The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-10-04
TIE WIDOW WOOD.

II y
Ann WIS Il tOOi-she was widow OF forty
10 Sc. her cap for young Sam Spencer, VIII
was only WenV.four. If | was her brother
in.lan, and if Ben had said TO me as he did
Richard. always be kind to Margaret Ann,
| couldnt help seeing that. The fact OF tn
matter is, that, as a general thing, widows u'
make Is OF themselves oitener than giilS
In This case admit the age was the only
obstacle Sam was IA good young man, above
selling himself to a woman old enough
TO be hl- mother, for her mOncybag. San
was n clerk in the store. ! was poor Ben,
partner. I'd tried to buy the widow out. 10
said over and over again, Margaret Ann
YOU have plenty to spare, why not relire 2
but vou see she wouldn't. Ben had lett his
share of the furniture To her, and she "ouldn'
drop it, After awhile ! found out the reason
It was sam Spencer
This is why she liked to sail about the store
in her dead black silk; that is why She wa.
always finding some excuse to hand down
that part ot the stock he had in hand, mixing
HID and giving him no end OF trouble
You SIC I couldn't help it. The concern
paid, and widow Wood owned justas did
If | said Margaret Ann, 90 homc,' she
could have said 1--WE Il right here That
was il. She never waited on Il 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
so lonesome she said She was in the big
house opposite; and that was why she had
Us come to tea so much OtlatC.
Well, this went on for nearly year. Big
ewes al sam, sweet smiles, soft peaches |
used to wonder whether old Ben knew now |
soon he had been forgotten. To be sure lie
was Sky when he died, bald,headed, stoop- |
,,sitl l,lt4 ttrpV n hlt
him: but she'd been his wife for twenty-three
wears and though I'm bachelor | know
what feelings ought to be- And Ben was my
brother, too. hope it wasn't wicked of me
to make up my mind to put an end to her ca
Ders, rs far as sam went and tell him that
we wanted young lady AS cashier, and why
not? aud if Lilly Rathbone could leave Grigg
Il Crater, d give her the place. sam was III
love with Lilly, | knew that, but Margaret
Ann had not seen her
Margaret Ann" SAID |, one day, eve will
have Il new cashier today. Weneed one, and
| have engaged one"
well, " said Margaret Ann, perhaps we
10. hope he's nice young man and good
looking Good looks attract custom"
II am glad you coincide with me- says |,
aud laughed TO myself, for | knew Margaret
Ann was thinking of somebody else TO illrt
with. But had said nothing.
1t was fun to see her face change when she
saw Lilly behind the counter next day. And
she gave it 10 me in the private Office | can
ell You. She hated females about store,
md she didn't like Lillys looks | could
augh AT her, however, there. | had good RET.
,rences with Lilly, and signed a written con
ract with her for six months She was to be
asher, YOU know, as | told you. Margaret
Ann couldn't help herself, and suppose she
Knew it, for she said nothing after that, and
sam and Lilly were as happy as young birds 5
believe he proposed to her behind my coun- l
er; | knew he did ii somewhere, and knew l
e was accepted.
Lord bless you" says | to myself, land
clip you 10 build your nest. I'm not crusty !
| am % bachelor
A few days after found Margaret Ann in
he Office in towering rage, with her face
aming
"Richard," says she, "a woman is always
light about another woman. Men admire IA
rctty face, so they are always blinded by it,
I was always so with Mr.. Wood Many Il
imc he's thought woman everything that =.
vas splendid until I've proved that she wasn't !
y telling him things Now I've found ont
bout your Lilly Rathbone. She's exactly
ihat thought-eXacty."
"NciL what is itgn saws |
"No better than she should be-" says Mar
'aret Ann. II saw her kiss Sam Spencer be /.
ind the counter this blessed morning"
"And he didn't want her to, | suppose. and
aiOcd for hepy" says l. e
You know what men are" says she; "of -,
curse he kissed her back" L
didn't ne kiss her frst?" saws |.
"Wcli she let him, anyhow" says She ,
"Wcu" saws |. 81 supnose Won used IN ks. /
Zen after you were engaged if not bef1rc:r :
"What hq, that to do with ityn saws She. j
Why Ihcy-at least-did he propose her Il
omin- mere, RichardY /
NO. said |, but they are engaged. Mar. '
,oro. ,,,o
"non.r hsiiovo II 81. .,,.,..r,o a
oIf. -..,"r tr,tb g, ' os,'s NI''' y
A,I i.,. vii Iiil,S,, T.. i;I,,,
mr. g it, ~, , I'LL, nanny, -, - u,u,
ma ...,,.I m in , 90. ,''' a. I,,i,'
,ir.,,.,,a '''' ''''' '''' was 80 mp
"SpgL action. 81, , r.,,,o,,,t,, ....,, ". Il
,enrgyad br,rr," saw. sho a,J ,,,ri,,l ~" 4
nd Iiln, come back for ,ool ''', ~, C.'," GI'
WA. trpIy th,nl,frI '' IVA WIN"
|.