Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-09-30

o speak QUIT What's got into the boy2'
Q cried the old lady, dying with curiosity
: to know what WAS his plan.
K Well, I'll tell you all about it,
k began Joe. assuT ing more sober tone.
y Well, I wish you would"
"YOu know the widder has always
! favored my keeping company with Me-
4 linda"
"Well9"
sand 1 do believe she's desp'r
down on that feller, Reuben Sparks,
, coming into the family"
"Yes."
In that case she wouldn't very
willingly let her property go into his
"But according to the will OF old Mr..
Martin the property amt to go out Of
her hands till she's dead"
"Just SO, and now I'm coming to the
point; it's just right there I'm going to
floor Reuben Sparks"
Well, let me hear"
J " The widder Martin herself amt q
bad looking woman |" Joe remarked,
in sort of mysterious tone of voice,
glancing up suddenly into his mothers
face.
"No. But what has that got to do
, with the matter9" replied the old lady,
! impatiently.
"And She amt very old, neither" Z"
continued he, with the same air.
"Why, she can't be more'n forty"
So I think she has good chance OF
living forty MORE"
"Well, and what of it9"
"Just this" said Joe; "I'll marry
the widder p
Mrs. Chickweed, expecting, as she
was, something awful, wasn't prepared
for this. She uttered an exclamation
of surprise, started upward from her
seat, then sunk back and fixed her eyes
with vacant stare upon her sons face.
"Well," said Joe, 81 h pc you
don't say anything that's agin it,"
No-uol' stammereu Ais mother,
recovering somewhat from the shock
she had received; "but are you really
in earnest-will you marry the wild
der7"
"To be sure I will and that's not
the whole of it-I'm going to see her
this very day. I'll marry her if she'll
have me, and be revenged on Melinda,
for cutting me as she has for that blast
ed Sparks. I'll teach 'em what's
what p
Joe was as good as his word. He
sought the widow and made his propo-
sal. She was more astonished than she
knew how to express, but she was more
gratified than she was astonished
Fresh and fair as she was, considering
her years, she had never given up the
idea of winning another husband; but
it had never entered her head that she
could possibly secure so young and es
timable prize as Joe Chickweed.
Joe made it q special proviso in his
proposal that they should be married
privately the day before the marriage |
of Sparks with the widows daughter,
and that it should be kept secret till
the wedding had taken place. 10 this
the widow readily agreed, although it
was hard task sometimes for her to
restrain the enjoyment she experienced,
and prevent the secret being discovered.
The evening before the nuptials of
Sparks and Melinda at length arrived,
aud all preparations for the ceremony
on the ensuing day were completed.
When darkness had fairly set in, while
Melinda was SO occupied with the COM
pany and conversation of her soon-to-be
husband as to be oblivious to all else,
Mrs. Martin cautiously left the house,
and meeting Joe near at hand, she
fastened with him to the residence of
the Chickwecds. The minister, who
had been duly admonished to secrecy,
was in attendance, and in less than half
an hour Joe was married man and the
no longer widow was on her way back
home, parting with Joe with single
but very enormous kiss, with which he
was content to satisfy himself, consider
ing what was TO follow from so doing on
the morrow.
The wedding passed off next day to
the entire satisfaction of all parties.
The affair took place in the morning at
the residence of the bride, and at the
hour OF noon all tho ggests, with the
exception of Joe Chickweed, who had
been formally invited, had departed.
Why he remained SO long it puzzled
the newly married pair to surmise, as
they had not supposed he would be
present at all. Joe took it very easily,
however, and seemed quite unembar-
the happy Sparks.
"I 'spose you'll take up your resi-
dence in the village right away" said
Joe, addressing himself to the newly
made husband, as they were assembled
in the parlor together; "buy you nice
house and live comfortable" (
"Oh, no, replied Mr.. Sparks" don't
know as shall"
"What Well, now, l calculate you ,
don't have any idea of settling on
farm You amt used to that work,
you know"
"Don't know but may" said Sparks,
a careless air and tone ,
coming on hot weather, you know, and ,
living in town is bore in summer. Yes,
I think shall try the country life for a l
while; I amt in the best of health, and I
a farm life may improve me-"
SWELL" responded Joe, deliberately, $
"can't say that I'm sorry that you're
going to stay with us. I think myself {
that it would be to your benefit to work l
on farm for a while, and we'll try to 8
make it as comfortable as possible for
you."
Mr.. Sparks looked at his wife they '
looked at one another and laughed. S
"No doubt" remarked Mr.. Sparks, c
Jcu ~ unho al aSLccuUAo At1SuIiOIs
very agreeable, indeed" t
"Oh, we'll be nearer than neighbors, r
a good sight-of course we will," said c
Joe, glancing with look of intelligence t
toward the former widow. c
Again Mr.. and Mrs. Sparks glanced r
at each other, but this time they didn't t
laugh.
"What do you mean ?" they asked
"Oh, excuse me; forgot that you h
didn't know what had transpired. The .
TACT is. the widow and myself, taking a 4
mutual liking to each other, were mar q
ried last night. We should have invit- i
cd you to the wedding, but we knew =
you were SO much engaged" +
"What married p cried Mr.. =
Sparks, springing to his feet, while a
ook OF horror overspread his features.
His wife sat pale as ghost, utterly un. 6
able to speak word. h
Certainly, married." said Joe, q
,oolly. y