Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-29
WRY THE WIDOW JENKINS
DIDN'T 1EARRY DIR. WELLS.

Wells? That was the exciting su beet of de
bate before the Gossiptown Ladies Mutual
Improvement and Widows Relief Society, -
at one Of their weekly meetings.
~ Now, DIR. Wells had been very attentive 10
Mrs. jenkins for number of months He
invariably walked home with her from church,
and escorted her to a number of picnics, and
IN many ways had eYinced his partiality.-
And as for the young and pretty widow, she
did not appear to be at all displeased with
these attentions; on the contrary. she received
them with evident pleasure; so their marriage
was considered as settled thing by the in
habitants Of Gossiptown in general, and the
members OF the Ladies' Mutual Improve
ment and Widows Relief Society in partic-
Ular.
So, when they learned that he bad suddenly
disappeared. without telling them where he
was going, what he was going for, when he
was coming back, &e., &c. all OF which particr
uIars they fell they had an undisputed right TO
know, and without even bidding any of them
good bye, their astonishment and Indignation
gere intense.
Strange and conflicting were their coniec.
. fures, and various were the rumors that we're
thereby set afloat. Some said that he had
been arrested for high treason, some that he
was spy from the Confederate army, while
Others did not hesitate to say that lie was
bigaHia, one Of those wandering gentry who
go from town to town, deceiying with their
peridious wiles the susceptible hearts Of that
conhding sex whose gU'l'6aliy has become
proverbial.
But, finally after due deliberation and care
fuI consideration Of al the pros and cons, the
why's and whereio,es BY the directors of the
above mentioned Society, to-wit: Miss Dorothy
WOrmwood, NJ iss LOvetalk, Mrs. Piekafaw
and Mrs Makeafass, they came to the unani-
nous conclusion "that the mysterious disap-
pCaranee was occasioncd by the rejection of
DIR. Wells by the Widow jenkins, for some
cause TO them unknown. but supposed to be
some terrible crime committed by the alore-
sad doctor and discovered by the aforesaid
widow; and that the aforesaid gentleman had
left GossiPtOwn clandestinely TO hide his dis.
comfture and to avoid the shame of discIe-
sure"
Indeed, Miss Iovetalk testified, ''that one
day, Us she was walking past the widows
hOuse, she saw the doctor and Mrs. Jenki
together in the garden, and distinctly heard
the latter tell the former, That she should
certainly expose his conduct And that the
doctor replied, that he hoped she wouldn't
esitswond be the ruin OF him. Upon which
the widow gave sort Of a derisive laugh
Whcrcupon, Mrs. Pirkuflaw shook her head
ard said, That she didn't know what stronger
proof they wanted than that. For her part
she was free 10 own that she never did like
DIR. Wells. She knew he,was great favorite
with some, folks, but his smooth, oily ways
didn't go down with herr She never had said
anything, because she didn't with 10 iniurc
the young mans prospects, but it had long
been her private opinion that he was nothing
but a wolf in sleeps clothing! Mothers ought
TO be very careful" she added, drawing her
self up with dignity, "with whom they allow
their daughters TO associate. took an early
opportunity to warn my daughters against
him; and it is very gratifying 10 me 10 reflect
that they had the wisdom TO profit by my adj
vice" MEN. When DIR. Wells first came to
GossiptOwn, this wise and prudent matron
was very assidueus in her attentions, using
every art in her power to entrap him into a
marriage with one of her five unmarried
danghters)
And the widow jenkins Is Of the same
piece, I'm of the opinion, said the amiahle
Miss Dorothy Norwood. "The airs that
woman puts on are perfectly ridiculous 1
should think, after this, that she'd hold her
head little lower"
Il should think so, too" chimed in tho
charitable Mrs. Makeafuss. Il guess, If the
truth was known, it would be found ont that
she's no better than she ought to be! To my
certain knowledge, she has been altogether
too free, not only with Dr. Wells, but with
other gentlemen l could mention For my
part, should be glad if her conduct could
be considered only in the light of impru-
dence"
ut seems that she wasn't imprudent enough
to marry DIR. Wells remarked Miss Lovetalk;
though one could sec, with half an eye. that
she was over head and ears in love with him.
What could have been the reason?"
This was re echoed BY the company, while
deep perPlexity sat upon all their countenan-
ces.
And this brings US back TO the commence
ment of our story. Why didn't the Widow
Jenkins marry DIR. Wells?
1t was clear TO these ns.ute minds, that the
widow herself was the only person who could
settle this vexed question. But with all her
kindness of heart and affability, there was a
gentle dignity in this lady's manner that pre-
vented any attempts at familiarity, so no one
was bold enough TO ask her point blank, aud
hints and insnuations she either could not, or
would not understan
Miss Lovstalk once Yentured 10 ask, "If she
expected to hear from the doctor?" To which
she received decided negative. And they
had each, respectively, expressed their aston.
ishmcnt at his sudden disappearance, in the
hope of obtaining some clue to the mystery,
but the widow listened in grave silence, giving
thcm no intimatioA, by word or look, that she
knew any more abopt it than they; so they were
completely bafled.
"Ibere is Hattie Burns going byI" said
Miss WormWood, suddenly, as she happened
TO glance ont of the WihdoY. Ell warrant
she knows something about it, if she was only
mind to tell she's oyer 10 the widows more'p
half the time,p EeH
u shouldn't wonder if she did" exclaimed
Miss Loyetalk. u mean to call her in."
hattie was called in, accordingly; and no
important witness ever underwent sharper
aross questioning at The bands Of The mogtin.
geniops criminal lawyer than did the aston
ished girl, before this seIGeopstitated Court of
inquiry. "ass
But they elected nothing Of Importance
Hattie aolennly declared "that she hadn't
heard Widow Jenkins mention the doctors
name; though She had thought that she had
seemed more sober than usual since he went
sway