The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-10-10
he WIDOW HOOD.

wasn't good looking for her age and
size. Then, too, she had a pretty penny
| left her. And she might have married
well if she wanted to change her condi-
| ton: but, You see Margaret Ann was
| fool-she was a widow of forty-to set
her cap for Young Sam Spencer, who
was only twenty-four. If was her
| brother-in-law, and if Ben had said to
me. as he did, Richard, always be
kind to Margaret Ann" 1 couldn't help
| seeing that. The fact of the matter is.
that. as a general thing, widows do
make fools of themselves oftener than
girls.
In this case 1 admit the age was the
| onIy obstacle. Sam was good young
man. above selling himself to woman
old enough to be his mother, for her
! money bags. Sam was a clerk IN the
| store. was poor Ben's partner. I'd
tried to buy the widow ont. I'd said
over and over again, Margaret Ann, you
have plenty and to spare, why not re-
| tire ?'' but YOU see she wouldn't. Ben
had left his share of the furniture to
her. and she wouldn't drop it. After
| awhile I found out the reason. 1t was
Sam Spencer.
| That is why she liked to sail about
the store in her dead black silk; that is
! whv she was always finding some ex-
! cuse to hand down that part of the stock
| he had in hand, mixing everything up
| and giving him no end of trouble.
| You see | couldn't help it. The con-
cern paid, and widow Wood owned just
as I did. If I said Margaret Ann, go
home" she could have said I've
rigbt here" That was it. She never
waited on a 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. $50 lonesome" she said she was,
in the big house opposite and that
was why she had us come to tea SO much
of late
Well. this went on for nearly year.
Big ewes at Sam, sweet smiles, sot'
reaches I used to wonder whether
old Ben knew how soon he had been
FORGOTTEN. To be sure he was sixty
when he died, a bald-headed, stoop'
sbouIdered man, with solemn ways
about him but she'd been his wife FOL
twentv-three wears, and though I'm
bachelor know what feelings ought &C
be. And Ben was my brother, too.
hone II wasen't wicked of me to make
up NV mind to put an end to her capers
as far as Sam went, and tell hlm ina
we wanted young lady as cashier, anc
whv not g? and if Lilly Rathbone coul'
leave Grigg & Crater, I'd give her u,
place. Sam was IN love with Lilly,
knew that, but MargaretttAnn had no
/ seen her.
Margaret Ann" said [, one day
eve will have a new cashier to-day
| II hox-a
"WeT," said Margaret Ann, per
hans we do. Ihope he's nice youn
man and good looking. Good look
attract custom"
az am glad YOU coincide with me,
saws 7 and laughed to myself, fo"
knew Margaret Ann was thinking
somebody else to firt with. But
said nothing.
v was fun to see her s,face chang
when she saw Lilly behind the counts
next day. And she gave it to me IN IL
, private Office. [ can tell you. She nate
females about store, and she didn
like Iilly's looks. I could laugh
her. however, there. / had good reIe
ences with Lilly, and signed a write
contract with her for six months. 81
was to be cashier, you know, as L TO
Won. Margaret Ann couldn't help ne
! self and [ suppose she knew 1t, Tor 81
said nothing after that, and sam al
Lilly were as happy as young blrds'
2R believe he proposed to her behlnd d
counter: I knew he didit sOmeWher
and knew he was accepted.
"T,ord bless you," says to myse
"and help you to build your nest. L
NOT crustv if I am bachelor.
faws davs after | found Margar
Ann in the office in a towering rag
," with her face flaming:
Richard says she, "a woman
ss, always right about another woma
n Men admire a pretty face, so they a
rs aIwavs blinded by it. 1t was always
with Mr.. Wood. Many time III
- Thought a woman everything that W
49, snIendid until I've proved that s
&c wasn't by telling him things. Now L
az found ont about your Lilly Rlchardso
~ ~ she's exactly what thought, exactly
. "WeIl. what is it? % says l.
' "No better than she should bt
-S saws Margaret Ann. 81 saw her K
10 IL sam Spencer behind the counter Il
m blessed morning"
"A "And he didn't want her to, L ST
~ nose. and halloed for help ?" says L.
IA ssYou know what men are, says 81
"a. s'Of course he kissed her back.
bo "Didn't he kiss her tirst? says l.
70 "WelI, she let him, anyhow, sf
ne she.
ND ND "Weu," says I, "I suppose you us
nc, to kiss Ben after you were engaged
of not before?" 49,. 90,
ror "What has that 10 do with it ?, 81
Sc she. "Why, they-at least-dld
,Ie propose her coming here, Richard
his mo said I, "but they are engag
he | Margaret Ann.
tv "Don't believe it" says she.
in cts Gospel truth, says l.
icb And then-well, didn't mind 1t
of didn't hurt me bit, but that won
nod turned around and slaled me IN
ssi. face, she was so hopping mad.
~ "Such actions in a respectable sto
I;aI, You depraved brute T. says she,
llIn In marched out and didn't come back fl
a. week. for which was truly trankfu
Ln When she did come she was all SIN
O0 and amiabilitv she talked to Lilly
smiled at Sam, and she really did c.
o's" out beautifully, considering Lilly
The a great notion to her.
ties. 7'Wbat a nice, pleasant lady \
ion. | Wood is" she said, as we were folC
ents things up that night; and so pretty
bout her ace. I think she is splendid.
says ''Glad to hear it.
WINS "Dear me, =" she said, with her
,ung under the counter.
o do Sister-in-law, you kr ", salC
mot Zone of the family; it won't d'
praise her too much"
go 1 wasn't thinking of what
king were saying" said she. "I'm surpl
four obont nv kew. "pm sure I hun
firm %oTo a little brass door kew. wi
cave nick in the handle and piece of
ribbon tied to it. I can't think whe
;s+;o is gone"
'ls'to t Well. we both looked everywl
III III; ~ We unrolled packages and peeped
ooi' boxes, and poked down cracks IN
floor. Lilly went worrying about
nton. ting lOcksmith to fit an other b
- u s--o-,1l rrn4 IN aud sail that knSi