Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-06-21
WINNING A WIDOW.

The widow Cummiskey was standing
at the door of her little millinery store
in Newark Avenue the other evening, as
Mr.. Costello came along. Mr.. Costello
stopped.
dGood evenin' to you, ma'am, " said he.
@Good evenin' to you, MIR. Costello"
answered the widow.
'Its fine weather we're havin,' ma'am,"
continued Mr.. Costello.
'It is that, thank God," replied Mrs.
Cummiskey, "but the winters comm at
last, and it comes to all both great and
small"
aAhP said Mr.. Costello, 'but for all
that it doesn't come to us all alike. Now,
here are you, ma'am, fat, rosy, an good
lOOkin', equally sWate as summer green
in, fall pippin or a winter russell
aArrah, hould yer whist, now" inter-
rupted the fair widow, laughing. much
an old bachelor like you knows about
APPLES or women. But come in, Mr..
Costello, an take a cup o. tay with me,
forI was only standin' be the doore, look
in at the people passin', for company
sake, like, and Pm sure the kettle must
have sung itself hoarse."
Mr.. Costello needed no second invita-
ton, and he followed his hostess into her
snug back room. There was brightfire
burning in the little Franklin stove, the
tea table was sending forth cloud Of
steam that took a ruddy glow from the
fre-light, the shaded lamp on the table
gave mellow and subdued light to the
room, and it was all very suggestive OF
comfort.
ats very cosy We are here, Mrs. Cum
miskey," said Mr.. Costello, casting alook
of appreciation around the apartment.
eyes replied the widow, as she laid
the supper, ut is that, whin | do be hav-
in company"
@Ah,d said Mr.. Costello, at must be
lonesome for you with only the cat and
yer cup O. tay.n
"Sure it is" answered the widow. "But
take safe and set down, Mr.. Costello.
Help yerself to this fish an don't forget
the 7purtaties. Look at them they're
zplittin' their sides with laughin'n
Mr.. Costello helped himself and paus-
cd. BE looked at the plump widow,
with her arm in that graceful position
assumed in the pouring out of tea, and
remarked, "pm sinsible of the comforts
Of a home, Mrs, Cummiskey, though I've
none meself. Mind, now, the difference
between the tastes O. tay made and
you in an 'ating house"
"Sure," said the widow, there's noth-
in like little home O. yer own. WON
der yer never got marrit, Mr.. Costello"
81 was about to make the same remark
in reference to yersek, ma'am," /" answered
Mr.. Costello.
HGod keep u.s." exclaimed Mrs. Cum
miskey, @arent q wilder woman this
seven yearF'
aAh,h reioined Mr.. Costello, 'but it's
thinkin' was why ye- didn't get marTit (.
again"
"Well, its sure am" said the widow,
thoughtfully, setting down her teacup
and raising her hand by way of empha-
sis, 'there never was a better husband
to any woman than him that's dead and
gone, heaven save an rest his sowl. He
was that asy a child could do anythin'
with him, and he was as handsome as 8
monkey. You favor him very much,
Mr.. Costello. He was about your height,
and complicated like you"
"AhP exclaimed Mr.. Costello.
HE often used to say to me in his BAN
therin' way, Sure, Nora, what's the wor-
ruld TO man whin his wife is Widder,'
manin', you know, that all the timpta-
tons an luxuries of this life can never
folly q man beyant the grave. Sure,
Nora says he WHAT'S the worruld to 4
man when his wife's widderr All,
poor Johnp
"It was sensible sayin', that" re-
marked Mr.. Costello, as he helped him.
self TO more fish.
81 mind the day John died." contin-
ned the widow. "He knew everything
to the last, and about four in the after
noon-it was seventeen minutes past five
exactly be the clock that he died-he
saws to me, Nora, says he, you've beena
good wife, says he, and I've been good
husband says he, and there's no love
lost between us, says he, and could
give We good carackthur any place. says
he, IAN wish you could do the same
for me where Pm goin',' says he, but it's
case equal says he, every dog has his
day. and some hasa day and a-half,'
says he; an says he, I'll know more in
DIT than Father Corrigan himself says
he, but I'll say now; says he, that I've
always been true son of the church,
says ne, so I'll not bother nv brains
about it, and he says, says he, Il leave
you In good hands, Nora, for leave Won
IN your own hands, says he, and if at
any time ye see any wan ye like better
nor me, marry him. says he. 'Ah. Nora
says he, for the first time speaking Il
solemn like, 'Ah, Nora, what is the wor-
luId TO a man when his wife is a widow?
And says he, 4 lave $50 for masses, and
the rest lave to YOURSELF said he, and
/ needn't tell ye to be good mother 10
the children says he, for well we know
there are none Ah, poor John. VIII
ye have another cup of tay, Mr.. Costellof'
at must have been very hard on ye,"
said Mr.. Costello. 'gThank ye maam no
more"
ut was hard" said Mrs. Cummiskey
"but time will tell. Unjust cast about me
for our own hvin'; an so got intill this
place. and here am to day"
"Ah!" said Mr.. Costello, as they rose
from he table and seated themselves be-
lore the fire, "and here care both of us
this eYenin'."
Here we are, sure enough" rejoined
the widow.