The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-11-26

woman. Mr.. Buskirk."
"Ahl il | could find a mermaid
Zone who never wasted n penny"
"She does not exist, ma'am.'
sWho lives on next 10 nothing. The
fact is, Mr.. Buskirk. | have such a lady
in nv eve. She's a widow-quite q
Young one-Mrs. Barlow, and Ill have
her at Peach House next week.
Peter Buskirk grinned sarcastically.
ECONOMY in hoops and bonnets,'
he said TO himself. "They want TO
marry me and spend my money"
And he went home wroth.
However, economy forbade him to re-
fuse an invitation 10 dinner; and when,
a week after, Mrs. Brown sent :. her
compliments, etc, MIR. Buskirk donned
his Sunday suit and went over 10 Peach
House AT 5 precisely. The parlor was
full of ladies; ladies in silks and mus
lins, with crinoline and flounces. Most
of them Mr.. Buskirk knew well, and he
looked about in vain for "A stranger.
Mrs. Browns note had said:
"Mrs. Barlow will be with u.s."
But which was that economical wild
ow? Probably the lady in green silk
neal the piano. He could not remember
her face.
Suddenly Mr.. Buskirk's doubts Were
set at rest. Mrs. Brown calculated
Dear me, where is cousin Betsy? Mr..
Buskirk, you must be introduced to Mrs.
Barlow" and at these words something
small and flat emerged from between
two portly DANES, and stood before him.
Ii was a very short and slender little
woman, with a remarkably pretty face.
She wore no hoops, and her dress clear
ed her ankles. The sleeves were close,
and the skirt had perhaps three breadths
i'm il. The dress itself was of very plain
brown merino. and she wore neither
brooch nor bow, only 4 white linen col
lar. Peter looked approval. Several
of the ladies exchanged g~lances, and a
faint giggle was heard and, as though
by common consent, the tive were left
tete-a-tete in a corner.
pheasant day. said Peter, to com
mence the conversation. Pleasant. but
cold"
"Ah. yes; but | dislike cold wealth
er," said the lady.
Don't agree with YOU, ma'am?"
"Oh. that's not it. | am never i'll;
but cold weather is SO expensive. Lights
early, and Goals dear" proceeded the
lady. "Money slips through ones fin
gers: and | never waste things"
My case exactly" said Buskirk.
ats astonishing how things cost.
Now, there is butter-say a pound a
fortnight"
"Oh, Inever eat butter-it costs too
much" said thelady.
"Ah. and sugar and tea and coffee
IF you indulge in such Injuries,
what a YOU expect said Mrs. Bar
low.
"They are artificial wants altogether,
50 they are said Mr.. Buskirk. ..But,
then. habit j. second nature
~"ENtravagant habits ruin many"
said Mrs. Barlow. "Ohi | shudder
when | look at those ~flounces. Such a
waste OF material"
'.I've often thought So" said Peter.
. And you don't wear them"
~ said Mrs. Barlow. Il have my
senses, sir. I've no wish 10 die in a
work-house. I've had this dress ten
years"
Indeed" said Peter. "And / sup
pose some ladies buy one every ten
months
Every ten days" said Mrs. Barlow.
''Oh, / blush for my sex, Mr.. Buskirk,
i do, indeed"
Peter was charmed. He began to
think Mrs. Brown right. The cost Of
such a wife would be a mere trifie, and
what an eye she would keep to the ex-
penSes Of a household.
Ere the evening was over he had de-
cided that il would be cheaper 10 marry
than TO remain single, were Mrs. Barlow
his helpmate.
"She'd not only be saving herself,
but she would check me in my little ex-
t~ravagances,r said he. "She would be
invaluable TO me. She wears one dress
ten years. The fates must have sem her
to earth for my especial benefit
So, after due consideration, Peter re-
solved to court the economical widow,
and that lady being conveniently domi-
ciled ut Mrs. Browns he found every OPP
p%ortunity.
II was a very inexpensive courtship.
lie gave her not a present. She ex-
pected none. He took her nowhere
save To church, where neither of them
ever saw the plate, and both were happy.
AT last he proposed. She blushed and
hesitated, and begged time to consider.
At last she said: 81 am afraid TO say
yes, Mr.. Buskirk. like you; but you
are so terribly extravagant. You drink
tea and coffee, and eat butter, and really
| should fear coming to want. should,
indeedl"
Il! Why, I'm the most economical
soul living" said Peter.
"~Extravagant people always think
that" said the lady. pNo, I'm afraid
70 say yes, unless, indeed, you were to
make your property over 10 me, 50 that