Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-11-05


sympathy to declare himselfa widow,
or anything else that might be salts,
factory. 'If ! can serve you'-here
he pressed her hand command
: me-"
"YGu remember ny deceased
husbandf' inquired the lady, tremu-
lously.
"I do, madame"
"Now we're coming TO it-some
question of will, said Tom, to him
self.
WAS | a goof wife to him.
"Ah, madame, ne best knew how
good"
"And could-could another love
me, do you think 2"
Think !" was the exaggerated an
swer OF the rash Thomas. do not
think, | tnow itw
"Oh, happiness!-dear Tom @ and
! the widow encircled his neck with her
plump arms, and hid her blushing
face on his shoulder. "Then could
you-will you-marry mei" Its
leap-year, you know"
Bless my soul Mrs. Moulson,
madame, you're mad" exclaimed
Tom, staggering beneath the weight
of his stout and helples. burden.
ooh, no ! she said, leaning still
more heavily; "only happy, Tom"
"But-this is too much. Sit down
there, will you?" and he bundled the
tender creature uuceremoniously into
a chair. 81 say you are mad !"
81 say am not, said the lady,
positively. "You see, Tom"
Don't call me Tom II won't
stand it,'
Dear me! its YOU that are mad,
think. Come, now, be reasonable.
You can't refuse me, YOU know. for
its leap year
"The deuce ] can't" said Tom, De.
family. 81 gay, you had better get
out of This, Tor its carrying joke
little 700 far"
"It's no joke at all" said the wild
ow, beginning to sob You unkind,
cruel man Oh oh I! oh y
"Oh, for the Lords sake, 60 stop
Do YOU want 20 have all the neigh
bors in hereY Do come to reason
said Tom, imploringly.
Il 10 o.ove you - said the lady.
ooh, goodness - said Tom.
"You treat me with rudeness and
contemplate you, sir? With rude
ness and contempt Oh, very well,
and the lady made summary move
to the door. "VeJy we'll!
What shall ! do? Mrs. Moulson,
do stop one moment Oh, mercy on
me Don't you know, ma'am, that
I'm already engaged ?"
Hal" CALCULATED his fair persecu-
tor.
why, ycs~ said Tom, catching
at any spar Of hope "Io Mary
Field
oh, bah! You1lnever marry her.
after daliying with her so many
years. III have you YETI and a
wicked CLEAN shone in her black
eyes.
"Drt The day is al 6Eed, and It's
its next-next month and, you
/ see"
"Why couldn't you .cll me that at
once? Fixcd-is 1t? You declare
10 that?'
"Well-yes-"
"Then see that YOU stand to it,"
and she bounced of. Next month,
remember Oh, won't tell about
YOU, though y
And down the street went Mrs.
Mercy, shaking behind her veil with
| laughter, 10 betake herself to Miss
/ Betsy and Miss Minerva, ard impart
to them the grand success OF the
iopening Gene IN their little stratagem
There was moderate intermission,
during which our hero tried to com
pose his shattered nerves; and then
single rap was given By the knock
er.
Tom, still discomposcd, and with a
vague prcsenliment that the day wss
mot vet over for him, went bimself 10
the door, and beheld hiiss Betsy Par
kms. dressed up in her very best, snd
smiling with her blandest expression
She edged herself in. for Tom
seemed inclined to shut the door un-
tremendously in her face and, ia
king a seat, said, in her brightest ut
tie manner;
You've q cheerful place here, Mr..
Tom"
Half beguied by her harmless ap-
peafance, Tom answered that be had.
"And pretty tidy, considering.
Yes, Tom liked things tidy.
"Bpt I'm thinking now. Mr.. Tom,
how much more tidy and cheerful ii
might be. You've never thought Of
marrying yet-eh, now"
"Oh, yesl In fact
Thought so. Now then, Mr.
Tom, you see, I'm q lone kind Of
body, and she screwed up one eye,
and beamed beuevolently upon him
with the other, land aIways had 4
fancy for young folks. And some
one, a sort Of motherly, You know
we'll, plainly, I've been thinking, how
would it do f,r ycu and Inc to set up
together? Come now, you had bet
ter consider it. ANY way, you
wouldn't like to refuse me, as its leap
year
"Eh !" said Tom, rather stUpefed
"Why, it being leap year. man
isn't permitted in law to refuse
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