Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-07-31
.Four." he said. but he volunteered

the lawyer watched with professional
narrowness, and as she looked them
over the color flushed vet more high in
her somewhat fiorid cheeks.
"Did you really succeed in selling
that ten-acre lot to Mr. Woodhoffiea?"
she excla med .'How perfectly splen-
did! Why. Mr.. Sharperson, l am posi-
lively getting to be quite an heiress.
Isn't there some mistaken
mo-
| "And the sale is really made?'
Yes
'For three thousand dollars?'
! Yes
''Mr. Sharperson, have the greatest
mind l ever had in this world to kiss
YOU"
DO"
The widow was so astonished at hav-
ing elected monosyllable of such a
character from the bachelor that she
almost forgot to bride, but fortunately
remembered in time what was expected
of her SEX
Really she simpered, "you are
positively dreadful. l wouldn't have
believed it Of YOU
She paused to give him an opportun-
ity of adding something more shocking,
but Mr.. Sharperson had already eS-
cceded the ordinary limits of his habit
ual reticence, and by not unnatural
recoil was now more silent than ever.
Il shall soon tegin to look out for
| fortune hunters, remarked Mrs. Wild
gin, archly. Il hope you'll protect me
from them when they come" -
Mr. Sharperson's looks expressed
such entire willingness to undertake
the defense of his fair client that he ev-
identity did not feel it necessary to put
it into words.
81 don't know" pursued the widow,
gazing abstra tedly into the fire, ''but
l shall have to look about for somebody
to take care of me. What do you say,
Mr.. Sharperson?
ZIP"
Certainly; you. You know my bust
ness affairs perfectly and can advise me
better than any fody can think Of
Now do be perfectly frank, what say
you to my being married AGAIN."
Nothing"
"Oh, you think l ought not to talk
SO plainly about it. Well, very likely
not, but you'll at least allow that there
might be circumstances whi h would
make it best for me to marry again"
"Yes"
1--WE been widow five ears, and if
the right man turned up
She paused with a secret desire to
shake the gentleman opposite: to see if
by that operation his laciturn tongue
mipht not be lOOSenpd
eff, > echoed he, significantly, as she
paused.
''Why, of course she retorted, 'you
will allow that there must be a right
man somewhere, if one could find him.
Yes"
"And perhaps" continued she,
mischevious smile revealing to the law
yer's eyes quite new dimple, hitherto
wholly unsupported in her cheek, '.and
perhaps you would even let me come to
you for legal advice in my cnoiee, If l
paid well''
Certainly" ~
'Well, then, advise" cried the widow,
desperately.
She had been perfectly sure for two
or three months that Mr. Sharperson
was longing to propose TO her could he
but get the words over his tongue, and
she had said to herself that this after
noon he should do it if feminine wit |
could devise a way. Anything short
of deliberately proposing herself she
was prepared to do, and She be ran now
to fear lest she should be forced to even
that extreme measur'.
Now when everything had been so
admirably worked up to speaking
point for him, instead of uttering the |
decisive word, the lawyer only smiled |
amorOusly and was silent To tell the
truth he was as eager to get the import
ant question asked as was the widow,
could he but overcome his natural la
comic habit and the bashfulness which
Just now exaggerated it. Mrs Wild
gins mouth set itself trltic more firm
ly than before.
THAT is always the way if one really
wants advice. If l didn't you'd prob
ably be ready enough to give it." This
was SO obviously absurd that they both
smiled. and both, pretending to move
nearer the fire, moved their chairs a
little nearer together.
81 see,' Mrs. Widgin said, with an
air of mock despair, Il shall have to
make it a catechism. DO YOU think l
had better get married. yes or no?''
'.Yes," he replied, with significant
smile.
Have You any idea of where I hal
better look for husband?''
Eyes"
Good! Now we are getting on.
Where is it?''
Here"
Here in Westerleyo Oh, very well,
Mr.. Sharperson, but who is there in
for me to marry? l assure
you L wouldn' think of Mr. Smithers,
with his five small CT ildren never
could endure MIR. Green. the tailor I'm
sure you can't mean me to marry Mr..
Church the butcher; and Mr.. Stinch-
field is too odious for anything. You
see, don t you. that l can't marry any
of them?"
"Yes." j
We'll. who else is shere'''
"Me."
"You''
Me-
1t was done at last and if the LAWYER
could but have SO far conquered the
habit of halt century OF bashfulness
as to follow up his advantage, every
thing would have g,ne on swimmingIy.
He was. however. almost stupefied by
his own temerity, and while the widow
on her side of the fireplace cast her eyes