Richland beacon., 1873-05-10

eed, "betweenf fhirty and fOrty.'
marrying again she would have de-
Ned herself If consolation, and would
Have been obliged TO give up that bewitch-.
ing widows cap. ''And | will never do
that. never." Thus vowed Widow NJ Bride
in her sorrow.
But Farmer Prindle was igaOrant of
that vow, and ia his ignorance he grew
wrathy as he thought of the pretty
widow, and as he passed her house that
night he silently called her by a peculiar
name that would rhyme very well with
evil i'm poetry, but cannot be mention
ed in prose. Having thus relieved his
mind. aud made room for peaSanter
thoughts, he paid tribute TO his wife's
virtues, and remembered all She had one.
without the least reference to what she
had left undone.
Yet, alas II must be confessed that dur
ing Mrs. Prindle's lifetime what she had
left undOne had been uppermost in her
lords mind. and not i'm his mind only. bur
also in his heart and in his speech. Hard
work, sour lOO-s unkind words, had been
her earthly portion. and she had carried
into practice her husbands theory that
IT THIS worlds vale of tears"
Mr.. Prindle was not bad man, and his
wife was 1.-THE best of women" as he was
in the habit of saying. Why. then, had
they not been happy togethe |? Because
Mr. Prindle had made IA great mistake ::
not being h nl,elf the best of men, the
best of women had been too much for
him. Her meekness had made him hard.
her obedience had made him impatient
and her tears had made him angry. E.
And if 1t was so with her. What would
it be with another?' he asked himself
sOlemnly. No, no. no Widow NJ bride
for me-" Perhaps he was right. But
why he so fervently objected to the widow
remains an open question for he met her
but seldom, and on these occasions she
did not pay the least attention to him, nor
had she at any time annoyed or molested
him by her smiles.
1t 50 happened that, the very next day,
Mrs. Crane. wishing to make griddle-
cakes for supper. went TO Mrs. VI Brides
to borrow some buttermilk, "if so be she
had any to spare"
1t SO was that Mrs. NJ Bride could spare
some, and welcome. Then Mrs. Crane sal
down to have talk, a thing which most
women can always "spare"-and welcome
too.
Having mentioned this, that, and the
other. they finally alighted upon Mr.
| Prindle's devoted head.
How would you like him for hus.
| band?" asked Mrs. Crane. x -
Me? that old manr' laughed Widow
| M'Bride. - ts....s. = -,
He amt SO old. either; he aln't turned
! fifty vet: and he has got a nice place, ant
no children, nor nothing to bother
| That's true; but somehow | dom
fancy him; he is hard man. And thcl
there's so much work to be done on /;
| farm" at
Il guess there's no more, work any
where than a woman has mind To do
You would know how 10 manage him
and get along with him. All men ar'
hard enough. for that matter yet il |:
kind of nice to have one in the house"
But, my dear Mrs. Crane, don't wan
a man in my house. hate men!"
,,, Maggie Nag; i, M'Bride! And You a-i'rt'n9
II never flirt," said the widow. witt
awful dignity. "YOu know don't: anC
in my weeds yet, And rs for Mr.. Prir
dle-I wouldn't. have him for his weigh
in gold" ---~
..Them's the very words he said abou
YOU no later than last night" said Mrs
Crane. throwing prudence tothe wind!
".Widow M'Bride!' said he, wOuldn'
]
his very words, as true as live"
Good land! Did Iever?" exclaimed
the widow. '.No, never did hear tn
like of that. Not want me! Did yol
ever, Well. | don't want him-wouldn'
touch him with pair of tongst so W
, are even, you see." :.
Mrs. Crane departed, not entirely i
r peace. IL wish | hadn't said it," sh
: thought. But she had said it, and t mus
t remain said forever.
t So thought Widow NJ Bride. as sh
4 watched Mrs. Cranes retreating form
, :" You horrid creature. IOr '"on't com
here agair. In a hurry. And as tor thu
e old mani te.iArer - Then suddenly
d smile shOne i'm her black eyes, and sprea
S all over her face, till she laughed alou'
: Yes. will do it-see if | DON'T" II
It said, shaking her plump little fist in II
!. direction of Farmer Prindle's "plane."
;; The next day. about noon. Mrs. NJ Bri,
went to the bank with fifty-dollir ar bill
e her pocket. viii you have the Kin
e ness to change this bill for me?r she as
ed Mr. Plum, in the most business-lll
y manner.
a "with the greatest pleasure" answe
ed Mr.. Plum. "HOw will you have 1t
1t In tives and tens, If you please" Al
IL
him with a smile that was not at all bu
n ness-like in itself, nor i'm its effect. NJ
W. Plum grew slightly rosy about the cheek
Or and decidedly sweet about the eyes.
e. 1T is pleasant day." he remarke
I'd Then looking at the clock, and seeing III
OF it wanted five minutes TO twelve, he su
it denly remembered that his landlady wis
er ed him to be punctual. Z" believe 9
going your way" he added, taking up
er hat hurriedly, "and if you VII all'
mt me"
Certainly" said Mrs. Mcbride. S
Id knew as well as he did that Elm str
he Gnd Pine street were as far apart as Z
d, streets can well be; nevertheless D
Plum's remark was perfectly true-he v
be going her way.
an As gOod luck would have it, wh'
nd should they meet at the corner of h
e's street but that odious Mr.. Prindle!
that moment Mrs. M'Bride was so deel
le. interested in Mr. Plum's conversation Il
ce, she did not see Mr.. Prindle. This I'M
the farmer angry, for he had prepared
we shortest nod and his sOurest look tor
I'd special delecta ion, and he felt that he
defeated. Mrs. M'Bride felt that she '
III, victorious 50 far, for she had prepared
as meeting.
Arrived at her own gate, the wild
er. said, gratefully, % will not ask yol
my come in now, but am always at he
my in the evening, and glad to see
friends"
my Mr.. Plum looked delighted, said
yer would be very happy, and actually Z
liz off his hat when he bowed himself a'
son an act of politeneSs seldom pertorI
ad- in AppletOwn. the creed OF the Ap
al, townians in this matter being that "a
lrs. is as good As a woman any dav, ami
OIL -. H. ,-o &c bou-;nor onJ coroninu