The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-10
VOLUME 2.
SELECT STORY.
BILL AND THE WIDOW.

with the other, and looked across the Ia
BILE into the bright eyes of his neat little
wife, wouldn't it be a good joke to get
bachelor Bill Smiley to take Widow
Watson to Barnum's show next week. "
You can't do it, Ed; he won't ask
her; he's so awful shy. Why he came
by here the other morning when was
hanging out some clothes, and he look
ed over the fence and spoke, but wheh I
shook out night gown he blushed like
schoolgirl and went away"
81 think can manage it," said Ed.
"but I'll 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 so shy. I'll just go over to his
place and borrow some bags of him, and
if I don't bag him before l come back,
don't kiss me for a week, Nelly"
So saying Ed. started, and while he is
crossing the field, we will take look at
Bill Smiley. He was rather a good
looking fellow, though his hair and
whiskers showed some gray hairs, and
he had in set of artificial teeth, every
one said he was good soul, and so he
was. He had as good hundred acre
farm as any in Norwich, with a new
house and everything comfortable, and
if he wanted a wife many girl would
have jumped at the chance like a roos-
ter on a grasshopper. But Bill was SO
bashful always was-and when Susan
Berry bottle, whom he was so sweet on,
though he never said "boo" to her, got
married to old Watson, he just drawed
in his head like an old mud turtle into
his shell, and there was no getting him
out again, though it had been noticed
| that since Susan had become a widow he
had paid more attention to his clothes,
and had been very regular in attendance
at the church the fair widow attended.
But here comes Ed. Wilbur.
Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur; what's
the news your way?'
ooh, nothing particular that l know
of" said Ed, "only Barnnm's show that
every body is talking about, and every
body and his girl are going to. was
over to old Sackrider's last night, and
see his son Gus has got new buggy, and
was scrubbing up his harness, and hes
got that white faced colt of his as slick
as a seal. / understand he thinks oi
taking Widow Watson to the show. He'e
been hanging around there a good deal
of late, but I'd just like to cut him out
I would. Susan ia nice little woman
and OBSERVERS better man than that
pup of fellow, though 1 would not
blame her very much either if she
takes, him, for she must be dreadful
lonesome, and then she has to let hel
farm out Oh shares, and it isn't hal
worked, and no one else seems to havs
the spunk to speak up to her. By jim
go! if l were a single man I'd show yor
trick.or two"
So saying, Ed. borrowed some bag:
and started around the corner of th'
barn, where he had left Bill sweeping
and put his ear to a knot-hole and lis
tened, knowing very we'll the bachelor
had habit of talking to himself wher
any thing worried him.
"Confound that young Bagrider!" sale
Bill, "what business has he there, IL
like to know? Got new buggy, ha
he? Well, so have I, and a new har
ness, too; and his horse can't get in sigh
of mine; and 1 declare, I've half a mine
to-yes, I'll go this very night and asl
her to go to the show with me- II
show Ed Wilbur that amt such a cal
as he thinks I am, if did let old Wat
, son get the start of me in the frs
place"
Ed. could scarcely help laughing out
right, but he hastily hitched the bag
on his shoulder, and with a low ehuekl
at his success, started home to tell tn
. news to Nelly; and about five o'cloc
that evening they saw him go by wit
his horse and buggy on his way to th
widows. He logged along quietl
thinking of the old singing-school day
and what a pretty girl Susan was thei
, and wondering inwardly if he woul
, have more courage now to talk up
her, until at distance Of mile fror
4 her honse he came to bridge-oyer
: large creek-and it so happened thu
just as he reached the middle of tn
! bridge, he gave a tremendous sneez
:, and blew his teeth out of his moutl
! and clear over the dashboard, and stril
, ing upon the planks they rolled over IL
. side of the bridge and dropped down il
to about four feet of water.
Words cannot do justice to poor Bi
or paint the expression of his face as
sat tthere-completely dumbfounded
II his startling piece of i'll luck. Ait
g awhile he stepped ont of his buggy, al
getting down on his hands and knee
1f looked over into the water. Yes, the
er they were, at the bottom, with CROW
J. Of little fishes rubbing their noses again
is them, and Bill wished to goodness th
ca his nose was as close for one secon
le His beautiful teeth that had cost him
at much, and the show coming on and
ie time to get another -set--and the wide
&c and young Sackrider. Well. he mt
I'd try and get them, some how-and
as time to lose, for some one might col
be along and ask him what he was fooli
g. around there for. He had no notion
Is spelling his good clothes by wading
is with them on, and besides If he did Il
o. he could not go to the widows Il
he night, so he took look up and do
he the road to see that no one was in sig
lr- and then quickly undressed himst
is laying his clothes In the buggy to ks
fe- them clean. Then he ran around to I
m, bank and waded into the almost icy G.
an water, but his teeth did not chatter
1is head--he only wished they could. Qui
ly he waded along 70 "a not to stir
the mud, and when he got to the ri
." spot he dropped under the water I