Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-18

DIuSn WenQeQ lCS way up from MS
shirt collar and tingled in his nose.
"Knew I did? Then you can I'M
derstand why am troubled on Toms
account. Any great disappointment
now might ruin him for life. Now
Jessica is called a coquette."
"And so am T. said the widow Ro-
sipozic.
"But you are not" said Mr. Wig
wag.
"Of course not; and neither is Jes-
sica coquette, though she has refus-
ed several offers of marriage, which
she had perfect right to do; but
she never led any man to suppose
that his final answer would be differ
ent from what it was"
Every good, Mrs. Rosipozie, very
good indeed; and, by the way, I hope
she never will lead any man into a
proposal of marriage, until she has
made up her mind to accept him."
"Mr. Wigwagr Now I've been
trying for the last five minutes to
make out how Mrs Rosipozie's hand
got inside Of the apothecary's, but l
can't for the life of me. don't be-
lieve Mr.. Wigwag knew, and I'm sure
Mrs. Rosipozie didn't. "Mr. Wig
wag," said the widow, "if you only
knew our family better"
II wish | did," muttered Mr.. Wig
wag, and he squeezed her hand just
little-just the slightest contraction
of the muscles, you knOw-but it sent
a thrill to the widows heart, aud such
thrill She had felt nothing like it
since the death of her own James.
I-Im almost sure that Jessica
loves Tom"
"Bless her" cried Mr.. Wigwag.
"And | like Tom, very much"
"And he ought to have a good wife,"
said Mr. Wigwag.
"And Jessica will make a good
wife; but twill be hard for me to
lose her. | shall be quite alone then"
said the widow, in a pensive tone
"And it isn't good to be alone"
muttered Mr. Wigwag. "I'ye thought
sometimes that should marry again.
Indeed 7 said the widow.
Il don't know of but one woman
that | would marry" and Mr.. Wig
wag squeezed that little hand.
Il wonder who that can be-" And
Mrs. Rosipozie looked very. innocent.
H er conntenance was decidedly
opaque, though her little heart beat
at terrible rate.
"If thought she'd marry me-"
"Why don't you ask her ?" inquir-
ed the widow.
"Wili you. Mrs. KOslpozle p
"Mr Wigwag! p cried the widow,
trying to restrain her feelings.
"Will you, Mrs. RoSipozie q he re-
peated.
Mrs, Rosipozie looked at Mr.. Wig
wag, and Mr.. Wigwag looked at Mrs.
Rosipozie.
Was this in your mind when you
came here tonight ?" she asked.
eyes, Mrs. Rosipozie, I've been
thinking Of it for two years"
, "And you wasn't quite so anxious
about young Tom as"
; CAS- | was about old Tom" laughed
Mr.. Wigwag.
40, you rogue! p cried the widow.
80, you jewel will you be mine ~
| ITO be sure | will, Tom my love .
2 and before you could say Jack Robin
: son, she was in his arms, and old
: Tom Wigwag was kissing Mrs Rosi-
5 pozie: and Mrs, Rosipozie was kissing
old Tom Wigwag, and they embraced
/ each other with all the ardor of young
r lovers, and said a thousand foolish
r things, as all lovers, either old OF
t young, will say upon such occasions.
0 Wont Jessica be delighted y cried
the widow.
J, "And Tom-no, Tom must not
Il know of it, he'd plague the life out of
: me. Upon my word, love, | dom
+ think it will do to let the young folk;
e know anything about it. We mus
get married before they even suspec
u that we are ever going to- said ole
Tom Wigwag
5 "But how can we do that ?' asked
, the widow.
st by George! I've got it" cried Mr.
t. Wigwag. ave will get everything
j. ready-and, by the way, how Ions
d will it take you?"
Y 40, month perhaps said the wild
,e oW.
g. "Very good-a month it is. We'll
!, say four weeks from tonight. II
have a carriage ready at twelve
,. o'clock. You must write q note fol
Jessica, and I'll write another fol
a Tom, which they will both find in the
morning. Meantime you and | viii
)" have slipped away in the darkness
and before sunrise we will be il
(. W., where the knot shall bt
q tied, when we will take the next trair
to New York"
f "Good !! cried the widow Rosipo
a zie. But won't it seem almost toe
IS romantic for such an old coupled"
"Egad | never felt younger in my
y life" cried old Tom Wigwag, giving
d the widow kiss.
"And you never looked more beau
n tiful p
80, you fatterer!"
IS Whang went the outside door
l. starting the lovers out of their seats
d "What's that ?" asked the widow
d turning pale.
It '1'll see, cried Tom Wigwag, run
Il ming out into the hall.
a, Mrs. Rosipozie listened with hush
t ed breath.
f "There's no one here, my darling
It The wind blew the door together
t that's all; and so he came back anc
> sat down beside her.
t you're nervous, tonight" said he