Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-26
TWO CANDIDATES,
BY MIRA, Julia E. M'conaugby.

Stephen Haokstt was. for the third
time in his life, looking out for q pain
of black cotton gloves to wear to his
departed pardner's' funeral. lie did
not mourn to tbs extent of a weed
as the old hat he had worn so long,
through storm and shine, would hard.
" support such dignity. But it was
necessary to draw the line some
where, and he drew it at gloves.
His horn like hands looked unused
to such pemps and vanitiss of life.
but he considered them respectful to
the memory Of his wife, and so went
into the extravaganza. IF he could
have forecast matters, he nigh: have
bought all three pairs at once, at a
reduced rate ; aud no doubt he
would, as he was saving man. Bat
there are limits to everyons's ability
to make and save.
The neighbors, sitting shout the
store, asked the customary mortuary
questions, partly from sympathy, but
much more from the curiosity always
felt in such details.
Miss Hackett had been ailino
quite spoil he said, but she wasn't
thought in the least dangerous.
Maybe she was weaker than any.
body knew Of, fer she dropped a
whole brimming pan of new milk,
one night, when abe went to set it
on the buttry shelf / thought likely
she had stumbled over that placuy
old Cat Of hers, and said as much.
| often have to kick that cat out of
my way; but my wife get suoh store
by it, thought | wouldn't havs it
drowned. But IS | was saying, the
cat wasn't about and like as not,
Mss Hackett was feeling poorly be-.
fore she began TO complain. But she
did her own washing on Monday !!
and now she is gone Il ia such a
sudden, mysterious dispensation to
met And he took cut his yellow
bandaua with much emotion.
1t certainly was sudden for him.
Number one, who had shaved her
sixteen hours s. day for fifteen years,
had brought up at tbs insane asylum
for FIVE years longer Number two
soon broke down, and was long a
helpless and unwelcome burden.
Uncle Stephen as people called
him, had seen trouble, aud his wives
had NOT heen examnt
Stephen fealingly remarked that
he would rather have lost the bsst
COW hs had J and neighbor replied
that she hadn't donbt OF it.
Stephen drove around to see the
man who dug graves, and asked his
price. He was new hand, and
Stephen felt that his charge was ex.
orbitant, as the ground was in such
a good condition for digging. He
told what he had always been in the
habit Of paying, and finally they com
promised. The funeral made the
customary decorous stir in the rural
community. where there is little to
break in upon the even tenor of ones
way, and then the world settled
back into its old grooves again.
But poor Stephen could not settle.
It seemed quite the other way with
him, as long as Miranda Jones was
to be the head of the house Miranda
was an old maid, Of very uncertain
age, who wore speetacles, sported
the most astonishing caps, and talked
Of the "wickednesa Of men" contin.
ually. But she was the only house
keeper that could be had for money.
And that grim, wiry woman must
have white sugar IN her toa, three
times q day, and plenty Of it! Ste
phen could not perceive that il
sweetened her any, but dim vision
Of the pcor.house, loomed up before
him, and not in the far prospective
either.
There was one sure remedy for hi.
Ills; be could marry again. He
smiled, grizzly, IS be thought Of
Miranda's surprise, at seeing q new
head Of ths house walk in, when she
doubtless expected that she had 8
life tenure SIS housekseper, and might
even he locking forward to becoming
his fourth wife. Who the favored
woman would be, he had not We;
decided. But after delay of pas.
sable Tespectability. Stephen brushed
up, drew on his foperal gloves, and
went caudidating, so to speak.
Squire Tucker said, 'he was the
moat impartial man he ever saw: he
took the younger widows by honse.
row. Certsinly no one could fee
sighted. Yet no one seemed. to catch
at the dazzling bsit Stephen va.
not discouraged. i widower for the
! third time Ia 8 good deal ike book
agent, not easily dsunted.
He turned his thoughts, however
away from the uhgrateful widows
who stood so in their own light, and
determined 10 taks youRg wife
who would laHt out bis lifetime
His boys had followed Horacs
Gresley's advice, the day they came
of age, and gons West; aud money
wouldn't tempt then,' they said, Il
come back and live with the Oh
man So theirs was nobody near L
say him nay about this business o
taking yousg girl to wife. 'Msyb.
they wouldn't get SO big 8 slios on
of the cid place, as they looked for,
he thought, with a chuokle.
I stephen fodderel the cattle, am
| sfnnk the nifchfnrk nm nn3ar q.