The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-29
SHE HAD HER DOUBTS.


Knockl knock! knockW
''Keminp' called Bijah, as he hur-
riedly tucked away the remnants of a
banana under the table.
1t was a woman who might have been
a hundred years old, but who probably
wasn't over sixty.
She had corkscrew curIs aud winning way,
And the pitch of her voice was high,
And her smileit was bland as emile could be,
AS she seated herself to say:
"This is Bijah, presumed"
"The same, madam-born that way
and can't help it, he replied.
=" I'm widow" she continued, after
a painful pause.
Chow many of 'em, madam
"Sirp
Your husbands, madam, how many
times has death invaded your peaceful
freside and robbed you of your beloved
partnerF'
Well. I have lost three husbands" J"
she sighed, trying in vain to find her
handkerchief.
And now"
"That''s what wanted to consult yot,
about. You see, Pm young yet, and
scores of my friends have been pleased
to say that I have not yet lost my
beauty"
"Just so, madam If l should turn a
corner and run over you l should be apt
to suppose you were girl of about
eighteen. Your real age, however, is
about thirty-perhaps five or six days
over"
Then she shook her curls
And smiled again,
And bit at her fan
And went on to explain
How an old boy, aged seventy-two, by
the almanac, had met her at the regatta
loved her at first sight, and followed
her home and proposed marriage. Hel
relatives opposed the match on account
of her youth and innocence, and his age
and piratical look; but, "you know
Mr.. Joy, how hard it is to live alone
all alone, with no one to call you pc
names and feel sorry when you have thu
headache"
"This would be only your fourth hus
band ?' mused Bijah, as he snapped ;
peach-stone out of the window.
"Only my fourth % she sighed.
"Well, I'd take him. don't like t.
see woman hunting after ninth o
tenth husband, because thai makes
business affair of it, but truly believ
the human heart can love seven differen
times"
do your
az do. You are alone in this col
world. The bad boys stone your cat
mock your parrot and hook your Gu
cumbers, and there are times when you
eyes fill with tears because you have n
one to take you to the Star Island Hous
and pay your way"
"What a mind-reader-what nobl
words" she gasped, as she hid her fac
in her handkerchief. "Then you'd az
cept, would your
az would, and l wouldn't let time &C
ahead of me, for these old chaps dro
off like hot cakes. Write him a not
asking him to call, and then arrange fo
an early marriage"
"But he may have changed his mind.
"Then we'll sue him for breach {
promise!"
"Pm so timid-so embarraased-so-
sop she stammered as she went ou
But she'll fix him.
WANTED ENCOURAGEMENT
The third caller was tramp, a reg
, lar brick. One coat-tail had been le
in the country on the top rail of fenc
his pants were cut at the knees, his h,
" as mere hole with band around j
and the general outlook was sad an
!, lonely.
, 81 want to be encouraged" he r
marked, as he took chair.
Biiah looked him all over and the
!, asked:
II,
, al want to be encouraged with tv
= shillings," replied the man. "Pm o.
of a job, dead-broke, and haven't eat'
:. food for three days"
= The old janitor walked to the clos
!. and took out spade and ak and bee
!, oned the man to follow him out into Il
. back yard, saying:
! "Come and dig some post-holes for Il
- :. and your reward shall be great"
"Can a sick man work ?' demand
: the tramp.
- Come, my friend" =
!. can't even lift spade, tell you
ia Bijah walked over to him and secur
a grip, walked him out to the near,
fence, and with scarcely an effort
f. landed the fellow in mass of weeds
= the other side.
o They said you were an innocel
n kind-hearted old manw howled I
" tramp as he struggled up, "but tn
!. lied! You are an old thug in disguise
r. an old bald-headed murderer"
,r Bijah couldn't catch him, though
Ne sisted by six boys and two dogs. 1
wicked should not prosper, but tt
sometimes do, all the same.
4