Wilmington journal., 1874-02-06
The WIDOW WOOD.

uSi. auu c1lo ulSut HdNC udl LIEU
we'll if she wanted to change her con.
dition /; but you see Margaret Ann was
a fool-she was q widow of forty-to
set her cap for Spencer, who was only
twenty-four. If was her brother-in-
law, and if Ben had said to me, as he
did, Orchard, always be kind to Mar
garet Ann," I couldn't Lelp seeing
that. The fact is, that, as a general
thing, widows do make fools of them
selves oftener than girls.
In this case / admit the age was the
only obstacle. Sam was good young
man, above selling himself to q woman
old enough to be his mother for her
money bags, Sam was a clerk in a
store. I was poor Ben's partner. I
had said over and over again, "Iar-
garet Ann, you have plenty and to
spare, why not retire ?" but you see
she would not. Ben had left his share
of the furniture to her, and she would
not drop it. After awhile I found out
the reason. It was Sam Spencer.
That is why she liked to sail about
the store in her dead black silk that
is why she was always finding some
excuse to hand down that part of the
stock he had in hand, mixing every
thing up and giving him no end of
trouble.
You see, L couldn't help it. The
concern paid, and Widow Wood owned
just as L did. If I had said to her,
Margaret Ann, go home," she could
have said, "I have right here" That
was it. She never waited on O custo-
mer. She never did anything but
bother and pry. She had no children
to occupy her, and she brought her
white poodle along with her. $50
lonesome" she said, in the big house
opposite; and that was why she had us
come to tea so much of late
Well, this went on for nearly a year.
Big eyes at sam, sweet smiles, soft
speeches 1 used to wonder whether
old Ben knew how soon he had been
forgotten. To be sure he was sixty
when he died, a headed, stoop-
shouldered old man, with solemn way 8
about him; but she'd been his wife for
twenty-three years, and though I'm a
bachelor, I know what feelings ought
to be. And Ben was my brother, too.
Ihope it wasn't wicked for me to make
up my mind to put an end to her ca
pers, as far rs Sam went, and tell him
that he wanted a young lady as CASH
ier, and why not and if Lilly Rath-
bone could leave Grigg d Crater, I'd
give her the place. Sam was in love
with Lilly, I knew that, but Margaret
Ann had not seen her.
margaret Ann,' said I one day,
eve will have a new cashier to-day
We need one, and I have enga 2ed
one."
"Wen," said Margaret Ann, "per-
haps we do. ! hope he is a nice young
man, and good-looking. Good looks
CUSTOM"
I'm glad you coincide with me, :"
says I, and laughed to myself, for I
knew she was thinking of somebody
else to hirt with. But said nothing
It was fun to see her face change
when she saw Lilly behind the counter
next day. And she gave it to me in
the private office, I can tell you. She
hated females about a store, and she
1idn't like Lilly's locks. could laugh
1T her, however. [ had good referen-
,es with Lilly, and signed written
contract with her for six months. She
was to be cashier, you know, as I told
you. Margaret Ann couldn't help
herself, and 1 suppose she knew it,
Tor she said nothing after that, and
Sam and Lilly were as happy as young
birds. I believe he proposed to her
behind my counter [ knew he did
It somewhere, and / knew he was ac-
,epted.
''Lord bless You" said to myself,
'and help you to build your nest.
I'm not crusty if am bachelor"
E.
Ann in the Office in a towering rage,
with her face flaming
Richard" says she, "a woman is
always right about another woman.
Men admire pretty face, SO they are
always blinded by it. 1t was always
so with Mr.. Wood. Many time he
has thought a woman everythir 6 that
was splendid until have proved that
she wasn't by telling him things. Now
have found out about your Lilly
She's exactly what /
thought exactly.
"Well, what is it?' says /.
"No better than she should be-"
says Margaret Ann. Il saw her kiss
Sam Spencer behind the counter this
blessed morning."
"And he didn't want her to, I sup
pose. and halloed for help" says L.
You know what men are" says she,
"of course he kissed her back. "
Didn't he kiss her first?" says I.
"Well, she let him, anyhow" says
She
"Well," says I, 81 suppose you
used to kiss Ben after YOU were en-
gagged, if not before?
"What has that to do with it?' SAYS
she.
"Why they-at 1east-did he pro-
pose her coming here, Richard?"
NO." said I, "but they're engaged
Margaret Ann
Don't believe it,, says she.
cts Gospel truth, y says I.
And then-well, [ didn't mind it; it
didn't hurt me bit-but that woman
turned round and slapped me Ill the
face, she was so hopping mad.
''Such actions in respectable
storer says she, and marched out, and
didn't come back for a week, for which
I was truly thankful.
When she did come, she was all
smiles and amiabilitv; and she talked
to L lily and smiled at Sam, and she
really did come out beautifully, con-
SiuOAihS' I'iiy Iooh a Z CAV bpbIoii "
her.
"What nice, pleasant lady Mrs.
Wood is, she said, as we were folding
things that night; land SO pretty for
her age. / think she is splendid
"Giad to hear it."
"Dear mel" she said with her head
under the counter.
"Sister-in-law, you know" said l.;
zone of the family; it won't DO to
praise her too much"
"Oh, l wasn't thinking Of what you
were saying" said she. Il am sur
prised hbont my key. I am sure l
hung it here. A little brass door key,
a nick in the handle, and a piece OF
pink ribbon tied to it. I cant think
where it has gone"
Well, we both looked everywhere.
We unrolled packages and peeped into
the boxes, and poked down cracks in
the floor. Lilly went worrying about
getting lock-smith to fit another be-
fore she could get III, and said that
Rosa was alway tired.
Rosa was her sister. The two were
orphans, and kept house together in
one little room in a respectable tene-
ment house.
1--WE always had tea before Rosa
got in." said Lilly; but tonight she