Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-09-25
THE WIDOW WOOD.

don't say brother Ben's widow wasn't
pood-looking for her age and size. Then,
too, she had pretty penny left her. And
she might have married well if she want
ed to change her condition. but, you see,
MARGARET Ann was fool--she was a
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" couldn't
help seeing that. The fact of the matter
is. that, as general thing, widows do
make fools, of themselves oftener than
girls.
In this case / admit the age was the
only obstacle. Sam was a good young
man, above selling himself to woman
old enough to be his mother, for her
money-bag. Sam was a clerk in the store.
| was poor Ben's partner. I'd tried to
buy the widow out. I'd said over and
over again, Margaret Ann, you have
plenty and to spare, why not retire." but
YOU see she wouldn't. Ben had left his
share of the furniture to her, and she
wouldn't drop it. After awhile | found
out the reason 1t was Sam Spencer.
That is why she liked to sail about the
store in her dead black silk; that is why
she was always finding some excuse to
hand down that part of the stock he had
in hand, mixing everything up and giving
him no end of trouble.
You see couldn't help it. The con-
Germ paid, and widow Wood owned just
as did. If said margaret Ann, go
home" she could 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, and she brought her white
poodle along with her. 80 lonesome, A"
She said she was, in the big house OPP
posite; 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 peach
es! | used to wonder whether old Ben
knew how soon he had been forgotten.
To be sure he was sixty when he died, a
bald-headed, stoop-shouldered man, with
solemn ways about him; but she'd been
his wife for twenty-three years, and
though I'm bachelor | know what feel
ings ought to be. And Ben was my broth
er, too. | hope it wasn't wicked OF me to
make up my mind to put an end to her
capers, as far as Sam went, and tell him
that we wanted young lady as cashier,
and why not? and if Lilly Rathbone
could leave Grigg 81 Crater, I'd give her
the place. Sam was in love with Lilly,
knew that, but Margaret Ann had not seen
her.
Margaret Ann" said /, one day, 1--WE
will have new cashier to-day. We need
one, and have engaged one"
Well" said Margaret Ann, perhaps
We do. | hope he's nice young man
and good-looking. Good looks attract Gus
tom"
/ am glad you coincide with me, y
says |, and laughed to myself, for l knew
Margaret Ann was thinking of some
body else to firt with. But | said
nothing.
1t was fun to see her face change when
she saw Lilly behind the counter next
day And she gave it TO me in the private
Office can tell you. She hated females
about store, and she didn't like Lilly's
looks. l could laugh at her, however
there. had good references with Lilly
and signed written contract with her fol-
six months. She was to be cashier, you
know, as | told you. Margaret AnE
couldn't help herself, and | suppose she
knew it, for she said nothing after that,
and Sam and Lilly were as happy az
young birds / believe he proposed tc
her behind my counter; knew he did j,
somewhere, and knew he was accepted
"Lord bless YOU" says to myself, land
help you to build your nest. I'm moi
crusty if am bachelor"
A few days after | found Margaret Ann
in the Office in a towering rage, with hel
face flaming.
"Richard," says she, "a woman is al
admire pretty face, so they are always
Wood. Many time he's thought wo
man everything that was splendid unit
I've proved that she wasn't by telling hin
things Now I've found out about YOU
Lilly Rathbone. She's exactly what
thought--exactly"
"Well, what is it ~ says /.
'No better than she should be-" says
Margaret Ann. II saw her kiss San
Spencer behind the counter this blessed
morning"
"And he didn't want her to, ] suppose
and halloed for helpg" says l.
'You know what men are" says she
"of course he kissed her back"
Didn't ne kiss her first?" says l.
"Well, she let him, anyhow" says she
"Well," says /, II suppose you used u
kiss Ben after you were engaged, if mo-
befOre.''
"What has that to do with it," says
she. "Why, they-at least-did he propose
her coming here, Richard?"
NO." said l, "but they are engaged
Margaret Ann"
Don't believe il" says she.
Its gospel TRUTH" says l.
And then-well, didn't mind it; i
didn't hurt me q bit-but that woman