Ellsworth American., 1863-12-11
VOL. TX, NO. AZ.


il tongues had run at railroad speed be.
fore, they travelled thon on electric wires.
The ministee might have preached in
Greek that day, and his sermon would
nave been quite as ediying. But ono
subject engrossed the village mind. The
widows beau. That was the topic,
1t actually seemed too as though the
lady tried to make all the talk she could
After tea, arm ia arm. with the strange
gentleman, she walked the whole length
Of the village and never returned till the
moon was high,
a nicc-lookins dress, 1 guess she
had" drawled out old Grandma w. as
she listened to the widows wanderings.-
&" I'm glad haint got to wash it, al
drabb.ed up with dew as it must have
been-but don't s'posc she thought OF
cared a word about it, she's so carried
away with him But I'll give her piece
of mind, the first time | have a chance
see if don't, Cheating US ali in thi.
way"
But the good old dame began to fear
by Wednesday night, she should never
have the desired chance She hurried
through her washing on Monday. and
hobbled over to the widows as soon as
possible, but the door was locked, and one
Of the neighbors said, Mrs. G. and the
gentleman went off in carriage, nobody
knew where, very early in the morning
Yes. and never got home till niue clock
in the evening Look out, Widow c.
Your character is on the carpet!
If she knew it, apparently she didn't
care, for the next day she went sailing
v,tt her beau, and the next day ramb-
l,~s with him away of to the mountain,
and on the next forenoon went with him
in a carriage to the station house, and
there not only wept q. she parted from
him, but actually embraced and kissed
him.
What, in broad daylight ?" c1claim-
ed Grandma W. well, if ever | seed
or heed the like ont
Little Nell. the old lady's youngest
rreadchiIi, uon lered to herself. if it
were auy worse in broad daylight than at
any other tune Perhaps you will won-
der too. We do. at least.
There vas very large attendance that
afternoon at the weekly meeting of the
sewing society. Everybody went that
could leave home. Aud what chatter
ing there vas VIXEN the hustle of assem-
bling Vas over. There was but one topic
but that was ail-sufh ,ient, all-engrosslng
tue widows beau-for that gentleman
must be her beau, or at least, he ought 10
be.
Everybody had something 10 tell some
thing to vondcr about But suddenly
every maspie tongue was hushcd, uni
versa stroke Of dumb palsy seemed to
have fallen on the group. as looking up, 1t
perceived the very lady about whom they
were conver,ing SO eagerly, standing In
the doorway.
"Good afternoon, ladics, said she, in
her usual quiet, laly-Iise way. 81 am
r!ad to zee 50 large and happy ga,hef-
iur. 1t is beautiful day Tor our meet
ing :" aud then She PROCEEDED to the Ia.
bic, helped herself to a block of patch
work. Inquired for the sewins-siik, which
having received she sat down III the only
vacant chair, aud commenced hemmlng
very red bird with yellow wing, on
very green twig, which latter had already
been hemned on to square piece OF
white cloth, and the whole when compIet-
e1 was to form the twentieth part OF
beI.spread. She seemed al engrossed
with the birds bill, aud spoke to no one.
Everybody wondered if she had heard
what they were saying when she came IN,
but her placid count"nance soon re-assared
the most fearful, and every one lonsed to
commence personal attack.
Old Graudma W. was the first to ven
,ure. She meant ito do u the matter
very delicately, and in SO roundabout a
way" the lady should not suspect her OF
curiosity. So she began By praisins Mrs,
C.'s dress. why. it's real beauty
said she; "whcre did you get it ~
II bough, it" was the quiet reply
Here %
No"
"Wherc, then ?"
"In New York, last spring,
"Oh, YOU did, did you? Bat | thot
YOU wasn't never going to wear anything
but nIac. again" Every eye scrut.nlled
the lady's face this time In search OF
blush, but it continued as pale as usual
while she answered
Il did think and say 50 once, but
have finally changed my mind"
"You have ha. But what made
your
"Oh, had good reasons"
Here the hearers and lookcrs-on winked
expressively at each other.
Bus didn't you spoil your beautiful
white dress Sunday night, wearing it way
up there to the burying ground :
"I did not.r
"You didn't. du tell. But how
could YOU help it? There was wonder
ful heavy dew"
IL did not Uear II.
Here was a damper to the old lady
She had such a long lecture to deliver on
extravaganza. and she was so determlnea
to do it, too, when, unfortunately Tor her
eloquent strain, Mrs. C.'s dress had hung
nm in her wardrobe all the time. and she
had worn an old black silk.
After awhile the old lady took fresh
start She would not be SO bafiled again.
She would find out all about that peau u
t.thaf she WOulu -