Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-24

him? Perhaps she would. He would
offer her high salary, and she would
have plenty of servants. Then, indeed,
he might have friends dine with him,
and be as happy as possible.
| If only he could approach his hostess;
showing her as he did so that he consid-
cred her his equal and lady, and all
that, as she certainly was--a little coun-
| trvfied, of course, but clergyman s
| daughter, and the widow of country
| doctor.
! After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
| walking into the front parlor, sent the
| small servant to ask Mrs Muntle to step
| there for moment, if she pleased.
"Gracious" thought Mrs. Muntle.
| "What can he want?"
Then she blushed brightly, settled her
necktie, took off her apron and walked
| demurely in.
''Be seated, ma'am," said Mr.. Patterson.
| "Please to sit here. Allow me TO sit
| near you. have something to say which
| may require some consideration"
"Oh, dear, it's coming" thought Mrs.
| Muntle.
II suppose you know I'm man of
| considerable means, ma'am," said the old
| bachelor, sable to buy nice house, furn-
ish it well and live in it comfortably"
$50 I've understood, Mr.. Patterson"
said the widow
"And of course it is pleasanter to live
that way than in bachelor lodgings, or at
| a hotel,'' said Mr.. Patterson.
81 should judge it might be-" said Mrs.
Muntle, cautiously.
"You judge rightly" said Mr.. Patter-
son, "but you know bachelor must be in
the hands of servants, if he keeps house.
A gentleman don't want that; he wants a
| lady to superintend things for him-some
| one of taste and refinement, and all that.
| Common people don't understand his
| feelings, and mercenary servants are a
| poor dependence.
81 know that" said Mrs. Muntle.
"You are almost as much alone as l,
aren't you, Mrs. Muntle?" said Mr.. Pat
| terson, coaXingly.
''The doctor knew him. He's going to
do it, just as he said he would if he ever
did," said the lady to herself Aloud she
| answered:
"Well, sir, am pretty free, it is true.
| All my children are married"
81 know money would be no object to
YOU" said Mr.. Patterson. "You have
enough. But if were to tell you that l
hated boarding. houses and wanted home
| | think you would have pity on me.
I'll buy beautiful house, and you shall
have complete control over everything
! only to make my strawberry short-cake
! for me all my life"
He paused and looked at the lady
'That is delicately put" he thought
81 amt romantic though" said Mrs.
hut i,,sf
| of us, and it gets to be just that with the
most sentimental after while
Don't refuse me-" pleaded Mr.. Patter-
| son.
"Well, Mr. Patterson, / WON'T" said
Mrs. Muntle. "I'm my own mistress, and
| though I've never thought of second
| marriage, why | think Pm warranted in
making one And no doubt shall never
repent, for I think you've a fine DISPOSE
ton, and. l understand your ways and
| tastes"
Mr.. Patterson listened He saw what
| he had done; proposed and had been ac-
cepted without having any idea what he
| was about.
He looked at Mrs Muntle; she was very
nice and fresh and comely, and ten years
| his Junior, at least, if she was forty. He
| could not have done better thing, and lie
would be married without any trouble
some counting. So he put his arm about
| Mrs Muntle's waist, and said:
''Thank YOU, my dear. | consider my
self very lucky"
He wrote to his good doctor in about a
fortnight's time, to tell him that he had
taken both his prescriptions, was a mar
red man and intended to bring his wife
home about Christmas.