The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-28

out in such bonnet is more than can
tell. l should think she was old enough
to know better"
| This last remark was made by young
lady just six months younger than the
widow, and whose attempts to catch a
second husband had hitherto proved ut
] terly unavailing.
/ II suppose" continued the same
young lady, "she is trying to catch n
! first husband with her finery. Before
I'd condescend to such means, ibid
drown myself"
In this last amiable speech the young
lady had unwittingly hit upon the true
| motive. The widow was intent upon
catching Elder Boyd, and she indulged
In costly bonnet, not because she sup
posed the elder would be caught with
finery, but because this would strength
en- in his mind the idea that she had
stumbled upon hidden wealth. The
widow calculated shrewlly, and the dis
play. had the effect she anticipated.
Monday afternoon, the elder found an
errand that called him over to the
widows. 1t chaneed to be just about
tea-time. He was importuned to stay to
tea, and, somewhat to his own surprise,
actually did.
The polite widow, who knew the eld-
er's weak point, brought one of her best
mince pies, a piece of which her guest
partook of with zest.
you'll take another piece, know"
said she persuasively.
Really, 1 am ashamed, " said the cid
er; but he passed his plate. 1.-The fact
is, " he said apologetieally, "your pies
are so nice don't know when to stop"
"Do you call those nice 2" said the
widow, modestly. 81 call them COM
mon. can make good mince pies
when L set out to, but this time l didn't
have as good luck as usual.
"I shouldn't want any BETTER" said
the elder, emphatically.
"Then l hope, ii you like them, you
will drop in to tea often. We ought to
be more neighborly, Elder Boyd"
Elder Boyd assented, and he meant
what he said. The fact is, the elder
began to think that the widow was very
charming woman. She was very comely,
and then she was such an excellent
cook. Besides, he had no doubt in his
own mind that she was worth consid-
erable sum of money. What objection
could there be to her becoming Mrs.
fore her one evening. The widow blushed,
protesting to be greatly surprised In
fact, she had never thought of such a
thing in her life, but, on the whole, she
had always thought highly of the elder,
and, to cut the matter short, she ac-
cepted him. a month afterward she
was installed as mistress of the elders
large house, somewhat to the surprise
of the village people, who could not con-
ceive how she had brought him over.
Some weeks after the ceremony, the eld-
er ventured to inquire about the pot of
gold which she had found in the cellar.
"Pot of gold y she exclaimed, in sur
prise; 81 know of none
But, said the elder. disconnected,
''you asked me about whether the law
could claim il. ="
"Oh, Lor', elder, I only asked for Gu
riosity"
"And was that the reason you made
inquiries at the bank ?"
Certainly What else could it be o.
The elder went out to the barn, and
for half an hour sat in silent meditation.
At the end of that time he calculated,
as a closing consideration
"After al, she makes good mince
pies"
1t gives me pleasure to state that the
union between the elder and the widow
proved very happy one, although to
the end of his life he could never make
up his mind about the g Pot of Gold"