The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-02-11
MI isc ellaneo us.
THE WIDOWS STRATAGEM.

Elder Boyd, though very good man in
the main, and looked up to with respect by
all the inhabitants of the little village of
Oldville, was rumored to have, in Yankee
parlance, a pretty sharp lookout for the
main chance-a popularity from which
Elders are not always exempt.
In worldly matters he was decidedly
well-to-do, having inherited fine farm
from his father, which was growing yearly
more and more valuable. Itmight be sup
posed that under these circumstances the
Elder, who was fully able to do so, would
have found helpmate to share his house
and name. But the Elder was wary. Mat
rimony was to him, in some measure, a
matter of money, and it was his firm resolve
not to marry unless he could thereby en-
nance his worldly prosperity
Unhappily the little village of Oldville
and the towns in the immediate vicinity
contained few who were qualified in the
important particular, and of these there
were probably none with whom the Elders
suit would have prospered. So it happen
ed that year after year passed away, until
Elder Boyd was in the prime of life-44 or
thereabouts-aud still unmarried, and, in
all human probability, likely to remain so.
But in all human calculation of this kind
they reckon i'll who leave widows out.
Elder Boyd's nearest neighbor was a
widow.
The widow Hayes who had passed
through matrimonial experience, was some
four years younger than Elder Boyd. She
was still buxom, comely woman, as wild
ows are apt to be.
Unfortunately the late Mr.. Hayes had not
been able to leave her sufficient to make
her independent of the world. All that
| she possessed was the small old fashioned
house in which she lived, and a small
amount Of money which was insufficient
to support her and little son of six, like
wise to be enumerated in the schedule OF
her property, though hardly "productive'
of anything but mischief.
The widow was therefore obliged to take
care of three boarders to exc out her scanty
income, which, Of course, imposed upon her
considerable labor and anxiety.
Is it surprising that under these circum-
stances she should now and then have be-
thought herself of a second marriage as a
method of lettering her conditions Or
again, need we esteem it a special wonder
If, in her reflections upon this point, she
should have cast her eyes upon her next
neighbor, Elder Boyd? The Elder, as We
have already said, was in fourishing cir.
cumstances. He would be able to main.
tain wife in great comfort and being one
fthe chief personages in the village, could
accord her prominent social position. He
was not especially handsome, or calculated
to make profound impression upon the
female heart; this was true, but he was Of
q good disposition, kind-hearted, and
would no doubt make q very good sort o.
u husband. Widows are, / take it (if any
shall do me the honor to read this story,
trust they will forgive the remark) less
disposed to weigh sentiment in second
alliance than first, and so, in the widow
point of view, Elder Boyd was very de
sirable match.
Some sagacious person, however, has OBJ
served that it takes two to make match
a fact to be seriously considered; for in til,
present case, it was evidently doubtful i
the worthy Elder, even if he had know
the favorable opinion of his next neighbor
would have been inclined to propos
changing her name to Boyd, unless indeed
suitable motive was brought to bear upol
him. Here was chance for little man
oSihS, HhOlCiu WluoWo are odll, as u RcuC
raj thing, to be expert.
One evening, after day of fatiguing la
Dor, Widow Hayes sat at the fire in the sit
ting room with her feet on the fender
"If ever l am situated so as not to hav
to work SO hard" she murmured, ~ shall
be happy. It's hard life keeping board
ers. III was only as well off as Eide
Boyd.
Still the widow kept up her thinking
and by-and-by her face frightened. Sh
had an idea, which she was resolved to pu
into execution at the earliest possible mo
ment. What it was, the reader will dis
cover in the sequel.
Freddie" said she to her son the mex
morning, II want you to stop at Eide
Boyd's as you go to school and ask him
he will call on me in the course of tn
morning or afternoon, just as he finds
most convenient"
Elder Boyd was little surprised at thi
summons. However, about II o'clock, h
called in. The widow had got on the dir
ner and had leisure to sit down. She az
peared a little embarrassed.
"Freddie told me that you would lik
to see me-" he commenced.
Yes, Elder, should but 1 am ver
much afraid you will think strange, {
least, of what have to say to you"