The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-08-10
BILLASDrHE WIDOW.


ing as he sat stirring bis coffee with
one hand and holding q plum cake
on his knee with the other, and look
ing across the table into the bright
ewes Of bis neat little wife, wouldn't
il be a good joke to get Bachelor Bill
SMILEY to take Widow Watson TO
Robins0n's show next week."
You can't DO it, Ed be won't
ask her, he's 50 awful shy. Why be
came by here the other morning
when l was hanging out some clothes,
and be looked over the fence and
spoke, but when | shock cut a night
gown be blushed Ike girl and went
away"
think | can manage it, said
Ed; but III have to lie just little
But then It wouldn't be much harm
under the circumstances, for / know
she likes him and he don't dislike
her; but, as you say, he's shy III
Just 90 over to his place to borrow
some bags Of him, and if | don't bag
him before | come back, don't kiss me
for q week, Nelly.
So saving Ed. started, and while
be Is moving the Gelds we take a
.ook at BIZ Smiley. lie was rather
a goodlookiDg fellow, III lgh his hair
and whiskers showed some gray hairs,
and be had got in q set OF artificial
teeth. But every one said he was a
coed sui ard 80 be was. He had as
coed a hundreG-acre farm as any in
Norwich, with a new house and
everything comfortable, and if he
wanted wife, many a girl woaid
have ] m eI It he chance Ike a
rooster at a 2rasshopper. Bill was
so bashful-always was-and when
Susan Berry bottle, that he was sweet
on (though he never said boo" 10
herr. got married to old Watson be
Just drew his head, Ike a mud tur-
tie, into his shell, and there was no
getting him out again, though It had
been noticed thai since Susan had
become g widow be had paid more
attention to Lis clothes and had been
very regular in his attendance at the
church that the fair widow attended
But here Genes Ed. Wilbur.
Good morning, Mr. Smiley
Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur
What's the news your way?"
Oh, nothing particular, that l
know Of, said Ed, only Robinson's s
show that everybody and his girl is
going TO. | was over to old Sack
riders last night, and I see his son
Gus has got a new buggy and was
scrubbing up his harness, and he's
got that white faced COLI Of his slick
as a seal | understand he thinks Of
taking the Widow Watson 20 the
show. Hes been hanging round a
good deal Of late, but Id just ike to
cut him out, | would. Susan Is a
nice little woman, and deserves a
better maa than that young pup of
a fellow, though | wouldn't blame
her much either if she takes him, for
she must be dreadful lonesome. and
then she has to let her farm cut on
shares and IL isn't half worked. and
40 Jae else seems 10 have spCuk
enough to speak up to her. By jingO
If were a single mal Ia show him
ii ;rick OF two.
50 saying, Ed borrowed some bags
and started around the corner Of the
barn, where be had left Bill sweep
ing, and put bis ear 10 knot bole
and listened, knowing that the bache-
Ior had a habit of talking to himself
when anything worried him.
ConfJund that Young Bagrider .
said Bill, what business has be,
then, I'd Ike to know? Got new
buggy, has be Wei, so have I, and
a new harness, too; and his horse
can't come in sight Of mine; and
declare I've half mind to-Yes.
| viii! I'll 60 this very night and
ask her to 20 TO the show with me.
I'll show Ed. Wilbur that / amt
such a calf as be thinks am. i'll did
let old Watson get the start Of NE 10
the first place
Ed. could scarce help laughing
outright, but he hastily hitched the
bags on his shoulder, and with low
cLuekle at his success. started home
to tell the news to Nelly; and about
FIVE o'clock that evening they saw
Bin go by with his horse and buggy
on his way 10 the Widows. Hejog-
ged along quietly thinking Of the old
singing school days-and what a
pretty girl Susan was then-and
wondering iuwardly if be would have
more courage now 10 talk up TO her,
until at distance Of about a mile
from her house he came 10 a bridge
over a large creek-and it so hap
pened that just as be reached the
middle of the bridge be gave a ire
mendous sneeze, and blew bis teeth
out of his mouth, and clear over the
dashboard, striking on the planks
they rolled over the side Of the bridge
and dropped into four feet Of water.
Words cannot do justice to ptor
Bill, or pain. the expression of his
face as be sat there completely
duuhfounded at this startling niace