Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-11
TIE WIDOW BARLOW.

THE WIDOW BARLOW.
Peter Buskirk was very fond of money
not SO fond that he quite starved himself
to keep it, or hide it in chimney or refused
himself fire, or lights, Or pillow; but yet
so very fond of it as to be on the verge Of
miserhood without having quite fallen
oyer. Beggars reaped no harvest from his
purse or kitchen, and the match-makers
could make no impression on his bachelor
heart. Peter Buskirk saw through the lat.
ter as well the former, and buttoned uphis
pockets as hastily in the presence of be-
witching crinoline, as in that of a seedy
gentleman with folded 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 wo-
men on the contrary even at fifty he was
remarkably susceptible-a bright eye put
him in f1utter. But the fact was women
as wives or daughters, were expensive
They needed clothes, and were fond of
dainties; were proverbially extravaganza
Should he marry one, she would spend his
money while he lived and squander it after
he was dead. And with this awful terror
before him, Peter steered clear of all the
shoals of matrimony.
There was one inconvenience in this
bachelorhood, however. This was the
housekeeping for it involved a servant
some one to make beds, wash dishes, cook
and iron. In short the servant-of-all-
was always the bane of Peters life-eating
and drinking in a manner which kept the
master OF the house in a continual fer
ment wasting butter and fuel, and each
change in the kitchen s encumbrance being
followed by the mysterious disappearance
of towels and such small ware. There was
no rest for good Mr.. Buskrk. He tried
Betty and Dinah and Mary and Ann, and
then, in despair, flew to a certain Mrs.
Brown, the giver of tea-parties innumera-
BILE. for advice.
''Servants are sad plaques" she said.
ssEat you out of house and home," said
Peter.
ssNot to be relied on for honesty" said
Mrs. Brown.
"Thieves, ma am, thieves ~ said Peter.
"Ah,'' said Mrs. Brown, "a gentleman
has no time to watch them. Now should
advise marrying Mr.. Buskirk."
Marrying %
eyes sir; wife can manage such things
so much better. Besides, if you choose a
smart capable woman, she will keep an eye
on the servant. It would be much more
economical to marry.''
ssEconomicalH' yelled Peter; Tiny good
lady! Eco-I-O, goodness Feathers and
flowers. 1aces and silks, and rings, and ice
cream and thin gs-econon1ica How many
yards do you take for dress, ma'a ?"
"Well, sir, twelve or fifteen-sometime s
when its silk, you know, eighteen"
eighteen yards, at five shillings'or so a
yard, and not one dress, but twenty. Ny
good lady, it would be enough to ruin a
man,
Mrs: Brown reflected.
''But it you could lind an economical
woman, Mr.. Buskirk.''
ssAh! if could find mermaid
zone who never wasted penny.''
"She does not exist, ma'am."
s'Who lives on next to nothing. The
fact is, Mr.. Buskirk, have such a lady in
my eye She's a widow-quite a young
Barlow, and I'll 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 to dinner; and when,
a week after, Mrs. Brown sent cher COM
piiments,' etc., Mr.. Buskirk donned his
Sunday suit and went over to the Peach
House at five precisely. The parlor was
full of ladies ladies in silks and muslins,
with crinolines and founces. Most of
them Mr.. Buskirk knew we'll, and he
looked about in vain for stranger. Mrs.
Browns note had said:
'sMrs. Barlow will be with us''
But which was that economical widow?
Probably the lady in green silk near 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 Betsey? Mr.. Bus
kirk. you must be introduced to Mrs. Bar
low" and at these words something small
and flat emerged from between two portly
DANES, and stood before him. 1t was a
very short and slender little woman, with
a remarkably pretty face. She wore no
hoops, and her dress cleared her ankles.
The sleeves were close, and the skirts had
perhaps three breadths in them. The dress
itself was of very plain brown merino, and
she wore neither brooch nor bow, only a
white linen collar. Peter looked approval.
Several of the ladies exchanged glances,
and faint giggle was heard; and, as
though by common consent, the two were
left tete-a-tete in corner.
ssPleasant day. said Peter, to commence
the conversation, Pleasant day, but cold.' -
s'Ah, yes; but dislike cold weather.
said the lady,"
ssDon't agree with you, ma'am?"
go. that's not it. I am never ill; but
cold is so expensive. Lights early, and
coal is DEAR" proceeded the lady. Money
slips through ones fingers; and I never
waste things"
ssMy case exactly" said Buskirk. It's
astonishing now things cost. Now, there
is butter-say pound fortnight"
go. never eat butter; it costs too
MUCH" said the lady.
HAhl and supar and tea and cOffee.''