The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-01-13
THE WIDOW BARLOW.
BY MARY DALLAS.

HOT 50 IOQQ JQdL Ms QulU6 SidTf6l ulmsei
to keep it, or hide it'up the chimney, o
refused himself fire or tights or pillow
but yet so very fond of it as to be on the
verge of miserhood without having quit,
fallen over. Beggars reaped no harves
from his purse or kitchen, and match
makers could make no impression on his
bachelor heart. Peter Buskirk saw
through the latter as well as the former
and buttoned up bis pockets as hastily
in the presence of the bewitching crino.
line asi in that of seedy gentleman with
folded document in his breast-pocket
The men wanted to lob him, the women
10 marry him. The last was the worst.
Not that Peter hated women; on the
contrary, even at fifty he was susceptible
Albright eye put him in futter. But
the fact was, women, as wives or daugh-
ters, we're expensive. They needed
clothes, and were fond of dainties. They
were proverbially extrsvagant. Should
hcmarry one, she would spend his money
while he lived and squ2nder it after he
was dead. And, with this awful terror
before him, Peter steered clear of the
shoals of matrimony.
There was one inconvenience in this
bachelorhood, however. That was the
housekeeping for it involved a servant
cook and iron. In short, the seIvant-of
all-work was slways the bane of Peters
life-eating and drinking in a manner
which kept the master of the house in q
continual ferment; wasting butter and
fuel, and each change in the Kitchens
incumbrance being followed by the mys-
terious disappearance of towels and nap
kins and such small ware. There was no
rest for good Mr.. Buskirk. He tried
Betty and Dinah and Mary and Ann,
and then, in despair, flew to a certain
Mrs. Brown, the giver of tea-parties in
Vulnerable, for advice.
Servants are sad plaques" she said.
Eat you out of house and home, " said
Peter.
mot to be relied upon for honesty"
said Mrs. Brown.
Thieves, ma'am, thievesP' said
Peter.
"Ah," said Mrs. Brown, "a gentle
man has no time to watch them. Now l
should advise marrying, Mr.. Buskirk"
Marryingi"
Yes sir; a wife can manage such
~ DCbOtI. IL YOU
choose a smart, capable woman, she viii
keep an eye on the servant. 1t would be
much more economical to marry"
"Economicall'' yelled Peter; "my
good ladyl Eco-I-O, goodnessl
Feathers and flowers, laces and silks, and
rings and-and ice cream and things
economical! How many yards do you take
for dress, ma'am ?'
"Well, sir, twelve or thirteen-some-
times, when it's silk, you know, it takes
eighteen"
Eighteen yards, at five shill;ngs or
so yard, and not one dress, but twenty.
My good lady, it would be enough to
ruin man"
Mrs Brown reflected.
"Rut if you could find an economical
woman, Mr. Buskirk."
"Ahi if could find a mermaid"
Zone who never wasted a penny"
She does not exist, ma'am."
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 one-Mrs. Barlow, and I'll have
her at Peach House next week"
Peter Buskirk grinned sarcastically.
Economy in hoops and bonnets," Lke
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,
week after, Mrs. Brown sent her COM
pliments," 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 hcunces. Most of
them Mr.. Buskirk knew well, and he
looked in vain for a stranger. Mrs.
Browns note had said:
Mrs. Barlow will be with u.s."
But which was that economical widow?
Probably the lady in the 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 Betsy? Mr.
Buskirk, you must be introduced to Mrs
Barlow" :" and at these words something
small and fat emerged from between two
portly danes, and stood before him. 1t
was a very short and slender little wo-
man, with a remarkably pretty face.
She wore no hoops, and her dress cleared
her ankles. The sleeves were close, and
the skirt had perhaps three breadths in
il. 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 lett tete-
a-tete in corner.
pleasant day." said Peter, to COM
mence the conversation. " Pleasant day
but cold"
All, yes; but dislike cold weather"
said the lady.
"Don't agree with you, ma'am 30
40, 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 fingers and
never waste things"
my case exactly" said Buskirk.
It's astonishing how things eost. Now,
there is butter-say pound fort
night"
40, never eat butter; it costs too
much" said the lady.
All and sugar and tea and coffee"
If you indulge in such luxuries, what
can you expects f' said Mrs. Barlow.
"They are artificial wants altogether,
SO they are" said Mr.. Buskirk "But
then, habit is second nature"
Extravagant habits ruin many"
said Mrs Barlow. 40. shudder when
] look at those founces. Such waste of
material"
"Pve often thought so," said Peter.
And you don't wear them?'
az" said Mrs. Barlow. al have my
senses, sir. I've no wish to die in a
work-house. I've had this dress ten
years."
Indeed" said Peter. "And ! sup
pose some ladies' buy one every month"
Every ten days" said Mrs. Barlow.
30, blush for my sex, Mr.. Buskirk, /
do, indeed"
Peter was charmed. He began to
think Mrs. Brown right. The cost of such
wife would be a mere trife, and what
an eye she would keep to the expenses of
the household;
Ere the evening was over he had de-