Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-06-14
BILL AND THE WIDOW.
!. story That Will Make Yon Langh.

"Wife, said Ed. Wilbur one morning
as he sat stirring his coffee with one
hand and holding plum cake on his
knee with the other, and looking across
the table into the bright eyes Of his lit
tie wife, wouldn't it be Il good joke to
get bachelor Bill Smiley to take widow
Watson to Barnum's show next week?'
You can't do it, Ed; he won't ask
her, he's 50 awful shy. Why he came
by here the other morning when | was
hanging out clothes, and he looked over
the fence and spoke, but when | shook
out night gown he blushcd like u girl
and went away"
(" think can manage it, said Ed.
but I'll have to lie Just a little Bu ttnen
it won't be much harm under the cir
cumstances. for | know she likes him,
and he don't dislike her; but just as you
say, he's so shy I'll just go over to his
place to borrow some bags of him, and
if i don't bag hm before ! come back
don't kiss me for Il week, Nellie"
So saying, Ed. started, and while he
is moving across the fields we will take u
look Mt Bill Smiley He is rather good
looking fellow, though his hair and
whskers had some gray hairs, and lie
had got iii set Of artificial teeth. But
every one said he was Il good soul, and
so he was. He had as good hundred
acre farm as any in Norwich, with new
house and everything comfortable; and
if he wanted wife many girl would
have jumped ut the chance, like u roost-
or at grasshopper. But Bill was so
observation-disclosures was--and when Susan
Bprrvbotte, whom he was so sweet on,
though he never said :" boo" to her, got
married to old Watson, he just drew in
his head like mud turtle in his shell,
and there was no getting him out again,
though it had been noticed that since
Susan bad become widow he had paid
more attention to his clothes. and had
been very regular in his attendance
ut the church the fair widow attended.
But here comes Ed Wilbur.
Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur
What's the news your wayg
"Oh, nothing particular, that | know
of" said Ed. only Barnum's show that
everybody and his girl is going to.
was over to old Sockrider's last night,
and | see his son Gus has got new bug
gy, and was scrubbing up his harness,
and he's got the white faced colt of his
as slick as seal. understand that he
intends taking widow Watson to the
show. He's been hanging around there
4 good deal Of late, but I'd Just like to
cut him out, / would. Susan is nice
little woman, and deserves better man
than that young pup of a fellow, though
| would not blame her much anyhow if
She takes him, for she must be dread
fully lonesome. and then she has TO let
her farm out on shares, and it isn't half
worked and no one else seems to have
the spunk to speak up to her. BY jlngot
If were single man ID show you a
trick or two"
50 saying, Ed. borrowed some bags
and started around the corner of the
barn, where he had left Bill sweeping,
and put his ear to knot hole and list
ened, knowing that the bachelor had n
habit Of talking to himself when any
thing worried him.
"Confound that young Sockrider,
said Bill. What business has he
there. | should like to know Got a new
buggy. has he? Well, SO have J., and a
new harness, TOO, and his horse can't get
III sight of mine. and Ideclare I've half
mind to, yes will, Ill 20 this very
night and ask her % go 70 the show with
me. III show Ed Wilber that amt
such a calf Us he thinks | am, if did
Iet old Watson yet the start Of me in the
first"
outright. but liz hastily hitchcd the
bags on his shoulders, and with low
chnekle at his success startled home to
tell the news to Nellie, and about ;
o'clock they saw Bill - by with his
Morse and buggy on i'll way 70 the VI
dow's. lie logged along quietly think,
Ing of the old singing school days, and
what pretty gipi ~, 3nsa # Se S would have
more courage now to talk 10 her, until
ata distance of about mile from her
house III came To bridge over large