Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-02

pleasure of the company, and was real
glad it wasn't me that was his wife if he
vas such small, stingy soul"
Aunt billy pared the patch to fine
hole in her calico apron, burnt by spark
OF fire, and began sewing it on in silence.
We're those ali the beanx you ever
had, Aunt Oily z" asked Clara, looking
innocent.
mo, indeed guess not!" exclaimed
the old lady, emphatically slipping off
thread as she thought of the manner in
which the hopes OF her retinue of admirers
had been cut eff.
Tell more," said Lucy, stroking the
sleeping kittens.
u expect likely I might have been
keeping house for Dr.. Dillingham; to-day
if l had been SO Inclined" a5serted Aunt
Oily, looking about her with an air Of
triumphant defiance.
"Nhy, Aunt billy, didn't know you
ever even spoke with him!" exclaimed
Bessy.
:" havn't said l ever did," retorted the
ancient belle rather 6ercely. "Can's
folks tell nothing by other folks looks and
manners, want to knowa Many and
many Sunday when he has been preach
ing for our minister, while be was wi
dover, he has eyed me SO sharp that
dropped my veil over my face, till finally
| get learnt if | saw the old doctor ir the
| pulpit to make it a point to always sit
with my veil down. And | most com
monty kept my seat till he had passed
| down the aisle, then slipped out the other
door, from where / saw him stop and
stand looking and looking, as intent as
could be, to see when | came along. 1t
wss just SO after he had lost each OF his
wives, and he has had three of them be-
sides the present one."
4" How do you suppose he found out
| you were not married p asked CLARA.
There would be folks enough ready to
tell him. | had reason to think my name
was mentioned to him with recommend
more than once" returned Aunt Oily,
mysteriously.
wonder you didn't have him." re-
marked Bessy.
"Not | ! | never had no hankering to
be q minister's wife, though | have often
| thought / was cut out for one. | could
lead off in society SO well, and then | was
sprightIy without being giddy and full of
foolish notions, even when | was a young
girl. That wasn't such a dreadful long
while ago neither, Miss" she continued,
frowning again upon Clara, whom she dis
covered slyly smiling,
"You have had beaux since DR.. Dilling-
hams day, haven't you, Aunt billy 2"
asked Bessy, wishing to restore the equa-
nimity of the old lady's ruffled temper.
Well, | expect | might have had if it
hadn't been for Mrs. TaIkenton. expect
[ might have been second wife to her
father if she hadn't seen how things
were going, and took it upon herself to
NEEDLE and make in what was none of
her business. The old gentleman was
mighty soft, and pretty near as good as
made an offer of himself once or twice :;
but never quite made up my mind |
would marry to him, and | have never
been sorry | didn't. He isn't living now,
and think whether or NO | shouldn't
have felt lonesomer and more forlorn like,
if | had been left a widow than to always
remain single and | never was one that
was in flutter to marry just for the sake,
as folks say, of having Mrs. on my grave
stone.
but, Aunt Oily, didn't any of your
beaux really offer themselves to you after
, all 2" asked Lucy, full of wonder.
Aunt billy bridled, and puckered up
her mouth contemptuously.
Pears to me you are over-young to be
filing your head up with beaux and Of
ters. When l was your years, nobody
never heard such talk from me, and l
should think you would be better employ
ed studying your book than in interrupt,
ing older people with your sauey ques~
! tons"
Lucy looked astonished, not understand
ing her otfense; but she folded her hand
kerchef around one of the kittens tor
shawl and held her peace.
Immediately Aunt Dilly started up.
Somebody is driving into the yard
Who is it, girls2" said she, adjusting her
"Scotch pebbles and peering cautiously
from the window. "Oh, it is Mr.. Nor
ridgewock! | s'pose like enough he has
got some errand with your father; but
then, as he has lost his wife lately, it is
likely he is looking out for another, and
dou'J want to put myself in his way to
encourage him, nor to make talk"
SO Aunt Oily retreated to the citadel
of her own room, fully convinced, dear
old soul that she had had and neglected
not to say rejected-another "chance
to get married"