The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1875-11-20
FIJI WIDOW BARLOW.
BY MARY DALLAS.

BY MARY DALLAo'
Potter Ruskirk was very fond of mon
cv. not so fond that he quite starved
himself to keep it, or hid it up chimney
or refused himself fire or lights or a
pillow: but yet so very fond OF it as to
be on the very verge of miserhood WITH
out having quite fallen over.
Beggars reaped no harvest from his
purse or kitchen, and match-makers
could make no impression on his bach
pIor heart. Peter Buskirk saw through
the latter as well as the former, ana
buttoned up his pockets as hastily in the
presence of bewitching crinollne as IN
that of a seedy gentleman with a ioi1eu
document in his breast-pocket. The
men wanted to rob him, the women TO
marry him. The last was the worst.
Not that Peter hated women; on the
contrary, even at fifty he was remarka-
bly susceptible; a bright eye put hiln IN
1utter. But the fact was women, as
wives or daughters, were expensive.
They needed clothes and were iona OF
d%ainties. They were proverbially eX-
~travagant. Should he marry one, she
would spend his money while he lyeo
and souander it after he was dead. And
with this awful terror before him, Peter
steered clear of the shoals OF matrl
mOny. 49,.
There was n inconvenience IN thl'
ba%chelorhood, however. That was the
housekeeping for it involved a seryan
some one to make beds, wash dishes
cook and iron. In short, the servant
of-all-work was always the bane o
Peters life-eating and drinking in
manner which kept the master OF th'
house in a continual ferment; wastin!
butter and fuel, and each change in tn
Kitchens en~cumbrance being FOLLOWED
by the mysterious disappearance o
towels and napkins and such SINAI
ware. There was no rest for good MI
Buskirk. He tried Betty and Dinah am
Mary and Ann, and then, in despair
flew to a certain Mrs. Brown, the give
Of tea-parties innumerable, to ask &C
vice.
"Servants are sad plaques" sh
said.
EAT you out of house and home,
said Peter.
"Not to be relied on for honesty,
said Mrs. Brown. .
Thieves, ma'am; thieves!" sal
Peter.
"Ah,n said Mrs. Brown, ga gentl'
man has no time to watch them. NOV
| should advise marrying, Mr.. Blu
kirk
"MarIying!"
Eyes, sir; a wife car manage sue
things sc much better. Besides, II yt
choose a smart, capable woman, 81
will keep an eye on the servant.
marry"
"Economical!" yelled Peter, "n
good lady. Eco-I-oh, goodnes
Feathers and flowers, laces and SIR
and rings, and-and ice-cream al
things-ec0nonnicdl! How many var
do you take for a dress, ma'amg'
"Well, sir, twelve or fifteen som
times when it's a silk, you know, elgi
Gen.
Eighteen yards, at five shillings
50 a yard, and not one dress, but twen'
My good lady, it would be enough
ruin a man!h
Mrs. Brown reflected.
but if you could find al economl'
woman, Mr.. Buskirk.n
"Ah! if | could find a mermaid"
One who never wasted a penny
she does not exist, ma'am."
Who lives on next to nothing. i
TACT Is, Mr.. Buskirk, I have such q la
my eye. She's n widow-qulte
young one-Mrs. Barlow, and III hi
ner at Peach House next week"
feter Buskirk grinned sarcastical
Economy in hoops and bonnet
ne said to himself. "They want
marry me and spend my money
and he went home wroth.
However, economy forbade him to
iuse an invitation to dinner; and VIII
week after, Mrs. Brown sent !"
IGmpliments, etc, Mr.. Buskirk don
us Sunday suit and went over to Pc
house at 5 precisely. The parlor
iWl OF ladies'; ladies in silks and n
ms with crinoline and flounces. N
"lhem Mr.. Buskirk knew well, ane