Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-12-02
GALES = Sketches.
HIGGINS AND TmE WIDOW.
By S. H., OF ALABAMA.

One day Sandy Higgins came into my
Office and sat down without a word. For
some minutes he sat still, watching me in
tentlv, as if to make out by the sound Of
my pen what ! was writing.
Squire" " he said at length, 'did | ever
tell you about my scrapc with the widow
Horny up here on the river ?''
Never did," said |, laying down my
pen, "let's have it,"
"They're curious creatures, widows is,'
said he in meditative tone, land the more
you study about 'em the more you don't
know anything about 'em. What was this
thing I've read about in Egypt, or some
other country, that nobody could unrid-
die 2"
1.-THE SphynX, probably" l replied
well" he continued, that was n wi
dow us sure rs you ever had granny.
Everything else in the earth has been found
out but them, and they're al much n mys-
terry to-day as thc length of the North
Pole. You may read the history of the
world, from Genesis to Revelations, and
you'll find that widows have been Mt the
bottom or top of five quarters of all the
devilment that has been cut up. Was you
ever in love with one p''
Lots Of them," said |.
"G ou' re great gandCr-that's what you
are" said he. "a man that loves one and
gifts over it won't never get bit by another,
II he's got rs much sense as ground-hoG
don't consider that I've cot any sense ut
all, but I'm little too smart to let another
of them get all the trumps on me. The
widow Horny that i was speaking of, is a
little the handsomest woman, | reckon,
that ever looked man into fits, and |
ought to be q judge, for I've seen lots of
pretty women in my day. She was about
twenty-five years old when went UP there
to work, just in the bloom Other beauiy,an
rs full of deviltry as three-year old mule
colt. There was ball over at Jenkins's,
and of course | went, for | always go where
there's any fun going on, and generally act
the fool before ! get away. or course, the
widow was there, dressed rs fine rs Solo
mons lilies, and flying around rs irisky as
young lamb in rye patch. | got intro
duced to her and asked her to dance with
me, and when she flashed her eyes at me
and said yes jumped up like had sit
down on gridde. You may talk about
sensation, but when she took hold Of my
hand and sorter squeezed it, felt a sensa-
ton as big as Il load of wood, and il kept
running up and down my back like Il sqir-
rel with hawk after him. I'm very fond
of dancing, but III be hanged If | know
whether enjoyed it that night or not, for
every time she took hold ofmy hand I'd
commence feeling curious behind the eaIs
and up and down my back again, and then
| wouldn't know whether was on earth or
in balloon, or on comet, anythlngabout
it, lt was undoubtedly II case Of love at
first sight, and Il powerful bad case AT that.
For wonder got through the trolic with
out making myself conspicuous or cutting
"a | in tlN.4 nf
ing when go into public. I'd set my pegs
To go home with the widow after the ball,
just AS | was fixing my mouth 10 ask her,
up steps a big, long, leather faced doctor,
named Mabry, aud walked right of before
my eyes. That rallied me some, but kept
my tongue still, inwardly swearing to break
his bones the first opportunity that prcsen-
ted itself | saw there was no use IN say
ing anything, So went home and went 10
bed, aud ALI tho rest of the night Was
dreaming about rainboYs, angels, butter
tlles, widows, aud doctors, mixed up worse
than Dutchman's dinner
"Well, Squire, to make short story OF
II, made ur my mind Ia have tho widow,
or Kill myself or somebody else.
80 made Il convenient 10 be on hand
where she was, upon all occasions.
couldn't eat nor sleep nor work, and II the
lhlhs hau hclu on N"Hihh nav. HNh
scnce enough lon t1 bkin a rabbit. hut
was determined il shouldn't last long, ior
III been foolnd 90 oiien by women that
thought wouldn't give heT time to think
OF anything but ne, she appeared 10 take
nae right sharply, aud the doetor seemed
inclined to mix la With me, but ! dldnt
consider him NO more than bash fence,
I fnF | was 80 Tar gune | thought she could
ass n0body on earth bat ms. Well, squire,
lhings senl on ~ iOT about menth, aud
one Sunday ! screwed up nay spnnk aud
! ed and sorler lo0ked oge sided, and hnally
/ told nis chs eouidn't give sar an aassef lusl
I thea, bus II ~ call az heF ho,lse neAi fhnFa'
day ssenins, sle'd give lae = hnal anssef'
Ihlnks 1, yuu're nlilr jusi as slie As lliate =
4 ndlls belos. MhrneFef aoii,ah t'Aes
lline " siudy she'll aay yes' nslulls, d9ii1
| lhe li0sls say soiagihlaE about "a. ssies'