Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-26
THE HOUSEHOLD.
THE WIDOW WOOD.

d,tiop; but, you see Margaret Ann was a foot
she vac a widow of forty, to set her cap for
younp Sam Spencer, who was only twenty-fOur.
n I Vas her brother in-law, and IL Ben had said
~ ma as he did, 'RichRrd, always be kind to
Margaret Ann" l couldn't help seeing that:
The fact OF the matter is, that. as general
thing, widows DO make ioolb OF themselves OF
tenor than girls.
In this case admit the age was the only OBJ
atacle Sam WAS good young man, above SELL
ing himself to woman old enough to be his
mother. for her money bags Sam was clerk
in the store. 1 was poor Bens partner. I'd
tried to buy the widow ont I'd said over and
over again, Margaret Aun. You have plenty
and TO spare: why not retiref" But yod sec she
wouldn't. Ben had left his share of the furni-
ture to her, and she wouldn't drop it. After
awhile found out the reason. TWAS Sam Spen-
Ger. 80
her dead black silk; that was why she was always
finding some excuse to hand down that part OF
the stock he had in hand mixing everything mp,
and giving him no end Of trouble.
You see couldn't help il. The concern paid
and WiaowWood owned just much as did Ii
said" Margaret Aun. go home, ske could have
said i've right here" That was it, She never
dld anything but brother and pry. She had no
children to occupy her, and she brought her
white poodle along with her. 80 lonesome"
she said she was, in tie big house opposite and
that was why she had us to come To tea 30 much
Ot late.
Well, this went on for nearly year. Big eyes
at Sam, sweet smiles, soft speeches! used to
wonder whether old Ben knew how soon he had
been forgotten. To be sure he was sixty when
he died, a bRl1-headed, stoop-shouldered man;
with solemn ways about him. but she'd been his
wife for twenty three years, and though I'm a
bachelor, know what feelings ought to be. And
Bon was INV brother, too. hope it wasn't wick
ed of me to make up my mind to put an end to
her capers, as far Sam went, and tell him that
We wanted young lady aa cashier. and why
not And II Lilly Iathbone could leave Grigg
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. tive will
have new cashier to-day. We need one, and
have engaged one"
HWei said Margaret'Ann, "perhaps we do.
hope he's nice young man and good looking.
Luud LOT kr q tract Gus om.'
II am glad you coincide with mo. SAYS 1, and
laughed 10 myself for knew Margaret Ann
think ngof somebody else TO tlllt with But
/ said nothing.
il was fua 70 see her face change when she
saw Liily behind the counter next day. And she
gave 1t TO me in the private officeI can toll you
She hated females about store and she didn't
like Lill's looks. l could laugh at her however.
there. l had good references with Lilly, and
signed written agreement win her Tor slx
months She was to be cashier, 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 az happy as
Young birds. | believe he proposed TO her be-
hind my counter; knew he did it somewhere,
and knew he WAS accepted.
"Lord bless you" says | to myself, land help
YOU to bulid your nest. I'm not crusty II am
bachelor.
A few DAYS after found Margaret Ann in the
office in a covering rage, with her face flaming
''ltichard, says shea woman is always right
about another woman. Men admire pretty
face, 30 they are ALWAYS blinded by it. II was
always so with Mr.. Wood Many time he's
thought woman everything that was splendid
until I've proved that she wasn't by tell ng him
things Now I've foand out about your Lilly
Al1a.fa ufstly xVl /
Actly,
well, what Is it 2" says l.
mo better than she should be, says Margaret
Ann. II saw her kiss Sam Spencer behind the
counter this blessed morning"
Aud lie didn't want her to, suppose and
halloed for help ?' says
'Youknow what men are, says she, 'of course
he kissed her back"
Didn't he kiss her frst3" says 1.
'Wel. she let him, anyhow, says sue.
We'll says l, suppose you used to kiss Ben
after you were engaged. II not before =
What has that to do with it y says she
why ;hey-at least-dld he propose her COM
Ing here Richard 2
NO." said l, but they are engaged, Margaret
Ann"
II don't believe it," says she.
Its gospel truth" says l.
And then-well, | don't mind it it didn't hurt
1bit-but that woman turned around and slap
ped me in the face, she was 80 hopping mad
'Such actions in respectable store! You de-
prayed brute z" says she aud marched out aud
dun't come back for week, for which was
truly thankful.
When she did come she was all smiles and
Amlabiity and she talked to Lilly and smiled at
Sam and she really did come out beautifully,
considering. Lilly took great notion to her
what nice pleasant lady Mrs. Wood is she
said, as were folding things up that night
"pnd 50 pretty for her age, think she ID splen-
did
''Gad to hear it,"
Dear me !" she said, with her head under the
counter
.'s ster-in-law, you know" said 1 zone of the
family it won't do to praise her too much"
"Oh, / wasn't thinking Of what you were say
ing" said she. I'm surprised about my Key
I'm sure hung it here. little brass door-key
with niuk III the handle and piece OF pink RIB
bon tied TO it. 1 can't think where it is gone.
"Well we both looked everywhere. We TN
rolled packages and peeped into boxes, and pok
ed dswn cracks in the floor. Lilly kept worry
ing about getting locksmith to fit another be-
fore she could get in, and SAID Rosa was alwayt
tired.
Rosa was her sister, The two were orphans
and kept house together in one little room of
respectable tenement house.
live always had tea ready before Rosa go
in" said Lilly, but tonight she Will have tt
wait"
lis odd how we remember little things some
times. Perhaps the girls pretty, puzzled lac
and graceful motions as she ran about looklu
for her key, impressed this one on my mind
At all events did not lind the notched ke
tied with pink ribon, and Lilly went home with
ont 1t. told Margaret Ann ABOUT IL Wnen say
her next, and she inquired very politely OF Lilly
as to the end of the affair when she next Say
her The key was never found, but Lilly sal
she had two made, 30 that such thug coul
never happen again. SIZE could keep one an
Koea the other.
''And as | presume it was lost here, you mui
have the value OF it from US, said Margaret AnI
Its not much. bNt it's just" And though
very kind OF the Widow Wood, considering.
Well, time passeu On, and one day was ahoI
like the other. Winter went and summer cam'
People began to go to the country and trade WI
dull. And Sam tod me tnat he and Lilly we
going to be married eoon-GOd willing.
| had Just left Sam when Margaret AIMS CO
ored girl stepped across the street and told II
her mistress wanted to me.
Ofcourse went over. Aud when got I'M
the back parlor found Margaret Ann wrapp'
up in a shawl, her eyes red with crying.
!" Anything happened 2" says |.
Yes says she - Im afraid 30. oh, I'm
sorry !"
Dear me Do meRtion the fact says 1.
Well, says she, II can hardly bear to do q
but--who has chance to the safe besides y
and me ?"
Nobody but Lilly Rathbone," saysI
You are sure p says she.
why, of course" says 1.
"Ah, WE'LL" says she, perhaps there is anoth
ont ~ Nav be Vnuiye had occasion