Sharp County record., 1881-08-11

noise there; for she'd never tase the
trouble to put on her best things and
90 out in that powerin' rain jest TO
marry me-"
" Why. SIM this is rather a bad be-
ginning for people about to marry,
ISN'T it? I'm afraid the gray mare viii
be the best horse in your team--won'
she?' said the kindly old clerk, with a
merry twinkle in his knowing brown
ewes. However. I'd better 90 and
tell Mr.. Howard, or he will be putting
his surplice on for nothing. Shall say
to him that perhaps the wedding will
come of tomorrow, if the. weather is
finer, Mary will get up in time?"
If she don't" vowed Sim, glaring
vengefully. ''she shall never hev another
chance. I'm fairly sick Of her tricks.
We've been keeping company this
twenty year and more, and now she
don't know her own mind 3 bit better
than a mawther young girl in her
teens. But | won't stand it no longer.
She amt going to treat me ike dog,
or a mat for her to wipe her feet on.
There's Widow Biggs would kev me any
day, and glad; and a nice comfortable
woman she is, too! The wedding ring
shan lie long in my pocket for want
of a wearer. And there, Master West
ley,n said poor Sim, almost in tears
over his frustrated plans and, disap-
pointed hopes, I'D meant this to hev
been reg lar Jolly day. I'd got in a
barrel OF beer, and a spare-rib OF
pork, and we wor going to hev pars-
ties and frawns [pan-cakesl and mort
of good things besides, to make reg lar
spree of it; and now, it's all knocked on
the head, and everybody knows I'm
made fool of into the bargain"
Cheer up, Simn' said Master West
ley. " 1t is aggravating, I'll own; but
Mary isn't bad sort, though she has
rather a cruggy [crusty] temper She
has been very true toyou, and it would
be pity for two such faithful lovers as
you've been to part over little tiff at
last. Ibelieye Mary is jealous of the
little widow. You know people did say
once you we're rather soft on her"
g 1t was big story burst out Sim.
" She tried to hook me, but never gave
her 10 encouragement"
Didn't you walk with her from
Church last Sunday? heard that you
did and carried little joey all the way
home; and kissed him when you put
him down at his mothers door"
"Weli, he axed me to give him kiss,
so | couldt do no otherwise. There
was no harm in that, sewerly."
"Certainly not. Only, you see, as
Mary lives just opposite, and saw it all,
shs very likely thought you'd better be
engaged kissing her than hanging round
the widow door. Depend upon it, she's
Jealous; and she's got a highful spirit
of her own, and is acting like this to
make you think she doesn' care whether
she has you or no. If she thought there
was real danger of losing you, she'd
come round in minute, as tractable as
you like"
"But how can l make her think SOP"
"Well, you won't be doing any work
to-day, and it's dull tiffiing idling]
about doing nothing. Take and brush
yourself up smart, and go and have a
chat with Mrs. Biggs. Take some
oranges and sweets for joey. Don't
look at Mary's house; and mind and
make a grand show of petting and kiss
ing the boy in front Of the window,
where she can see it all. She'll be
more jealous than ever. But if she
doesn't marry you tomorrow I'll eat
my head"
"Ah, Master Westerly, you're deep
one, you arep' said Simon, regarding
his astute adviser with admiration.
" But it don't fare to be ezackerly jon,
nick straightforward to dew so; and
| amt fond of smarmin' babies over
with kisses. Still, if you think it will
bring Mary up to the scratch, I'll en-
try it. If it don't, marry Sukey, l0iH,
without anv more shilly-shallying.n
Master Westerly then started for the
rectory, and Sim paid his visit to the
widow He remained in her snug little
house some time, and must have acted
his part uncommonly well, for he had
hardly reached home again when he was
visited by his old sweetheart. The &c.
centric spinster, ignoring her own way
ward dconduct that day, attacked Sim with
a storm of reproaches, accusing him OF
hckleness and falsehood in forSaking
her for "that sly, carneying, little wild
der; and after keeping company with
me for so many years!' she plaintiVely
added.
mo" said Sim, stoutly; at wor
no fault O. mine. l was ready to do
ny part this morning. 1t was you as
run word But I'll eat humble-pie no
longer. If you don't want to hev me,
know one as does. I'll marry you
tomorrow, if you like. If you don't,
I'll never ak you agajnn'
Mary was a tall, black-eyed, comely
looking spinster of forty or more, re-
ported to have a hot temper and a
shrewish tongue but for once she kept
both in check. II was evident that
Simon meant to be trihed with no
longer. Moreover, she could not help
secretly admitting that he was right,
and admired his spirit and manly de-
termination. 1t would never do to let
so good a fellow and so faithful a lover
fall prey to a designing widow-not
to mention the humiliation she would
have to endure