The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-13
THE WIDOW BARLOW.
BY MARY DALLAS.

THE WIDOW BARLOW.
BY MARY DALLAS.
Peter Buskirk was very fond of money !;
not so fond that he quite starved himself
to keep it, or hide it up the 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 over. Beggars reaped no harvest
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 his pockets as hastily
in the presence of the bewitching crino-
line as in that of a seedy gentleman with
a 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;
bright eye put him in a hutter. But
the fact was, women, as wives or daugh-
ters, were expensive. They needed
clothes, and were fond of dainties. They
were proverbially extravagant. 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 the
shoals of matrimony.
There was one inconvenience in this
bachelorhood, however. That was the
housekeeping for it involved servant
some one to make beds, wash dishes,
cook and iron. In short, the se1vant-of
allwork was always the bane of Peters
life-eating and drinking in manner
which kept the master of the house in a
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 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.
"Not to be relied upon for honesty" T"
said Mrs. Brown. .
Thieves, ma'am, thievesP, said
Peter.
"Ah," said Mrs. Brown, ga gentle
man has no time to watch them. Now |
should advise marrying, Mr.. Buskirk."
"Marryingp
eyes sir; a wife can manage such
things so much better. Besides, if you
choose smart, capable woman, she will
keep an eye on the servant. 1t would be
much more economical to marry"
Economical p' yelled Peter; "my
good ladyl Eco-I-O, goodness
Feathers and flowers, laees and silks, and
rings and-and ice cream and things
economicaIi How many yards do you take
for dress, ma'am 2"
"Well, sir, twelve or thirteen-some.
times, when it's silk, you know, it takes
eighteen"
Eighteen yards, at five shillings OF
so yard, and not one dress, but twenty
My good lady, it would be enough to
ruin man."
Mrs. Brown reflected.
"But if you could find an economical
woman, Mr.. Buskirk."
"Ahl if could find mermaid,
"One who never wasted penny"
"She does not exist, ma'am."
"Who lives on next to nothing. Tht
fact is, Mr. Buskirk, 1 have such a lad!
in my eye. She's a widow-quite s
young one-Mrs. Barlow, and Pll hav
her at Peach House next week."
Peter Buskirk grinned sarcastically.
Economy in hoops and bonnets," h
said to himself. "They want to MARI,
me and spend my money"
And he went home wroth.
However, economy forbade him to re
fuse an invitation to dinner; and wher
a week after, Mrs. Brown sent her CON
pliments," etc., Mr.. Buskirk donned hi
Sunday suit and went over to the Peac
House at five precisely. The parlor ws
full of ladies; ladies in silks and muslin
with crinolines and hcunces. Most {
them Mr.. Buskirk knew well, and b
looked in vain for a stranger. Mr.
Browns note had said:
"Mrs. Barlow will be with u.s."
But which was that economical widow
, Probably the lady in the green silk nes
the piano. He could not remember HI
face.
Suddenly Mr.. Buskirk's doubts we
set at rest. Mrs. Brown calculate
"Dear me where is Cousin Betsy? M
Buskirk, you must be introduced to MI
: Barlow ;" and at these words somethir
=, small and fat emerged from between ty
portly danes, and stood before him.
was a very short and slender little W
man, with remarkably pretty fac
: She wore no hoops, and her dress clear
her ankles. The sleeves were close, al
d the skirt had perhaps three breadths
# it. The dress itself was of very pla
e brown merino, and she wore Meth
a brooch nor bow, only white linen coll.
Peter looked approval. Several of t
ladies exchanged glances, and fai
, giggle was heard; and, as though
IS common consent, the two were left te
d a-tete in a corner.
% pheasant day." said Peter, to co
d mence the conversation. Pleasant ds
4 but cold"
= "Ah, yes; but dislike cold weatheI
5 said the lady.
u "Don't agree with you, ma'am?"
"a so, that's not it. / am never i'll t
S, cold weather is 50 expensive. Ligl
it early and Goals DEAR" proceeded the lat
At Money slips through ones fingers; a
10 l never waste things"
~ "My case exactly" said Buski
III "It's astonishing how things cost. NJ
ne there is butter-say pound fl
lie night"
or 40, I never eat butter; it costs
much," said the lady.