The Van Buren press., 1873-12-16
MISCELLANY.
THE WIDOW WOOD.

lheh, TOO, sue had pretty penny lefl
her. And she might have married well
If she wanted to change her condition
but you see Margaret Ann was fool
she was a widow of forty--te set her cap
for Spencer, who was emily tw nty four
III was her bro,her-in law, and if Ben
had said to me, as he did, Richard, al
ways be kind to Margaret Ann" |
couldn't help seeing that. The fact is,
that, as genera! thing, wiaows DO make
fools Of themselves oftener tkan glrls
In this case admit the age was the
only obstacle. Sam was a good young
man, above selling himself TO n woman
old enough TO be his mother for her
money bags. Sam was u clerk in store.
| was poor Beu's partner. | had said
over and over again Margaret Ann,you
have plenty and to spare, why not re-
tire? but you see, she would not Ben
had left his share OF the furniture to her,
and she would not drop it, After awhile
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 why
she was always finding some excuse to
haad down that part Of the stock he had
in hand, mixing everything up and Civ
ing him no end OF trouble.
You see, couldn't help it Tie con.
cern paid, and Widow Wood owned just
as did. II | said to her Margaret
Ann. go home, she could have said,
:" | have right here, - That was it
She never waited on 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, in the
big house opposite and Ihat was why she
had US come To tea SO much Of late.
Well, this went on for nearly q year,
Big eyes at Sam, sweet smiles, soft
peaches used to wonder whether old
Ben knew how soon he had been forgot
ten. 10 be sure he was sixty when he
died. bald aeaded, stLop- shouldered
old man, with solemn ways about him /,
but she q been his wife for twenty three
years, and though m bachelor, know
what feelings ought to be And Ben was
my brother too 1 hope it WASH wicked
for me TO make up my mlnd tO put an
cad TO her capGrs, as far AS Sam wont,
ana tell him that he wanted young lady
as cashier, and why noti and If Lilly
Rathbone could leave Grigg X Crater,
Id give her the place Sam was in love
with Lilly, knew that, but Margaret
Ann had not seen her.
Margaret Ann, said one day, we
will have n new cashier to day. We need
one, and l have engaged one. "
We'll, said Margaret Ann, perhaps
we do | hope he is nice young man,
and good-lcoking. Good looks attract
custom.
"rm glad you coincide with ne,
says |, and laughed to myself, for knew
she was thinking of somebody else to
firt with. But | said nothing.
1t was fun to see her face change when
she saw Lilly behind the counter next
day. And she gave it to me in the pri-
yate office, can tell you She hated fe-
males about = store, and she didn't like
Lillys looks. / could laugh at her,
however | had good references with
Lilly, and signed a written contract with
her for six months. She was to be cash
ier, you know, as ! told you. Margaret
Ann couldn't help herself, and l suppose
she knew it, for she said nothing after
that, and Sam and Lilly were as happy as
young birds believed he proposed to
her behind my counter; knew he did it
somewhere, and | knew he was accepted
Lord bless you,' said to myself
"aad help you to build your most I'm
not crusty il am a bachelor.
a few days after found Margaret Ann
in the Office in a towering rage, with her
face flaming
Richard, says she, "a woman is al
ways right about anothe' woman. Men
admire II pretty face, so they are always
blinded by it. 1t was always so with Mr.
Wood. Many a time he has thought a
woman everything that vas splendid un-
til have proved that she wasn't by tell
ing him things. Now have found out
about your Lilly Rathbone. She's ex
actlg what | thought--eSactly. "
We'll, what is it p says |.
No better than she should be, " says
Margaret Ann. II saw her kiss Sam
Spencer boh.nd the counter this blessed
morning
"Aud he djdn twant her to, | suppose,
and halloed for help, says |.
IoV know what men arc, says she,
" of course he kissed her back. "
Didn't he kiss her lrsti" saysI.
"Well, she let b m, any how, says she.
"Well, says !, 81 suppose you used
to kiss Ben after you were engaged, II
not before p
"What has that TO do with it, " says
she. "Why thcy-at least-did he pro
pose her coming here, Richard p
mo. A" said |, " but they're engaged,
Magaret Ann
Don't believe it, " says she.
Its Gospel truth, says l.
And then--wcl, | didn't mind it; it.
didn't hurt me bi,--but that woman
turned round and slapped Inc in the face
she was SO hopping mad
"Such actions in respectable store
says she, and marched out, and didn t
come back for week. for which was
truly thankful
when she did ceme she was smiles and
and she talked 70 Lilly and