Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-02-08
WisteI1 aMenn s.
THE WIDOWS PONY.
By MATTE DYER BRITTs.

-.f By MATTE DYER bRITTS.
Martin Brimmer took anotion tc gel
married. s..7 SO 2s...-.
Why in the world Martin Brimmer had
not taken such notion and carried il
out long before, [ an sure 1 don't know
unless he was like boastful fellow ]
once heard of, Who said he could marry
any woman hepleased, when up spoke q
pert little sister and said, yes, but you
can't please anybody. e:..s'. - -. e' 81
Martin Brimmer, however, being g
thrifty, respectable, good look ing bache,
lor Of thirty, with plenty of money in his
pocket. l think he might have pleased
somebody. Itwas more likely owing to
his excessive bashfulness that he remained
SO long single, and endured the horrors
of boarding house, when he would have
|'preferred the comforts of his own home
with tidy title wife for m istress.
Martin was not lacking in physical
courage. Had he been a soldier he would
have faced the mouth Of a cannon with
out Ainehiug. but to face the rosebud
mouth of pretty woman was trial viii
made him shake in his shoes, and to
ask one to become Mrs. Brimmer, W 18th a
probability of getting "no" for an answer,
was point which bis moral.sour.ge bad
never been able to reach.
So, though as l said at first, Martin
Brimmer had notion to marry. he only
sighed, and resolved and failed to venture,
and seemed not to come one whit nearer
to the carrying out of his resolution.
Providence, however. helps those who
try to help themselves, and Providence
was about to come to Martins aid in the
prettiest shape possible.
Ithappened that just across the street
from the hotel where Mr.. Brimmer board
ed, there was cunning little cottage, land
this cottage was owned by cunning lit
tie widow, as round as June apple and
great deal sweeter, whose name was
Jennie Powers.
Upon this cottage, and especially upon
the pretty little widow. Martin had many
time cast longing eyes. He would sit
by his window and follow her with ad-
miring eyes when she went out Cor ride
or lamble, and in church of Sunday
morning. when he should have been lis
tening to the parssn's sermon. he would
generally look at the bewitching wild
ow, and long to press the little dimpled
hand which showed so prcttly in contrast
with her black dress.
Ofnights it was an actual torment to
Martin to sec the light from the widows
window, and think what delightful even
ings one M ight speld in that cosy parlor
in such charming society. But his &C
quaintancs with Mrs. Powers only extern
ted SO far as the exchange of courtesies,
and he was too timed to press it further.
Now this willy little widow had two
very sharp, bright eyes in her pretty
head and she saw the state of Mr.. Mar
tins mind as plainly as he did himself.
She knew very well what his inclinations
were, and as the cottage wasquite large
enough for two, and someweat lonely for
one, she was hot averse to receiving any
advances he might make.
But if he was SO stupid that he would
not make any, she could not-all she
could do was to make herself as pretty and
tantalizing as possible. and leave the rest
to fate and Martin Brimmer. g..
One afternoon Martin received a sud-
den summon to his brother, some twenty
miles distant His business WAS impor-
tant, and the Journey must be taken.
There being neither railroad uor stage
coach in the right direction, Martin de-
cided to 20 on horseback, and leisurely
wended his way to the livery stable to
hire horse. ,'1 o. sa. ~ .- d
But here he was doomed to disappoint-
mens. The village young folks had
picnic that day, aud every available piece
of horse flesh in the stable was gone.
There was no other stable, SO Mar tin,
somewhat perplexcd went back to his
landlord and inquired of him where he
could be likely to hire horse.
oval, really don't know" drawled
tho worthy Daniel Lambert, "unless the
widow Powers, over here, would lend
you her pony" 1'
sWhat, her brown horse p said Mar
tin. flushing oil over at the idea of
asking favor from his pretty neighbcr.
eyes, the brown pony you've seen her
ride 30 oftep." said the landlord. "she's
. mighty obligin' little body. and l make
no doubt you'd get him. He's mighty
nice. easy animal to ride, too"
Eyes Well, I'll see about it," OBJ
served Martin. walking slowly out on the
verrandah, trying to get his courage up
high enough to face the widow and ask
the loan Of her pony.
Fact is, must )" remarked Martin
to himself, land | don't know how else
to get there. III have to do it, and its
no use to be a fool SO here goes p Down
the steps he went, and boldly struck
across the street for the widows cottage.
Now it happened that little Mrs. Jen;-
ME sat by her parlOr window and saw
him coming.
"Mercy on me-" she thought, "what
ca,n, hiring The man here ut last I Wonder