River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-07-25

I
it seems pity but then, when elderly
gentlemen marry, it is generally
some hity tity girl that leads them
terrible life, and likely it's for the best. -
Then she looked III the glass again,
for the widow was but woman
after ALL
Mr.. Patterson came to the widow
and obeyed the doctors prescription
carefully. He ate bread and drank
milk, aud robbed the orchards like a
school boy and detained over the
strawberry short-cake after a fashion
that would have made his reputation
at the bar. Then, too, Mrs Muntle did
not smile at his aches and pains, and
insist that he must be perpetually well
because he had fresh complexion and
dimples in his cheeks. She had savory
herb teas and potions, which she
produced when he complained of feel
ing miserable, and she had that bless
ing TO hypochondrias, homeopathic
box and book in the house.
There were remedies in that box for
everything and it was pleasant TO find
that when there was crawling sensa-
tion in your flesh or kind of uneasy
feeling in your legs, there were dear
little globules to be had just suited for
the symptoms that to find Yourself
very angry about nothing indicated
pulsatllla, and that even for unrequited
love there was u medicine.
For two months and more Mr.. Pat
terson boarded with Mrs. Mantle, and
happier months he had never lived
through. Then he went back TO the
city for few weeks, returned IN mr.
1 gent need of more pellets FROM the
medicine chest and stayed until the
last pink chrysanthemum was bloom
ing on its withered branches. He had
/ grown so fond of his little room, with
its white curtains and fresh grass
bleached linen, of the country good
things, and of the cosy nursing of Mrs.
Muntle, that he could scarcely bear the
thought of parting with them alto.
gether
After all, why could not he buy a
house, and try TO get Mrs Muntle to
keep 1t for him Perhaps she would
He would offer her high salary, and
she would have plenty of servants
Then, indeed, he might have friends
to dine with him, and be us happy as
possible.
If only he could approach his host
ess showing her MS he did so that he
cOndidered her his equal and lady,
and all that, rs she certainly was-a
little countryfied, of course, but a
olergyman's daughter and the widow
of a country doctor.
After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
walked into the front parlor. sent the
small servant to esk Mrs Muutle TO step
there for n moment if she pleased
" Gracious T. thought Mrs. Muntle.
"What can he wantfn
Then she blushed brightly, settled
her necktie, took off her apron and
walked demurely in.
Be seated, anna, said Mr.. Pat
terson. " Please to sit here. Allow
me to sit near you. have something
to say which may require some con-
sidcratiun
"Oh, dear, it's coming" said Mrs.
Muntle.
II suppose you know I'm a man OF
considerable means, ma am, said the
old bachelor liable to buy a nice
house, furnish it we'll, and live in il
comfortably -
$50 I've understood, Mr.. Patter.
son, said the widow
And of course it's pleasanter to
live that way than in bachelor lodg-
, ings, or at a hotel, said Mr.. Patter-
son.
/ should Judge it might be, said
Mrs. Muntle, cautiously.
- You Judge rightly" said Mr.
. Patterson, q" but you know bachelor
must be in the hands of servants if he
, keeps house. A gentleman don't want
that, b" wants lady to superintend
things tor him-some one OF taste and
refinement, and all that. Common
: people don't understand his feelings
/ and mercenary servants are a very poor
, dependence.
81 know that, said Mrs. Muntle.
You are almost as much alone ms
|, amt you, Mrs. Muntle 2" said Mr..
, Patterson, coaxingly.
The doctor knew him. He's going
to do 1T, Just as he said he would if he
ever did, said the lady TO herself.
Aloud he answered:
r Well, sir | am pretty free, 1t is
, truc, All my children are married
II know money would be no object
to you, said Mr.. Patterson. "You
| have enough. But # | were TO tell
You that hated boarding houses, and
( wanted home | think you would have
@ pity on me- I'll buy beautiful house,
ard yon shall have complete control
2. of everything; only 60 make my
i strawberry short-cake for me All my
4 life"
lie paused and looked at the lady.
lie THAT Is delicately put, he thought
Nor will you hire ont for a house
r keeper IN that, | fancy"
II amt romantic, though" sale
Mrs. Mmtle "hut, still, We ain
Id young neither of us, and 1t gets To h,
just that with the most sentimental
TT after a while. "
~ :" Don't refuse me-, pleaded Mr.
n Patterson
l. well, Mr.. Patterson, | won't,
- said Mrs. Muutlc. I'm my own mis-
ii tress, and though I've never Thought a
Is n second marriage, why. | think In
Is warranted in making one And. II,