Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-03-21

Mr.. c. stopped.
n Good evenin' to you, ma'am," salt
s he.
e ''Good evening, Mr.. Costello" )" answered
the widow.
/ '.It's fine weather we're havin', ma am,
, continued Mr.. Costello. ---.- -.--. ~
q at is that, thank God,' replied Mrs
t Cum!niskey, ''but the winters coming a
I last, and it comes to all, both great ant
r small"
''Ah!" said Mr.. Costello; '.but for al
E that it doesn't come to us all alike. Now
| here are you, ma am, tat, rosy and gooC
t lookin', equally swate as a summer green
in, a fall pippin, or a winter russell
''Arrah, hould yer whist nOw," inter.
, rupted the tair widow, laughing. ''Much
an old bachelor like you knows about ap-
: piles or women. But come in, Mr.. Costel
10, and take cup ov tay with me, for
was only standing by the door, looking at
the people passing, for company's sake,
like, and Pm sure the kettle must have
sung itself hoal se.'
Mr.. Costello needed no second invita-
ton, and lie followed his hostess into her
snug back room. There was bright fire
burning in the little Franklin stove, the
tea-kettle was sending forth cloud of
steam that took a ruddy glow from the
freight, the shaded lamp on the table
gave mellow and subdued light to the
room, and it was all very suggestive of
comfort.
"It's very cosy We are here, Mrs. Cum
miskey," said Mr.. Costello, casting look
of appreciation around the apartment.
YES" replied the widow, as she laid
the supper table, lit is that Whin l have
company"
| "As,' said Mr.. Costello, sit must be
lonesome for you with only that cat and
yer cup av tay."
''Sure it is,' answered the widow. ''But
take chair and sit down, Mr.. Costello.
Help yersef to the fish. and don't forget
the purtaties. Look at them; they're
splitting their sides with laughin'.''
MI. Costello helped himself and paused.
He looked at the plump widow, with her
arm in that graceful position assumed in
the pouring out of tea, and remarked: Il
Mrs. Culnmiskey, though I've none me-
self. Mind now, the difference between
the taste av taY made and served that way,
anu the tay they give yor m an ea,nIg
house."
Sure" said the widow, '.there's nothin'
like little home of your own. wonder
you never got married, Mr.. Costelly."
Il was about to make the same remark
in difference to yerself, a'am," answered
M. Costello.
"God keep u.s. exclaimed Mrs. Cum
miskey, ''aren't widow woman these
seven years:''
''Ah," rejoined Mr.. Costello, '.but it's
thinking was why ye didn't get married
ag'in."
''WelI, it's sure anl,' said the widow,
thoughtfully, setting down her tea-cup
and rising her hand by way Of emphasis,
''there never was better husband to any
woman than him that's dead and gone,
heaven save and rest his sowl. He was
that asy as child could do anything with
him, and he was as Mtmorsome as mon
key. You favor him very much, Mr.. Cos
tello. He was about your height, an dark
completed like you"
'Ah!" exclaimed Mr.. Costello.
'.He often used to say to me in his BAN
therin' way. "Sure, Nora, what's the
worruld to man when his wife is WIN
ner,' manin', you know, that all the timp-
tations in luxuries OF this life can never
folly man beyont the grave. Sure,
Nora says he, whats the worruld to a
man whin his wife is widder.' All, poor
JOhn?'
1T was sinsible sayin', that" remark
ed Mr.. Costello, as he helped himself to
more fish. ' Hf iH'-
Il mind the day John died." continued
the widow. '.He knew everything to the
last, and about four o'clock in the after
noon-it was seventeen minutes past five,
exactly, be the clock, that he died-hc says
to ME, NORA says he, you've been
good wife to me- says he, and I've been
good husband says he, 'and | could give
yc good char-ak-thur to any place. says
he, and wish / could do the same for
meself where I'm going says he, but it's
case equal says he, every dog has his
day, and some has a day and half says |
he; 'and,' says he, I'll know more in a
bit than Father Corrigan,' says he,' but
III say now,' says he, 'that I've always |
been true son av the church, says he,
so I'll not bother my brains about it. and
he says, says he, Il lave We in good hands,
Nora, for lave We in yer own hands, says
he, and if at any lime We see any wan ye
like better nor me, marry him. says he.
'Ah, Nora says he, for the first time
speaking it solemn-like, 'Ah, Nora, what
is the worrtlld to man when his wife is a
wilder? And says he, i lave $50 for
masses, and the rest lave to yerself,' says
he, 'and l needn't tell ye to be a good
mother to the children, says he, for well
we know there are none.' All! poor John.
viii ye have another cup av tay, Mr.. Cos
tello?' 'sf az e.. art ~. es.s
ut must have been very hard OF; him."
said Mr.. Costello. 'sThank ye, ma'am, no
more.' a z te
sit was hard" said Mrs. Cummiskey;
''but time will tell. must cast about me
for my own living, and so got intill this
place, and here am to-day"
""As!" said Mr.. Costello, as they arose
from the table and seated themselves be-
fore the fire, sand here we are both of lls
this evenin'.''
''Here we are, sure enough" ,rejoined
the widow.
"1And SO mind We of-of him, do I?''
asked Mr.. Costello, after pause, curing I
which he had gazed contemplatiye into the
fire.
THAT ye do" answered the widow.
'Ye favor him greatly. Dark completed, :