Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-02-28
MIS- Gel A N Y.
Why the Widow Jenkins didn't Marry
DR.. Wells
- ...w a.. ~, n, a, vtxv
Br MARY GRACE nALPrSx.

bt hAtr Shs'k hhFNk.
Why aidn't the Widow Jenksns marry
DR.. Wells? That was the exciting subject
Of debate before the Go..iptown Ladies
Mutual Improvement and Widows Relief
S1cieiy.' ai one Of their weekly meetings.
Nov. DR. Wells had been very attentive
to Mrs. jenkins for q number oi months.
lie invariably walked home with her IRON
church, had escorted her 10 number of
picnrc.. and in many way. had e'inced hi.
partiali,y. And a' for the young and pres.
~ widow. she did not appear to be At oil
d-pleased with these attentions: on the
contrary. che received them With evident
pleasure: 90 their marriage va. considered
as . settled thing by the inhabitants OF Cos.
.ip,own in general and the mcmbsrs OF the
Ladies' Mutual improvement and Wild.
ow's Relief Society in particular.
-. when they learned that hs had sud
denly DISAPPEARED. without telling item
where ho was going. wha, he was going Tor,
when he was coming hack, &c. a., oil OF
which particular. they Eel, they had an un-
disputed r,sh, to know, and wi'hou, even
bidding any OF them goodbye. their aston.
i.hment and indignation were intense.
Strange and conflicting were their con.
lectures. and various wero the rumoH that
we're thereby set raoa,. Some said ih-t he
had been arrested Tor high tree 500. some
,hs, he WAS a'py from the Confederate NJ.
my while Others did not hesitate 10 say he
va. t,gdmiii. one OF those wandering gen.
try Who 20 from town TO town. dece'sins
with their rer6dIous vile, the susceptible
hcaru Of ,ha, conhlins sex whose suLlib'Iiy
has become prOvcrbial.
But finally, after due delibcra,ion apd
careful consideration Of all the prcs and eop',
the why. aud wbereforr-, by the directors
o, the above mentioned society. to wi,, Mls
Dorothy wormwood. Miss Loretalk. Mrs.
PiekGaw. and Iir.. Makeiu., they came to
tie unanimous cUnclusion iha, this N.Y.
teriOus dI'appcapnce was oecn'ioncd by tie
rrj,ctioa Of DR.. Well. ty the Widow Jen.
ken.. for some cau.c 10 them unknown, but
supposed TO be spmr terrible crime commit.
til by the Aforesaid doctor, and discovered
by the aforesaid widow and that the afnre-
.aii gentleman had lsh Gu-,iptowu elande'-
timely. to hide hs d.eomh,ure and 10 avoid
The shame OF disclosure
Indeed. Miss Loset,lk testified. tba, ooe
day. a. che Vas walking pa,, the widow .
house. .he saw the doctor and Mrs. Jenkens
together IN the garden, aud distinctly beard
the latter tell the former. Tia, sho should
certainly expose hr conduct And that
the doctor replied. That he hoFod SIZE
wouldn, a. IL would BE- the ruin OF him
Upou which The widow gave 'er, Of do
ri.',c laugh.
whsreupon Mr.. P,ckaaw shook her head.
and ,aiI, That she didn't know What
stronger proof they wanted than that. Tor
her Part. .he VA. free 10 own that sbe never
did Ike DR.. Wells. She knew be was Q
great iavorite With som, tols., bot bis smooth,
OILY ways tidn't ~ down With her shs
never had sad anything. because she didn I
wish TO injure the young mans prospects,
but It had long been her private opinion
that be was nothing but woi IN sherps
clothing Mother, ough, to bs very care
fol- she added. drawing her.eIf up with
great dignity. with whom they allow their
daughters 90 associate. took an early Op'
p,r,uni,y to warn my daughter. against
him aud 1t is very graiiiyin ins to me to To-
feet ,ha, they ha ! the wisdom to profit by
my advice (MEs When DR.. Wells fr'
came TO Gos,iptoSn, this wise and Pruded'
matron was very a.siduous IN her attentions
using every ar, 10 her power 10 en'rap him
into a marriage With one OF her Eve unmar
ried daushier,)
And the widow Jenkens is oi the sans
piece. I'm Of the oplniou, said the amiabl'
Miss Dorothy Norwood. The airs tha
that woman put. on are perfectly ridiculous
I should think. after Mi,. ,ba, she'd holC
her head q little lower
Il should think 40. too. chimed in tht
charitable Mrs Makeiuss. i guess II th'
truth was known. u would be found on
that she : 40 better than she ought 10 be
To my certain knowledge. she has been al
together ,oo free, not only with DR.. Wells
hut with other gentlemen ] could mention
For my part. should be glad IL her con
duet could be considered only in the lish
oi imprudence.'
Il, seems that che wasn't inpruden
enough to marry DR.. Wells. remarked Mi.
Lo,etalk; though one could zee, with hal
an eye. that she was over head and ears il
love with him. What could have been tb
rcason?'
Ths wa. r--ecbocd by the whole company
while deep perplcIi,y sat upon all thei
cOuhtenanees.
And this bring. US back to the commence
men, Of our story. Why didnt the wido'
Jsnkens marry DR.. well''
IL was clear to ,hc.e as:u,s minds. tba
the widow herself was the only psrson VII
could settle this vcIed question. Bot viii
oil her kindness Of heart and aG.biIitY. thsr
vi. a grn,le dignity in this laiy's manne
,ha, prevented any attempts at familiarity
90 no one was bold enough to ask her poin
blank. and hints and insinuai'ons she eiths
could not or would not understand.