The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-12-28

hs ~ done something 10 be ashamed ct.
! \. 'sMsamy'
| Certainly, Why else should be- affect "a
dislike and avoid women. Doubtless be
! had mother once who hung over and
! sung 10 him and lived only for him. and
! felt his every sorrow more kecniy than u
Il had pierced her o~n heart: and the man
, vbo has that rrmembrance. and can think
, or speak lightly Of the sex must bc dali a.
v mole, mean "A . weasel. stupid n an
/, osi or disgusting as s-well, ] woat say
il but ! mean pig"
you're complimentary. But there &
the house." said her companion. who was
wonderfully disconnected
''oh. that's il. and stopping short the
widow coolly surveyed the comfortable,
antique looking old building "Itsa fine
lplsce. much too good for ltbst Petit
what's his nsme2 wonder il the grounds
are worth looking st'" opening the gate
as she spoke.
| Il believe they are. He 10 said TO have
bestowed much time and care on them.
But what II you SHOULD meet him. You
know you are trespassing
"well, what Of itf Haven't told you
already that know he is cowsrdf'
"You wonld be afraid, for all that"
"Not -
'You would--you would run"
"No; he would save the trouble
sYou neednt think you look very alarm-
ing.
II could frighten him. l would con-
plimeni him on his garden. and ask him
home to tea He wouldn't get over it for
o month"
suppose you try IT, ] am Mr.. Petit
bones" # &&
"well. will you Gomez
"Why should II"
II don't know. I'm sure; unless to pre-
vent my talking about you."
"You could not say anything worse
about me.
ooh. yes could. haven't begun yet. "
II don believe it. I"
Come home, then, and I'll convince
you.
Mr. Pottibones said no more; but he
manifested no intention of turning back,
and stalked along by her side, switching
the grass with his whip as he went. Lit
tle Widow Magenta was in a perfect futter
of excitement She fancied that she had
hooked her gfsh, but dared not pull on
the line for fear he would yet be of. So
she, too, kept silence until she reached
Aunt Keziah's door. Then she called ont:
"Aunty, here's Mr.. Pettibones come to
tea. He says he has long been intending
to pay you neighborly visit, and 1t has
been source Of unceasing regret to him
that age and growing infrmities have kept
him away SO long.
II never said any ything OF the sort, COM
menced the astounded and indignant Pet
tibones. But the widow tnrned on hin,
sharply:
"How dare you contradict me, sir? when
am lying simply because in the abun-
dance OF my charity, / desire to redeem
your reputation. il possible. You ought
10 have said 1t you didn't. Shake hands
with Aunt Keziah,' said his monitor
sternly. Since you choose to come with
me don't propose being disgraced by
your incivility
Pettibones obeyed as meekly as though |
he had been ten years Benedick.
Come, sit down" ordered the impera-
tive little widow. I'm fearfully hungry.
Sugar in your tea, Mr.. Pettibones? No?
Mores the pity. You need it I think.
Aunt. who do you think we met just at
the turninga Nobody more nor less than
that long tonsustl Sally Lawrence. You
should have seen her stare. I'll wager
anything thst it win be al over the village
before night that that horrid. musty,
crusty old bachelor OF Pettibonas
was seen walking home with the Widow
Magenta.
Mr.. Pettibones started violently
"A widow! Are you widow
"Certsinly Why. what are you staring
at? A widow is human J think; and not
half 80 bad as poor, sncaking, contempt
ible old bachelor Widow hood is an scci-
dent. but old bacbeordom is the conse-
quence of mans singular unworthiness.
He is 80 much mesner than the rest Of his
sex that he has found himself ont. so he
goes through life, never daring to propose
to pretty girl. because he thinks that she
would know him as well AZ he does him
self, and so Of course refuse him"
"You are very polite. ms'am." a4
"No, but am truthful for all that. !
have read your character thoroughly, for
Mr.. Magenta was exactly like you. Mer-
cyl What an old brute he was.
Aunt Keziah was shocked and exceed
ingly trpubled.
Now, Susie"
Mr.. Pettibones, rising, 'Good evening,
ma am. didn't come here to be insult.
ed"
Yes you did, too. told yon could
say something worse to you than had
done, and you came here to hear 1t. You
know you did. only You are such an un,
and lconfrmed old bachelor
that nothing will suit you
Mr.. Pettibones stared at her for . mo.
ment. aud then sat down and laughed till
the tears ran down bis cheeks. The wild
ow went coolly on with her supper.
You're the most, audacious, unaccount-
able little woman" began Mr.. Pettibones.
when he bad recovered his powers Of
s..x.ok bx,t tta .vtdn-, .Sn,.raul h,x.. .l.~a |