Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-06-27
THE WIDOW WOOD.

IL
ed to change her condition, but you see
Margaret Ann was fool-she was wild
ow of iorty-to set her cap for young Sam
Spencer, who was only twenty-tour.. Ii
| was her brother-in- law, and if Ben had
said to me as he did, Richard, always
be kind to Margaret Ann" l couldn't
help seeing that. The fact Of the matter
is that, as II general thing, widows do
make fools of themselves oftener than
girls.
In this case l admit the age was the
only obstacle. Sam was good young
man, above selling himself to woman
old enough to be his mother, for her
money-bag. Sam was clerk in the
store, | was poor Ben's partner. I'd tried
to buy the widow out. I'd said over and
over again, " Margaret Ann, you have
plenty and to spare, why not retire ?''
but you see she wouldn't, Ben had left
his share of the furniture to her, and she
wouldn't drop it. After while | found
out the whole reason. TWAS Sam Spencer.
That is why she liked to sail about the
store in her dead black silk that is why
she always had some excuse 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. Tho con-
Germ paid, and Widow Wood owned Just
as did. If | said, margaret Ann, 60
home," she could have said, "I've right
here. That was it. She never did any
thing but bother and pry. She had nc
children to occupy her and she brought
her white poodle along with her. $50
lonesome" she was, in the big house cp-
posite; ard that was why she had come
20 tea so much of late.
Well, this went on for nearly year.
Big eyes Mt Sam, sweet smiles, soft
speeches | used to wonder whether old
Ben knew how soon he was forgotten.
To be sure he was sixty when he died, Il
bald-headed, stoop- -shouldercd man, with
solemn ways about him; but she'd been
his wife for twenty-threa years, and
though Pm n bachelor know what feel
ings ought to be. And Ben was my
brother too. | hope it wasn't wicked OF
me to make up my mind to put an end to
her capers, ms far as Sam went, and tell
him that we wanted n young lady as
cashier; and why not and it Lilly Rath-
bone could leave Grigg & Crater, I'd
give her the place. Sam was in love
with Lilly, l knew that, but Margaret
Ann had not seen her.
"Margarot Ann" said I, one day, eve
will have a new cashier today. We
need one and | have engaged one"
" Well," said Margaret Ann, perhaps
we do. | hope he's nice young man,
and good looking. Good looks attract
custom"
:" / am glad you coincide with me"
says |, and laughed to myself, for knew
Margaret Ann was thinking Of somebody
else to firt with. But | said nothing.
1t was fun to see her face change when
she saw Lille behind tho counter next
day. And she gave it to mo In the pri-
vate office | can tell you. She mated fc-
males about store and she didn't like
Lilly's looks. j could laugh at her how
ever, there. l 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 | suppose
she knew it, for she said nothing after
that, and Sam and Lilly were as happy
as young birds. | believe he proposed TO
her behind my counter; / know he did it
somewhere, and knew he was accepted.
" Lord bless you," says to myself,
"and help you to build your nest. I'm
not crusty, il / am a bachelor"
A few days after found Margaret Ann
in the office in towering rage, with her
face flaming.
" Richard" says she, "woman is al
ways right about another woman. Men
admire a pretty face, so they are always
blinded by it. 1t was always so with
Mr.. Wood. Many time he's thought a
woman everything that was splendid un-
till I've proved that she wasn't by telling
him things. Now I've found out about
your Lilly Rathbone. She's exactly what
thought-exactly."
"Well, what is it ?" says /.
" No better than she should be-" says
Margaret Ann. 81 saw her kiss Sam
Spencer behind the counter this blessed
morning"
"And he didn't want her to, l suppose,
and haloed for help" says /.
" You know what men are" says she,
"of course he kissed her back"
Didn't he kiss her first ?" says 1.
4" Well, she let him anyhow" says she.
Well" says |, Z" / suppose you used
to kiss Ben after you were engaged, il
not before ?''
What has that to do with it ?" says
she. "Why, they-at least-did he pro-
pose her coming here, Richard ?"
mo-" said |, "but they are engaged,
Margaret Ann"
"Don't believe IT," says she.
I" It's gospel TRUTH" says |.
And then-well, | didn't mind it; II
didn't hurt me a bit-but that woman
turned around and slapped me me in tbs
face, she was so hopping mad.
"Such actions in respectable store
You dopraved BRUTE" says she, anC
marched out and didn't come back for (
week, for which | was truly thankful
When she did come she was all smiles
and amiability; and she talked to Lilly