Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-08-31
ALL WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

ALL WELL THAT ENDS NELL'
Miss Jane Beagle had lived years
enough in this wicked world to know
that even single blessedness is not al
WAYS perfectly satisfactory to its posses
sor. When she was young, and in pos
session Of her particular share of beauty,
she had firted with several admirers;
but she went too far when she refused
Billy Winkum because he was poor
and unknown, for Billy had in him that
stuff which makes man rise in some
prescriptions Of his own, loud
voice, feeling that be was as good as
ANYBODY else, if not a little better, and
a talent for Fourth Of July oratious.
So that in those years which had chang
ed his old lady love from that there
handsome Jane Beagle to Miss Jane
Beagle, that hasn't ever married, he
had risen in the world and had been TO
Congress, and was person of such
distinction that no one would have dared
to call him Billy Winkum. Mr.. Will
liam Warrington Winkum was his des-
ignation; finer coat, more watch
chain, or a larger diamond in his cravat
we're owned by no one in Bribery
He had never married, but that had
made him all the more desirable to
Billberry society. He met Jane very
often there and now Jane would very
willingly have proved to him that her
decisive mo" of fifteen years ago had
been repented Of Alas {, either Mr.,
William Warrington Winkum no long
er grieved over that NO or he re-
garded it as final ,
"And vet he hasn't married, said
Miss Jane land he don't firt round
amongst the young girls, nor pay at
tention to the widows, | haven't gone
off as much as | might. He's bald,
and haven't gray hair. Hes five
years older than | am, any way, sup
pose he should like me still T.
However, concealment did not seem
10 prev like worm in the bud Oh Mr..
Winkums damask cheek. He shout
ed on the platform at the election time
with unimpaired lung power, and he
built himself a house on the hill where
in he installed as housekeeper his re-
markable old grandmother, who had
outlived fourteen children, and at nine
ty walked, rode, talked and ate, with
an energy not often met with in women
Of forty.
Oh that house, with its bright
bricks, its new shutters, its elaborate
roof, its stately chimneys, its balcony
and front porch, and its interior Of
Wilton carpets, real lace curtains
aud velvet parlor furniture! How oft
en- Jane Beagle said to herself
All this might have been mine if
had had Billy She said it to herself
very often one day, about house-clean
ing time, when she was doing her hes
with the shabby old house that was al
her own now. One after the other haC
slipped out Of it--some were married
and some were dead-nobody remain
ed.
Il don't think l can stand it roucl
longer" sighed Jane; Il must taxi
boarders or something. Nobody t,
speak to all day long! If / feel sicl
nobody to do for me."
Jane was down on the kitchen foo
scrubbing as she spoke. The rag car
pet was hanging on the line outside
The rush-bottomed chairs, well Scrub
bed, we're turned up on the grass I
dry every pan shone beautifully; bu
the wood was worm-eaten, and tn
smoothest whitewash would not max
the walls hawless.
"Heigh-ohW sighed Jane 81 lik
a handsome house, but ! shan't eve
have one.
She said it aloud-a habit of talkin
to herself had grown upon her lately
but to her surprise she was answered 0
the instant.
"Why, who knows" said a voic
you may have the haudsomest hou
in the village yet. Who knows
Don't you want me to tell you p
Good gracious!" cried Jane, jun
ing to her feet, who is that ?"
ats only me, ma'am," replied
stout dark woman, with big straw b
trimmed with peoples on her head, al
with big rings Of gold in her ears, wi
sat upon the door sill and smiled up
her merrily. Its only a poor gypl
wandering over the world TO tell fol!
fortunes for EN-. Have yours tol
lady"
"Mine?" said Jane laughing; "wh
I'm too old"
"You are young enough for lots
be ahead of you, lady," said the woma
"Come, what's twenty-five cents
you to hear Of all your good lucl
Besides, luck is missed sometimes if '
are not on the lookout for it."
What woman does not believe in h