Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-01
Bill and the Widow.

hand and holding plum cake on his
knee with the other, and looked across
the table in the bright eyes of his little
wife, wouldn't it be 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 i was
hanging out the clothes, and he looked
over the fence and spoke. but when l
shook out night-gown he blushed like
a girl 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 just
as you say, he's shy. I'll just 60 over
to his place to borrow some bags of him
and if don't bag him before come
back, don't kiss me for week, Nelly"
So saying he started, and while he is
moving the fields, we will take look
at Bill Smiley. He was rather good
looking fellow, though his hair and
whiskers showed some gray hairs, and
he had got in set of artificial teeth.
But every one said he was a good soul,
and so he was. He had as good as any
/ In Norwich, with new house and every
thing comfortable, and if he wanted
wife, many a girl would have jumped
at the chance like rooster on a grass
hopper. But Bill was so bashful-al-
ways was-and when Susan Berrybot-
tie, 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 mudturtle into his shell, and there
was no getting it out again, though it had
been noticed that since Susan had be-
come widow he had paid more atten.
tion 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 Jour way %
"0h, nothing particular, that l know
of, said Ed, ''only' Barnums show that
everybody is talking about, and every
body and his girl is going to. l was
over to old Sockrider's last night, and
l see his son Gus has got new buggy,
and was scrubbing up his harness, and
he's got that white faced colt of his as
slick as q seal. | understand that 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 Ii
a nice little woman, and deserves a bet
ter man than that young pup of fellow
though l wouldn't blame her much Ell
ther if she takes him, for she must bt
dreadfully lonesome, and then she ha
t to let her farm out on shares, and it il
= not half worked, and no one else seems
to have the spunk to speak to her. B.
: jingo if were single man, I'd SHOW
you trick or two
So saying, Ed borrowed some bag
aud started around the corner of tn
t barn, where he had left Bill sweeping
1 and putting his ear to a knot hole AM
listened, knowing the bachelor had
: habit of talking to himself when any
thing worried him.
"Confound that young bagrider Bill
o what business has he there, Id like t
know. Got new buggy, has he? Well
r so have |, and a new harness. too an
his can't get in sight of mine and | dc
I. clare. I've half mind to-yes. ] will
y will 60 this very night and ask her t
20 to that show with me. I'll snow E
Q Wilbur that | amt such calf as h
e thinks l am. if did let Watson get tn
S start of me in the first place -
Ed could scarce help laughing GU
y right, but he hastily hitched the bag
4 on his shoulder, and with low chuckl
at his success, started home to tell tn
# news to Nelly; about five o'clock tn;
n evening they saw Bill 90 by with b
! horse and buggy on his way to the wiC
!, ows. He logged along quietly, thinl
: ing of the old singing school days-an
/ what pretty girl Susan was then an
e wondering inwardly if he would ha,
more courage now TO talk up to her, III
h til at distance of about mile fro
y her house he came to bridge-over
y large creek-and it so happened thi
:. just as he reached the middle of Il
? bridge he gave tremendous sneeze an
blew his teeth out of his mouth, an
i clear over the dashboard, and strikir
> > on the planks they rolled over the sic
/ of the bridge, and dropped into four fe
Is of water
;; Words cannot do justice to poor Bi
or paint the expression of his face as
- sat there-completely dumbfOunded
l. his startling piece of i'll luck. Aft
I'd awhile he stepped out of his buggy, al
Dr. getting down on his hands and kne
nc looked over into the water. ..Yes, the
:, they were" at the bottom. with croy