but one
topic; but that was allsuficient, alkengrossing
the widows beau-for be must be her beau,
or ought to be.
Everybody had something to tell, something to
wonder about But suddenly every magpie
tongue was nusueo, an unlNersal strOhe VI uumo
palsy seemed to have fallen on the group, as
looking up, they perceived the very lady about
whom they were conversing so eagerly, standing
in the doorway. "Good afternoon, ladies, " said
she. in her usual quiet way. III am glad to see
50 large and happy gathering. Its beauti-
ful day for our meeting"
And then she proceeded to the table, and
helped hOrsclf to block Of patchwork, inquired
for the scwing-silk, which having received, she
sat down in the only vacant chair, and commenc-
cd hemming very rcd bird with yellow wing
on very green tWig. which latter had already
been hemmed on 10 q square piece Of cloth, and
the whole whom completed was designed 10 form
the twentieth part Of a bedquilt. She seemed