The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-09-02
sSiiI and the Widow.

/
with one hand and holding plum
cake on his knee with the other. and
looked across the table into the bright
eyes of his little wife, "wouldn't ii
be a good Joke to get bachelor Bill
Smiley to take widow Watson to
| Barnum's show next week.
Nou 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 the clothes, and
he looked over the fence and spoke,
but when | shook out a night gown
he blushed like girl and went
away"
81 think | can manage it, said Ed,
'but I'll have to lie just little.
But then il wouldn't be much harm
under the circumstances, for | know
she likes him, and he don't dislike
her, bu, just as you say, he's so shy.
I'll Just 90 over to his place to bor-
row some bags Of him, and if ] don't
bag him before | come back, don't
kiss me for week Nelly"
So saving, Ed. started, aud while
he is moving 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 got in a set of
false teeth. But every enc said he
was a good soul, and SO he was. He
had as good a hun lred acre farm as
any in Norwich, with new house
and everything comfortable, and if he
wanted wife, many a girl would
have jumped at the chance ike a
rooster on grasshopper.
But Bill was so bashful-always was
and when Susan Berrybottle, whom
he was so sweet on, though he never
said "boo" to her, got married to old
Watson, he Just drew in his head
like mud turtle into his shell, and
there was no getting him out again,
though it had been noticed since
Susan had become widow he paid
more attention to his clothes, and had
peen-very regular in his attendance
at The church the fair widow attend
ed.
But here comes Ed. Wilbnrn.
Good morning, Mr.. Smiley"
Good morning, Mr.. Wilburn;
what's the news your wav:'
"Oh. nothing particular that ] know
off, said Ed, "onlv Barnum's show
that everybody is talking about aud
everybody and his girl are going to.
| was over to old Stockrider's last
night. and see his son Guss has got
a new buggy. and was scrubbing up
his harness. and he's got that white
face colt of his slick as seal. | I'M
Gerstand he thinks of taking Widow
Watson to the show. He's been
hanging around there good deal Of
late, but I'd Just like to cut him out.
| would. Susan is a nice little wo.
man, and deserves better man than
that young pup of a fellow, though |
would not blame her much either if
she takes him, for she must he dread
ful lonesome. and then she has to let
her farm out on shares; and it isn't
half worked. and no one else seems
to have the spunk to speak up to
her. BY lingo! if ! were a single
man I'd show you a trick or two.
So saving. Ed. borrowed some bags
and started around the corner of the
barn, where he had left Bill sweep
ing, and put his ear to a knothole
and listened, knowing the bachelor
had habit of talking to himself
when anything worried him.
"Confound that young Stockrider"
said Bill, "what business has he there
I'd like to know? Got new buggy,
has he? Well, so have |, and new
harness too; and his horse can't get
in sight of mine; and declare, I've
half a mind to-yes ! will. I'll go
this very night and ask her to 60 to
the show with me. III show Ed.
Wilburn that amt such calf as he
thinks | am, ii did let old Watson
get the start of me in the first place"
Ed. could scarce help laughing
outright, but he hastily hitched the
bags on his shoulder, and with low
chuckle at his success started home
to tell the news to Nelly; and about
FIVE o'clock that evening they saw
Bill go by with his buggy on his way
to the widows. He logged along
quietly, thinking of the old singing
school days-and what pretty girl
Susan was then and wondering in
wardly if be would have more cour-
age now to speak up to her, until at
distance of about mile from her
house he came to bridge--ovcr
large creek-and it so happened that
Just as he reached the middle of the
bridge, he gave tremendous sneeze,
and blew his teeth out of his mouth,
and clear over the dashboard. and
striking on the planks they rolled
over the side of the bridge and
dropped into four feet of water.
Words cannot do Justice to poor
Bill or paint the expression of his
face as he sat there-completely
dumbfounded at his startling piece
of i'll luck After while he stepped
out of his buggy, and getting down
on his hands aud knees, looked over
into the water. "Yes, there they
were,' at the bottom with crowd Of
little fishes rubbing their noses
against them, and Bill wished to
goodness that his nose was as close
for one second. His beautiful teeth
that had cost him SO much, and the
show coming on and no time to get
another set-and the widow and
young Stockrider. Well, he must
try and get them somehow-and no
time to be lost, for some one light
come along and ask him what he was
fooling around there for. He had nc
notion of spelling his good clothes by
wading in with them on, and besides
if he did he could not go to the wild.
ow's that night, SO he took a look up
and down the road to see that no one
was in sight, and then quickly un'