Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-07-31
A LACONIC WOOER.

The Widows Visit from Her 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 glistening brass
fire-dogs, only less brightly than the
sunbeams themselves.
Mrs. Widgin was Il roly-poly little
woman, with swapping black eyes,
cheeks like Baldwin apples, and hair in
which only few white threads dis
turbed the raven gloss. There was an
air of determination, it is true, in her
firm lower jaw, but this was so over
Swallowed by the general rosiness and
jollity of her face as hardly to be per-
ceptiblc, and even a close observer
would have pronounced Mistress Abb
gail. as she sat placidly sewing in the
afternoon sunlight, dame as gracious
as she was comely.
The clock in the corner licked mo-
notonously, the Cat on the hearth rug
alternately slept, and then awakened bv
sudden snap of the fire, awokc to purr
Justify until drowsiness again overcame
her. The widow sewed on with per-
feet composure, and scarcely even a
firmer curve of the mouth BETRAYED the
fact that she was keenly deba ing some
important matter in her mind Only,
from time TO time, her glance was
raised to the dial, and when at length
the sound of footsteps crunch'ng 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 the coming guest, and
showed, moreover. that the newcomer
had been expected.
A moment later and lilly, the trim
maid, had ushercd into the room a
dapper little man with markedly
legal air, shrewd. -twinkling eyes. and
shining bald spot on the top Ct his
head.
'Good afternoon. Mr.. Sharperson,"
the widow said, briskly, rising with
hospitable alacrity. Il began to fear
you were not coming
Good afternoon" the gentleman re-
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. lit must be
q cold day for all the sun. The snow
crunches too much for one not 10 know
that. You found it So didn't vouy'
she concluded, knowing by experience
that nothing short of a direct question
was likely to elicit response from the
taciturn lawyer.
"Yes, he answered brie ".
"Uncommon cold, i should saw,
went on Mrs. Widgin. seating herself
opposite her guest, and spreading out
her plump hands to the blaze as if talk
ing of the temperature made her more
sensible of it. Colder than usual for
the season, don't you think SOP
Perhaps"
''Oh. it certainly is; much colder"
No response.
but then it is, after all, the time of
year when one expects cold weather."
Still no reply.
The days begin to lengthen,' you
know the proverb, 1.-The cold begins to
strengthen
Still unbroken silence on the part of
the lawyer, and the hostess was forced
to abandon the weather for a more
promising topic.
''You brought the papers for me to
sign, l suppose, Mr.. Sharperson?"
"Yes."
''Of course YOU know that they are
all right. trust it all in your hands.
l never did know anything about mort
cages
1t was in Mr.. Sharperson's mind that
for one who knew nothing about legal
documents the widow had managed her
property with remarkable shrewdness.
but it not being his custom to waste SUI
perhuous words by putting his thought
into speech, he made no remark.
81 will sign whatever you tell me to-
his client continued with really touch
ing confidence. at is hard for woman
to have nobody but herself to lean upon.
I'm sure don't know what shonld do
without you.''
Again no response.
Il quite depend upon you.''
Still no reply, unless a faint sniff.
more or less scornful, might be so con-
sidered.
Where are the papers?"
Mr.. Sharperson rose with great de-
liberation, and from the green baize
bag, which, on entering, he had depos-
tied upon the table, produced small
package of legal papers. He turned
again to the widow and the fire, his eye
dwelling appreciatively upon the CHEEKY
proportions of both. as. without speak
ing. he handed the documents to Mrs.
Widgin.
"Are there four of thsm?" she asked.
with some appearance Of surprise. Il
ssH sz1sctsd thsee."