Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-16
Widow Wood.


wanted to change her condition but you
see Margaret Ann was a fool-she, /
widow of forty, to set her cap for young
Sam Spencer, who was only twenty-four
If | was her brother-in-law, and if Ben
had said to me as he did, Richard, al
ways be kind to Margaret Ann" [ could
not help seeing that. The fact of the
matter is, that, as a general thing, wild
ows do make fools of themselves oftener
than girls.
In this case, | admit the age was the
only obstacle. Sam was good young
man, above selling himself to woman
old enough to be his mother for her mon
ey bags. Sam was clerk in store.
| was poor Ben's partner. I'd said over
and over again, Margaret Ann, you
have plenty to spare why not retire p
But, you see, she wouldn't Ben had
left his share of the furniture to her and
she wouldn't drop it. After while [
found out the reason. 1t was Sam Spen-
Ger.
That was why she liked to sail about
the store in her dead black silks; that
was why she was always finding some
excuse to hand down that part of the
stock he had in hand, mixing every thing
up and giving him no end of trouble.
You see, I couldn't help it. The con-
Germ paid, and the widow owned just as
much as 1 did. If I'd said, Margaret
Ann, go home she would have said,
"I've right here That was it. She
never waited on customer. She never
did anything but bother and pry. She
had no children to occupy her, $50 lone
some," she said she was, ''in the big
house opposite, and that was why she
had us come to tea so much of late
Well, this went on for nearly year.
Big eyes at Sam, sweet smiles, soft speech
es [ used to wonder whether old Ben
knew how soon he had been forgotten.
To be sure he was sixty when he died,
and a bald-headed, stoop-shouldered man,
with solemn ways about him. but she'd
been his wife for twenty three years, and
though | am a bachelor. | know what
feelings ought to be. And Ben was my
brother, too l hope it wasn't wicked
for me to make up my mind to put ar
end to her capers, as far as Sam went
and to tell him that we wanted young
lady as cashier, and why not, if Lilly
Rathbone could leave Grigg & Crater
I'd give her the place. Sam was il
love with Lilly, knew that, but Mar
garet Ann had not seen her.
Margaret Ann" says l one day, "w
will have a new cashier to-day. w
need one and | have engaged one
"Well,' said Margaret Ann, "per
haps we do. [ hope he is nice youn!
man and good looking. Good looks at
tract custom. :"
Il am glad you coincide with me,
says l. And laughed to myself, 70
l knew that Margaret Ann was thinkin
of some one else to firt with, but 1 sal
nothing.
1t was fun to see her face chang
when she saw Lilly behind the counte
next day. And she gave it to me i
the private office, can tell you. Sh
hated females about store and she di
not like Lilly's looks. I could laugh 8
her, however, there. l had good refe1
ences with Lilly, and signed a write
agreement with her for six months. Sh
was to be cashier, you see, as | told 20,
Margaret Ann couldn't help herself, 6
l suppose she knew it, for she said notl
ing after that, and Sam and Lilly wei
as happy as young birds. [ believe h
proposed to her behind the counter
knew he did it somewhere, and kne7
, he was accepted.
!, s.Lord bless you,' said I to mysel
"and help you build your nest" | al
not crusty if am a bachelor.
A few days after, I found Margar,
Ann in the Office in towering rag
with her face flaming. Richard" say
she, ''a woman is always right about al
, other woman. Men admire prett
face, so that they are blinded by it.
was always so with Mr.. Wood. Man
time he's thought a woman everythin
that was splendid until I've proved tn;
she wasn't by telling him things. No
I've found out your Lilly Rathbon
r She's exactly what l thought exactly
"Well, what is it !? says I.
D "No better than she should be- sa,
Margaret Ann. 81 saw her kiss Sa
Spencer behind the counter this blesst
morning"
p "And he didn't want her to, l suppos
S and hollered for help?'' says |.
"You know what men are, )" says sh
Y ''of course he kissed her back
didn't he kiss her first p says I.
"Well, she let him, anyhow" sa
she.
, "Well," says |, Il suppose you us
!. to kiss Ben after you were engaged,
e not before %
IS 'sWhat has that to do with it?' sa
she. "Why, they-at least-did
II p,ox1oco h., boro p,obor1 0''