Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-02-05
THE WIDOWS BEAU.

ed to the worship of God. The min
lister had read the psalm and the
scripture lesson, and the first lines
of the opening hymn.
The eyes of the people were fixed
intently upon him, for he was not
only good, sound, eloquent preach
er, but he was tine-looking one, too,
and thus enchained usually not only
the attention of the true, but the false
worshipper.
The house was very still-the clear,
melodious tones of the speaker were
the only sounds that throbbed on the
balmy, golden air which the midsum-
mer Sabbath morn had breathed into
that holy place. The first syllable
Of the second line was trembling on
his lips, when rustic at the door,
and the entrance of two persons, a
lady and a gentleman, dissolved the
charm.
In a second, every eye turned from
the pulpit to the broad aisle, and
watched with more than ordinary ca
gerness the progress of the couple.
A most searching ordeal were they
subjected to; and when they were
fairly and quietly seated in the front
pew, Immediately before the pulpit,
what nudging of elbows there was
aye, and how many whispers, too.
In vain sought the good, the sound ,
the eloquent, the handsome Mr.. b.
to seal again the attention of his
hearers. They had eyes and thoughts
for nobody but Widow c., and Wild
ow C.'s young and dashing- looking
attendant.
How she had cheated them
Hadn't she said an hundred times OIL
more that her heart was in the grave
of her buried one, that she would
never marry again? Hadn't she re
fused always to walk out or ride ou,
with any of the inappropriate gentle
men of the village? Hadn't she sait
she didn't feel as though she conlC
ever wear anything but mourning
And in spite of these protestations
hadn't she come out all at once
dressed all in white, and walked int,
church in broad daylight, leaning o.
the arm of a young gentleman?
Yes, indeed she had. She woult
have pleaded guilty TO all the charges
grave ones as they were, and to tn,
last two, how many witnesses nigh
have been subp9naed?
She was actually dressed in white
A beautiful robe of India c,ull, tucl
to the waist, with an open corsage
displaying an elaborately wrough
chemisette, drapery sleeves trimme,
with the richest of Mechlin lace, un
terial, white Grape shawl e@mmaa maa
lace hat with orange buds and flow
ers, white kid gloves and light gait
ers-such was the description ever
lady hau on her tongues end to re
peat over as soon as service closed
And the gentleman-he too wa
dressed in style. Didn't he wea
white pants of the latest pattern, an
a white vest, and a coat of ''sati
iinish," and white kids, too? An
didn't he sport splendid pin and
massive chain, and didn't he gaze o
ten, tencerly and lovingly on the IA
} creature beside him? Ah, yes, /
| did so, and there was no further roo
. to doubt.
Widow c. had cheated them. ST
had won a beau, laid aside her mour,
ing, pat on bridal attire, and was Y,
ing to be married in church. b.
who the beau was, or whence
came, was more difficult to solve.
Z Service proceeded. The cho
] sang, the minister prayed and preac
ed, the people wondered when Il
ceremony would take place. But,
their utter astonlshment, they we
left to wonder. For, when The ben
diclion was pronounced, Widow
and the strange gentleman wake
with the rest of the congrcgati,
quietly out of the church. VIII
Z they reached the pavement, he otit
. ed his arm very gracefully, and s
= placed her iuud very coniidingly
the beautiful soft coat sleeve, al
they passed. on.
What incoming that was IN Fa
monnt! What world OF corjectur.
surmises, inquiries and doubts. foil
over and over in the brains of 4
only goss,ping ladies', but sober, m
ter-o fact gentlemen.
1.-The like of such a thing" /
never occurred before in the ann
of the village. There was someth
new under the sun-a lady had ha'
beau and nobody knew of it,
Widow c., didn't your ears,
only the right but the left, burn t
day? Ali We wonder they had
r dropped of-surely, they must h
= been crisp and crimson.
The Rev. Mr.. b. preached t.
crowded house that afternoon
compliment to him, though.
magnet was in the pew before h
Every one was sure the wedd
would take place then; but eve
- body was again sadly disappoint
anu IL IoDSucS hau Auh "c iH''
speed before, they travelled then
the electric wires.
The minister might have preac
in Greek that day and his ser'
would have been quite as edify
i But one subject engrossed the VII
III mind. The widows beau--that
W the topic.
1t actually seemed, too, as tho
the lady tried to make all the
she could. After tea, arm in
with the strange gentleman,
walked the whole longth OF the
i'm lage and away out INTO the Genet
UN and never returned till the moon
high.
IA nice looking dress | guess
had," drawled out old grandma
as she listened to the widows
derings. "I'm glad l hain't &C
~ wash it, all drabbled up with de-
=! it must have been. But
'spose she thought or cared a
about it, she's so carried away
him. But I'll give her q piece 9
mind the first time l have a CHI
m