Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1876-01-27
Miscellaneous.
THE WIDOW BARLOW.
by MARY DALLAS.


it up the chimney, or refused him
self fire or lights or pillow: bu
yet so very fond of it as to be OF
the verge of miserhdod without bav
ing quite fallen over. Beggars reap
ed no harvest from his purse or kitch
en-, and watch-makers could make nc
on his bachelor heart
Peter Buskirk saw through the latter
as well as the f,rmer. and buttoned
up bis pockets as hastily in the pres
ence of the bewitching crinoline a'
in that of a seed 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
women; on the contrary, even at fit
ty he was susceptible; bright eye
put him in Il fiutter. But the fac
was, women as wives or daughters
were expensive. They needed clothes
and were tcnd of dainties. They
were proverbially extravTgant.-
should he marry one, she would
spend his money while he li.cd and
squander it after he was dead. And
with this awful terror before him
Peter steered clear of the shoals oI
There was one inconvenience ii
this bachclorhood, however. Thai
was the housekeeping; for it involv
cd Il scrvant-some one to make beds
wash dishes, cook and iron. Ii
short, the servant-of-allwork was al
ways the bane of Peters life-caline
and drinking in II manner which
kept the master of the house IN
continual icrmcnt; wasting butter
and fuel, and each change i'll tho
kitchens ipcumhrance being followed
by the mysteriou. disappearance oi
towels and napkins and such small
ware. There was no rest for good
Mr.. Euskirk. lie tried Betty and
Din4h and Mary and Ann, aud then
in despair, flew to certain Mrs,
Brown, the givcr Of tca-parties in
Vulnerable, for advice.
Servants are sad plaques" she
said.
Fat you out of house and home,
said Peter.
Not to be relied upon for homes
ty," said Mrs. Brown.
Thieves, ma'am, thieves!' said
Peter.
"Ah," said Mrs. Rrown, ga gentle
man has no time to watch them
Now | should advise marrying, Mr'
Du.kirk.'
"Marrying"
Yes sir vile can manage such
things 50 much better. Besides, il
you choose Il smart, capable woman,
she will keep an eye Oh the servant
IL would I've much more economical
to marry"
Economical.." yelled Peter: "my
good lady. Eco-l-O, goodness
Feathers and flowers, laces and silks
and and ice cream and things
economical? How many yards do you
take for dress, ma'lm,'
"N ell, sir. twelve or thirteen
sometimes, when its silk, you KNOW
it takes eighteen"
Eighteen yards, at FIVE shilling:
or 50 Il yard, and not one dress, bn'
twenty. My good lady, it would be
enough to ruin 4 man.
"Nlrs. Brown reflected.
Buff You could find an economi'
cal woman, Mr.. Buskirk."
"Ah, if | could find = mermaid.
"One who never wasted a penny.
"Shc 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 wild
ow-ouitc young onc-Mrs. Bar
low, and Ill have her at Peaci
House next week"
Peter Bu>kirk grinned sarcasti
cally.
ECONOMY in hoops and bonnets,
ho said to himself. They want L
marry me and spend my monsy.'
And he went home wroth.
However, economy forbade him t.
refuse au invitation to dinner; anc
when, a week after. Mrs. Brown sem
cher compliments" etc, Mr.. Bus
kirk druncd his sunday suit ant
went over to the Peach House a
five preci,ely. The parloI was ful
of ladies ladies i'll silks and mu,lns
with crirolincs and flouncrs. "os
of them MIR. Buskirk knew we'll, anc
he looked in vain tor Il Stranger
Mr.. Browns note In said:
"MrS. Barlow will be with us
But which was that economical
widow? Probably the lady in tho
green silk near the piano. lie coulo
not remember her face.
Suddenly Mr.. Buskirk's doubts
were set al rest. Mrs Brown clacu
lated, Dear me- where is Cousin
Betsy? Mr.. Buskirk You must be
introduced to Mrs. Barrow = and al
Il words something small and flat
e ergel from between two Portl,
danes. and stood before him. il
was a very short and slender little
woman, with q remarkably prett!
fa,e. She wore no hoops. and hei
dress cleared her ankles. The
sleeves were close. and the skirt had
perhaps three breadths in it. The
dress Itself was OF very plain brown
mcrino, and she wore neither brooci
nor bow, only Il white linen collar -
Peter locke | approval. Several ot
the ladies exchanged glanccs, and 4
faint giggle va, heard; and, rs
though by common consent. the Two