Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-06-25
BILL AND THE WIDOW.

"WllG, Salu Eli. wilbur ono morn
ing rs he SIT stirring his coffee with Ont
hand and holding a plum cake OH his
knee with the other, and looked across
the table into the bright eyes Of his
little wife, wouldn't it be a good joke
to get bachelor Bill Smiley to tske
Widow Watson to Barnum's show next
week."
"You can't ID it, Ell; he won't ask
Il r; hos 50 awful shy. Why, he came
ly here tho other morning when I WIS
liuging out the clothes, and he looked
over the fence and spoke, but when
shook ont n night gown lie bl,,silcd like
q girl and went away"
II think cnn manage it," said Ed. ;
''but I'll have to lie just u little. But
then it wouldn't be much harm under
the circumstances. for know she likes
him, and he don't dislike her; but Just
as You say, he's so shy. I'll just go
over to his place to borrow some bags of
him, and if I don't bag him before 1
come back, don't kiss me for o week,
Nelly"
So saying, Ed. started, and while he
is moving the fields, we will take IL look
ut Bill Smiley. lie was rather q good
looking fellow, though his hair and
wlliskers showed some gray heirs, and
he had got in set Of artificial teeth.
and 80 he was. He had rs good a hun
dred acre farm as any in Norwich, with
now house and everything comfort
able, and if he wanted q wife, many II
girl would have jumped ut the chance
like q rooster on grGssllopper. But
Bill was SO bashful-always w:.s-and
when Susan BerrylWttle, whom Inc was
SO sweet on, though he never said
"boo" to her, got married to old Wat
son, he Just drew in his head like Il mud
turtle into his shell, and there was no
getting him out again, though it had
been noticed that since Susan had be-
come widow he had paid more. atten-
ton to his clothes, and had been very
regular in attendance ut the church the
fair widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
3. "Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur, what's
the news yo,lr way?"
"Oh, nothing particular, that I know
Of" said Ed, "only Barnum's show
that everybody is talking about, and
everybody and his girl is going too.
WAS over to old Sockritlcr's last night,
and [ sec his son Gus. has got u now
buggy, and was scrnbbing mp his har-
ness, and he's got that whitehead colt
of his az slick rs seal. I understand
he thinks Of taking widow Watson to
the show. He's been q hanging around
there good deal of Lutte, but I'd just
like to cut him out, I would Susan is
u nice little woman, anil deserves u bet
ter man than that young pup of i. fell
low, though I would not blame her
much either if she takes him, for she
must he dreadfully Lonesome, and the,,
she has 10 lot her farm out ON shares,
and it isn't half worked, and no one
else seems to have tho splnk to speak
up to her. by lingo! if were IL single
man I'd show you q trick or two.'
So saying, Ell. borrowed some bags
and started around the corner Of tho
barn, where he had left Bill sweeping
and put his car to q knot-llole and lis
tened, knowing the bachelor had a habi
of talking to Himself when anything
worried him.
econ found that young bagri,ler =
said Bill, "what business has he there
I'd like to know? Got new buggy
has he? Well, SO have I, and II ncv
harness too! and his horse can't get il
sight of mine and declare, I've ll,.l
mind to-yes, I will! I'llgo this yer.
night and ask her to 60 to tho sllus
with mo. I'll show Ed. Wilbur that
amt such calf as he thinks I am, if
did let old Watson get tho start Of IN
in tho first place
Ell. could scarce help laughing out
right, but he hastily llitc]lcd the b.,
on his shoulder, and with 1, low chuck
Mt his success, started home to toll til,
news to Nelly; AMI about five o'cloc
that evening they saw Bill go by witt
his horse and buggy on his way to Il,
widows. He logged along quietly
thinking of the old singing school day
and what pretty girl Susan was the
and wondering inwarttiy ii he wOul
have more courage now to talk up
her, until ut q distance of about mil
from her house lo came to bridge
over q large crcek-and it 80 happeme
that just as he reached the middle 4,
the bridge, he gave n trcmcn,lon
sncezc, AMI blew his teeth out of hi
mouth, and clear over the dash bo.v
and striking on tho planks they role
over the side Of the bridge, and droppc
into four feet of water.
| Words caunot do justice to poor Bi
or paint the expression of his face ~ !,
sat there completely dumbfountlesl I,
his startling piece Of ill luck. Aft
awhile he stepped out OF his buggy nh
getting down on his hands and knee;
looked over into the water, eyes, tl,rr
they were" ut the bottom with
Of little (isllc; r,lh';"
:,rti,lSt Them