The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-30
The Widow Cummiskey Won.

In Avenue -, the other evening. as
Mr.. Costello came along. Mr.. Costello
stopped
Good evenin' to you, ma'am,' said he.
Good evening to you. Mr.. Costello
answered the widow.
It's very fine weather we're havin',
ma'am, continued Mr.. Costello.
1t is that, thank God, replied Mrs.
Cummiskey, 'but the winters comm at
last. and it comes to all, both great
and small
.Ah = said Mr.. Costello, but for all
that it don't come to Us all alike. Now.
here are you, ma'am, fat, rosy an good
lookin', equally swstc as summer
greenin. fall pippin or a,winter rus
set,'-
Arrah. hold your whisht, 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
for l was only standing be the door,
lookin' at the people psssin', for COM
pany sake. like, and I'm sure the kettle
must have sung itself hoarse.'
Mr.. Costello needed no second invita-.
tion, and he followed his hostess into
her snug back room. There was Q
bright fire burning in the little Frank
lin stove, the tea kettle was sen ding
forth a cloud Ct steam that took ruddy
glow from the fire-light. the shaded
lamp on the table gave q mellow and
subdued light to the room. and it was
all very suggestive of comfort.
IT'S very cosey ye are here, Mrs.
Cummiskey.' said Mr.. Costello, casting
a look of appreciation around the apart
ment.
Yes, replied the widow. as she laid
the supper. it 10 that whin do have
company
'Ah.' said Mr.. Costello, it must be
lonesome for you with only the cat and
yer cup of tsy'
Sure it is,' answered the widow.
But take . seat and cit down, Mr..
Costello. Help yourself to the fish
and don't forget the purtsties. Look
at thin they; are splitting their sides
with laughin.'
Mr. Costello helped himself and
pansed. He looked at the plump
widow, with her arm in that graceful
position assumed in the pouring out of
tea. and remarked, I'm sinsible of the
comforts Of = home. Mrs. Cummiskey,
though I've none meself Mind now.
the difference between the taste O. tay
made and served that-a-way aud the
tay they give us in an eating house.
Sure. said the widow, there's moth
ing like little home Of yer own. I
wonder ye never got marrit, Mr.. Cos
tello.'
- 4 was about to makss:he same re-
max about yourself. ma'am, answer
ed Mr.. Costello.
God keep u.s. exclaimed Mrs. Cum.
miskey, aren't / been widder woman
this seven years.
All reioined Mr.. Costello. but it's
thinking | was why ye didn't get mar
rit again
We'll, it's sure am.' said the widow
thoughtfully. setting down her tea cup
and raising her hand by way. of en-
phasis, there never WAS better hus-
band to any woman than HIM that's
dead and gone. heaven save and rest
his sowl. He was that asy child
could do anything with him, and he
was as handsome as monkey. You
favor him very much, Mr. Costello.
He was about your neigth, and dark
complicated like you.
All. exclaimed Mr.. Costello.
He often used to say to me in his
bantering way. Sure. Nora. what is
the worruld to man ii his wife is .
widder.' 'Al. poor Johnl'
1t was sensible saying. that. re-
marked Mr. Costello. a. he helped him
self to more fish.
i mind the day John died. contin-
ued the widom. He knew everything
to rhe last. and about four in the after
noon--it Was seventeen minutes past
five exactly, be the clock that he died
he says to me. Nora says he, you've
been a good wife. says he. 'and I've
been a good husband says he, and so
there is 40 love lost between us, say she,
and l could give you good chsr-ak.
ter to any any place, and wish you
could do the same where I'm going,
says he. but it's case equal, says he.
every dog has his day, and some have
= day and a-half. says he. and, says he,
I'll know more in bit than Father Cor
rigan himself. says he, but I'll say now,
says lie. that I've always been true
sou Of the church, says he. 20 I'll not
bother my brains about it, and he says.
says be, lave You in good hands, Nora,
aud II at any time 20 SEQ any one ye
like better nor me. marry him. says he,
All. Nora. says he the first time spak-
ia it solem like, All. Nora, what is the
worruld to . man when his wife is .
widdcry And. says be. lave $50 for
masses. and the rest leave to yerself,
says he. and l needn't tell ye to be
good mother to the chill iren, says be.
for We we'll know there are none. Alb.
poor John. Will 20 have another cup
OF tsy. Mr.. Costello!
1t mrst have been very hard on ye,
said Mr.. Costello; Thank you aam,
no more.
II was hard, said Mrs. Cummiskey
cut time will tell. must cast about
'ue for me for my own living. an so l
got 'ntil this place, and here ! sn
to-day.
Ah. said Mr.. Costello. ~ they rose
from the table and seated themselves
before the fire, and hers we are both OF
US this evening.
Here We are. sure enough. rejoined
the widow.
An 40 mind you of--of him. do II
asked Mr.. Costello. after pause. dur
ing which he gazed contemplatively in
m tha a.