The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1865-02-10
Ghe 9tnia Sentinel
SETH w. BROWN, EDITOR.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1865.
THE WIDOWS BEAU.
BY MRs. oARoIINE A. goULn.


little sanctuary, which the inhabitants Of
Fairmount had conseereatedto the worship
of God The minister had read the Psalm
and the Sculpture lesson, and the first lines
Of the opening hymn. The eyes Of his
people were fixed intently upon him, for
be was not only good, sound, eloquent
preacher, but he was a fine looking one
too, and thus enchained usually not only
the attention of the true but the false
Worshipper. The house was very still
the clear, melodious tones Of the speaker
we're the only sounds that throbbsd on the
balmy, golden air which the midsummer
Sabbath morn had breathed into that holy
place. The first syllable of the second
line was trembling on his lips, when a
rustic at the door, and the entrance of two
persons, a lady and gentleman, dissOlV>
ed the charm. In a second, every eye
turned from the pulpit to the broad aisle,
and watched with more than ordinary
eagerness the progress of the couple. A
most searching ordeal we're they subjected
to, and when they were fairly and quietly
seated in the front pew, Immediately be-
fore the pulpit, what nudging Of elbows
there was, az, and how many whispers too,
In vain sought the good, the sound, the
eloquent, the handsome Mr.. B. to seal
again the attention of his hearers. They
had eyes and thoughts for nobody but
Widow c., and Widow C.'s young and
dashing- looking attendant.
How she had cheated them! Hadn't
she said an hundred times or more, that
her heart was in the grave of her buried
one, that she would never marry again
Hadn't she refused always to walk out OF
ride out with any of the unappropriated
gentlemen of the village2 Hadn't she
said she didn't feel as though she could
ever wear anything but mourning? And
in spite Of all these prOtestatiOns, hadn't
she come out, all at once, dressed all in
white, and walked into church in broad
day light, leaning on the arm of young
gentleman?
Yes, indeed she had. She would have
pleaded guilty to all these charges, grave
ones as they we're, and the last two, how
many witnesses might have been subN
penaed. She was actually dressed in
white. A beautiful robe of India null,
tucked to the waist, with an open corsage,
displaying an elaborately wrought chemi-
sette, drapery sleeves trimmed with the
richest Of Mechlin lace, undersleeves Of
the same expensive material, white Grape
shawl, white lace but with orange buds
and flowers, white kid gloves and light
CATERS, such was the description every
| lady had on her tougue's end to repeat
over as soon as service was closed. And
the gentleman--he too was dressed in style
Didn't he wear white pants of the latest
pattern, and a white vest, and coat Of
''satin .fnish," and white kids too; and
didn't be sport a SPLENDID pin and mas
sive chain, and didn't he gaze often, and
tenderly, and lovingly, on the fair creature
beside him? ? All yes, he did so, and there
was no farther room to doubt. Widow
c. had cheated them. She had won q
beau, laid aside her mourning, put on
bridal attire, and was gOingtO be married
in church. But who the beau was, OF
whence he came, was more difficult tC
solve.
Service proceeded. The choir sang, the
minister prayed and preached, the peo-
pie wondered when the ceremony would
take place. But, to their utter astOnish
ment, they were left to wonder. For wher
the benediction was pronounced, Widow
G. and the strange gentleman walked viii
the rest of the congregation quietly out 0.
the church. When they reached The
pavement, he offered his arm very grace
fully, and she placed her hand very con
idingly on the beautifully soft coat-sleeye
and they passed on.
What a incoming that was in FairmoUnt
What a world Of conjectures, surmises
INQUIRIES and doubts rolled over and owe
in the brains of not only gossiping ladies
but sober, matter-of-fact gentlemen. 'Th,
like of such thing had never occurred
before in the annals Of the village. Their
was something new under the sun-a Ia
dy had beau, and nobody knew Of ii
Widow CT Didn't your ears, not onl,
the right, but the left, burn that day
All, we wonder they hadn't dropped Of
surely they must have been crisp and Grim
son.
The Rev. Mr.. B. preached to a crowde
house that afternoon; no compliment t
him though. The magnet was in tn
pew before him. Every one was sure tn
wedding would take place then; bu
everybody was again sadly disappointed
and if tongues had run at railroad spec
before, they travelled then on the electri
wires. The minister might have preach
ed in Greek that day, and his sermO
would have been as edifying. But on
subject engrossed the village mind, Th
widows beau that was the topic.
1t actually seemed too as though th
lady tried to make all the talk she cOulC
After tea, arm in arm, with the strang
gentleman, she walked the whole lengt
Of the village and away out into th
cemetery, and never returned till the moo
was high.
GA nice looking dress, I guess sh
had" drawled out old Grandma W., q
: she listened to the widows wandering
I'm glad haint got to wash it, all drable
up with dew as it must have been but
don't 'spose she thought or cared a wOr
about it, she's so carried away with hin
. But I'll give her a peace Of my mind, II
first time 1 have a chance, see if l don
Cheating US all in this way"
But the good old dame began to. fei
by Wednesday night, she should noy,