Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-08-03
THE WIDOWS LOVE.
BIZ AMY RANDOLPH.

Miss Jerusha Budd was sitting all
alone, in the soft, scented moonlight
of the summer evening. She had turn
ed down the light of the little hanging
lamp, in order better to enjoy the
hushed stiffness and the stars and the
fragrant air, and sat with her hands
crossed in her lap, and har quaint,
peaceful little face turned toward the
open window.
Jerusha was an old maid-that is.
she was fast verging upon her 29th
year-she wasn't particularly pretty,
nor particularly intellectual, and she
was dependent on her aunt for the
daily bread and mullins she ate, and
the daily cups of tea she drank; and
50, according to all the popular and
| old established ideas, she had no bust
ness to be the heroine of story
But what of that2 People do exist
in this world just as plain, and ordina-
ry and poverty stricken as our little
Miss Budd, and merciful providence
allows them to live. Shall we be less
tolerant?
She had bright brown hair, and big,
shady hazel eyes, as a sort of set of
against her wide mouth and muddy
complexion, and her teeth were white
and regular, and her lips as red as the
reddest cardinal flower that blazes in
the woods of August. So, after all, she
had something to be thankful for
"Dear me, Jerusha, how frIghtfully
dark it is here, Are you asleep? Do
turn up the light, and bring up some
wax candles, and shut the window, un-
less you want to be eaten alive by the
mosquitoes"
1t was the voice of Mrs. Cortland
petulant and irascible. Jerusha rose
with sigh, to obey the imperous sum
mons. The pretty little widow was
no easy task mistress to those whom
fate had placed under her command.
t'There, that's more like it. Nov
take down my hair and get me ready
for bed. It's past twelve, and so stu
pid down stairs. That provoking Ma
jor Rochefort never came near me
: though know he was smoking hi
horrid cigar out on the lawn. I'll cur,
him of that habit when once I'm mar
ried to him. Take care, Jerusha, d.
: you intend to pull my hair out by th,
roots ?'
''It was slip of the brush, aunt
: I'll be more careful in future" apollo
gized the guilty girl, coloring a vivi'
scarlet.
Mrs. Cortland looked complacently a
the reflection of her face and figure in tn
glass; a round, dimpled face, and ros
pouting lips, deep blue eyes beneat
perfectly penciled brows, and gloss
protusion of golden hair. No wonde
the widow laughed and. drew out wit
, her pretty fingers the long curls tina
drooped over her shoulder.
Nobody would think | was da
over thirty said Mrs. Cortland. ''Br
there's a great deal in keeping one
1t self well preserved, and letting thos
odious late suppers and champagne
alone. You poor little Jerusha, 30
look old enough to be my grandmotl
Ell
n Jerusha sighed. She would ha,
been no true woman if she had NJ
many a time wished for the dangerou
gift of beauty.
.EBut you shall have some of n
wide black lace to festoon over yol
old blue silk, and come in the BIS
room tomorrow night. went on Il
little widow, feeling generously di
. posed.
= THANK you aunt. don't care
como in
"But you must. Ill give you a p,
of my soiled white gloves, and you c
easily clean EN- up with little hart
ng horn and milk; and a bunch of viii
nd rose buds from the garden will be gu
on dress enough for your hair. I ws
- you to see my splendid Major Rocl
81. fort"
Your Major Rocl EFFORT. aunt ?''
GAS good as mine,' responded
self conscious widOw,wth sparkle
the turquois- blue eyes. "If ever m,
tai was captivated, he is; everybody
talking of it, and congratulating me
my conquest. Mrs. Ellys says he
the sweetest place up the Hudson, a
brown stone house in New York
a winter residence. Won't it be mic
Of course you will come and live W
us Jerusha; you can make yours
I . useful IN hundred deterrent wa
: and l never had a French maid "
dressed my hair as well as you do
Then, too, you've a real knack at
- ranging flowers in vases, and putt
Y the last finishing touches to ones t
\ ct after one is dressed !"
Jerusha smiled bitterly Were th
the sole qualifications which entit
her, in her Runt's eyes, to home