Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-06-15
4 LEAP YEAR PLOT,

State OF -,
A handsome Young fellow was
Tom, ami a clever one too, and
enough oi catch to keep in contin-
nal palri,atou the hearts Of some
wauty or thirty susceptible young
ladies, aad the heads OF thcirmanou
yering mamas, to say nothing Of
brothers. who liked influence, and
male parents with an eye to he main
chance. and Tom bore his honols
meek.y. all his duty by all, and
would have acted Lothsno to rerf C.
ton We're ii not that, however he at
tempted to conceal it, everyone was
pretty sure that his heart had beeu
given away some two or three years
previous, and one person knew il,
and that was lovely Mary Field, who
held the gift in fee
All, but poor Mary it was doubt
full If, after all, the gift was worth
the having, for it was Of tina: ttou.
1 blesomc nature, from the moment it
came into her possession, her peace
. OF mimi went ay and at the time
/ of which we speak her patielce WAS
nearly gone too.
A long engagement is a weary
thing particularly long engage
.ment Kept secret, ana more pahcu-
larly still when no earthly eason eX-
lists why that engagement should not
find a speedy end in matrimony
But Tom "hadn't quite settled
vet and so wanted better to be
able TO keep Muy like lovely lad!
as she vas, and so forth and SO on, az
mfutlu4 In fact, though Tom wal
awfallv in love, he liked dallying
and had an instructive horror o
housekeeping and babies AnC
matters went on, and poor Mary wa
talked about and wondered at an,
speeulated upon, and kept denyini
sofrimpeachments, until the accumu
lated Peliol OF tbs she had piled u
on the Osea Of her conscience bl
fair to ITO o'srtop the skyish head c
blue Olympus aud that before lon-
too.
So affairs stood on the day whic
we write. when Tom sat in his otiict
studving out his difficult case az
Mary sat home, perhaps-wh
auows.-tryiug to study out Ton
But other business, equally urgen
was beng carried on, il we migl
Judge from the excited and equal
determined couuteuances, Of a TT
j umyirate, which was holding so
emn and important conclaye in th
little back rar,or Of Miss Mnery
Williams, dear though, somewA'
vehement soul Z forty summers
+ Miss Betsy Pmkins, her cotempor
nv in wears, held the chair, and Mr.
Mercy MouI Is9n-widow Moulso'
. as She was caLled-complsted II
trio.
The proceedings were carried c
= with much mystery and consider
y tie emphatic talking, and alter son
two hours debate, terminated |
d suudry tea-cups full Of warm cons
+ latior, the meeting adjourned, al
the parties separated, mischief spar
a., ling in tile brilliant eyes Of the ia
/ widow, Tranquil c7mplacvney hol
= ing her throne in Miss Betsy fac
and high and stern resolve dist
gushing the uncompromisins tei
D ures Of the warl Ike and dlgnih
Minerva,
! Not a very ug time bad pas
when there came knock at Ton
ST Office door, and the prompt answ
10 was
70 Come in
b, In alked Mrs. Mercy Moaltc
smiling serenely.
ID Our hero politeness was exc
Il sive. and amid much bowiEg, spec
O. living, AMI SO forth the far visits
was com lortably installed IN cha
he and Tom waited, all at enhon,
is the dis losure Of her business.
ry "You are, perhaps surprised
n seeing me, Nj. Rathburn?'
"Oh, dear no, replied the gall'
49, Tom. Lawyers are never surpr'
oS only too happy" e'c,
ba m Hen, said the widow, i r'
~"
ny dame; take time said Tom consld
'at ately, perfectly sure that the lady
I'm called to entrust him with law bI
ais ness Of a delicate and lucrative
tare. II you say 50 | will contIl
1e for awhile"
re- "Oh, no; it is best TO have it o.
'he A-a-excurc me; but-Tbs IS '
ieS embarrassing
es' ooh, no, said Tom soothn
IN mot at al ! am the reclpien
ave so many condolences, You need
Oh, mind It at all, Is there anytnl
,ed can do for your
tty "Yes. have come or rat
po-a8d yet.-Oh, how drtadi'
'nk is to be lonely, unprotected, h
re- less woman
IS a "Ah it is indeed. "A condola
ay, sigh from Tom.
iaii ''For one who has been-been
tn erwlse, and the widow butled
face in a cambric handkerchief,
the the daily sadness Of oil
The ssy,-retrospect, muslng IN I,
'nt- and solitude over. Mr' hatu'
mat never having been widow yonI
k Of YOU don't know what a doleini
lure widow is. .
"Ah, | know said Tom' {
SIN. prepared in the exuberancs OF
Lle- sympathy 10 declare himself VI
ght- or ANYTHING else that might be f
dps. factory. III / eau serve you r.
.er's he pressed her hand 'coi1n
lasis me.