Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-15
A LACONIC wOOER.
Tho widows Visit from TIor Man of Bust
Ness.

A LACONIC W0OER.
Tho widows Visit from Hcr Man of Bust
Ness.
Mrs. Abigail Widgin, a buxom widow,
of four and forty, sat sewing in the
winter sunlight which fell through the
stand of geraniums and petunias before
her sitting-room window. A cheerful
wood fire burned on the hearth, its
flames reflected in the glistcning brass
firc-dogs, only less brightly than the
sunbeams themselves.
Mrs. Widgin was a roly-poly little
woman, with swapping black eyes,
cheeks like Baldwin apples, and hair in
which only a few white threads dis
turbed the raven gloss. There was an
air of determination, il is true. in her
firm lower jaw, but this was so over
Swallowed by the general rosiness and
iollity of her face as hardly to be per-
ceptible, and even close observer
would have pronounced Mistress Abb
gail, rs she sat placidly sewing in the
afternoon sunlight, q dame as gracious
as she was comely.
Tho clock in the corner licked mo-
notonously, the cat on the hearth rug
alternately slept, and then awakened by
a sudden snap of the fire, awoke TO purr
Justify until drowsiness again overcame
her. The widow sewed on with per-
feet composure, and scarcely even a
firmer curve of the1mouth betrayed the
fact that she was keenly debating some
important matter in her mind. Only,
from time to time, her glance was
% thn ;o1 nd lon 1,
the sound of footsteps crunching on the
snow without was heard, the quick.
comprehensive survey which the black
eyes made of the room indicated some
desire that everything should be right
and trig for tho coming guest, and
showed, moreover, that the newcomer
had been expected.
A moment later and lilly, the trim
maid, had ushered into the room a
dapper little man with a markedly
legal air, shrewd,. twinkling eyes, and
shining bald spot on the top cf his
head.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Sharperson. "
the widow said briskly, rising with
hospitablc alacrity. II began to fear
you were not coming"
turned, allowing his hand to be shaken
vigorously.
"Sit down by the fire. pursued the
widow, busting about with the desire
of doing something, yet not quite know
ing exactly what to do. 1T must b;
n cold day for all the sun. The snow
crunches too much for one not TO know
that. You found it so, didn't youp
she concluded, knowing by experience
that nothing short of n direct question
was likely to elicit a response from thu
taciturn lawyer.
YES" he answered briefly.
"Uncommon cold, l should say,
went on Mrs. Widgin, seating hersel
opposite her guest, and spreading on
her plump hands to the blaze as if talk
ing of the temperature made her NOR
sensible of it. Colder than usual TO
the season, don't you think SOP"
Perhaps"
''Oh, it certainly is; much colder"
No response.
"But then it is, after all, the time Q
year when one expects cold weather. ]"
Still no reply.
"The days begin to lengthen,' yo
know the proverb, "the cold begins t
strengthen"
Still unbroken silence on tho part c
the lawyer, and tho hostess was force
to abandon the weather for q NOR
promising topic.
"You brought the papers for me
sign, suppose, Mr. SharpcrsonP"
YES"
"Of course you know that they al
all right. ] trust it all in your hand
/ never did know anything about NOR
gages.'
II was in Mr.. Sharperson's mind tn;
for one who knew nothing about leg;
documents the widow had managed h,
: property with remarkable shrewdnes
but it not being his custom to waste 81
perHuous words by putting his thougl
into speech, he made no remark.
Twill sign whatever you tell me to,
his client continued with really toucl
ing confidence. at is hard for woma
to have nobody but herself to lean upol
I'm sure I don't know what 1 should {
without YOU"
Again no response.
; II quito depend upon YOU"
Still no reply, unless faint sni
more or less scornful, might be so CO
sidcred.
"Wherc are the papersp"
Mr.. Sharperson rose with great d
liberation, and from the green bal
J bag, which, on entering, he had depC
tied upon the table, produced a SIN;
package of legal papers. He turn
again 10 the widow and the fire, his 9
dwelling approximately upon the chez
proportions Of both. as, without spea
ing, he handed the documents to MI
Widgin.
' Are there four of thcmP' she aske
with some appearance of surprise.
only expected three"
-Four" he said, but he volunteer
no further information.
,. The widow unfolded the papers VIII
tho lawyer watched with profession
=. narrowness, and as she looked tn,
n over the color flushed yet moro high
q her somewhat .ilorid cheeks.
l. "Did you really succeed in self
that ten-acre lot to Mr.. Woodhofilca
she exclaimed "How perfectly spl,
did! Why, Mr.. Sharperson, am pc
l. lively getting TO be quito an hcire
|. Isn't there some mistaken"
i NO"
"a 'sAnd the sale is really madep"