The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-05

-AAO 10 ~ ~ ia
ing elected a monosyllable of such a
most forgot to bride, but fortunately
remembered in time what was expected
of her sex.
Really" she simpered, "you are
positively dreadful! 1 wouldn't have
believed it of you'll"
She paused to give him an opportuni-
ty of adding something more, but Mr..
Sharperson had already exceeded the
ordinary limits of his habitual r~eticence,
and by a not unnatural recoil wa now
more silent than ever.
II shall soon begin to look out for
fortune hunters" remarked Mrs. Wild
gen, archly. II 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
evidently did not feel it necessary to
put it into words.
II don't know" pursued the widow,
gazing abstractedly 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
business affairs perfectly, and can adj
wise me better than anybody I can
think of. Now, to be perfectly frank,
what say you to my being married
again?"
Nothing"
"Oh, you think I ought not to talk so
plainly about it. Well, very likely not.
but you'll at least allow that there might
be circumstances which would make it
best for me to marry again.
yes"
I've been q widow i've years, and if
the right man turned up-"
She paused with the secret desire to
shake the gentleman opposite, to see if
by that operation his taciturn tongue
might not be loosened.
If" 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"
Eyes"
"And, perhaps" continued she, q
mischievous smile revealing to the law
yer's eyes q quite new dimple, hitherto
wholly unsupported, IN her cheek, land
perhaps you would even let me come to
you for legal advice in my choice, if 1
paid well?"
Certainly"
"Well, then, advise" cried the wild
ow desperately.
She had been perfectly sure for two
o. three months that Mr.. Sharperson
was longing to propose to her could he
bnt 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 began now to
fearlest she should be forced to even
that extreme measure.
Now, when everything had been so
admirably worked up to a speaking
point for him, instead of uttering the
decisive word the lawyer only smiled
and was silent. To tell the truth, he
was as eager to get the important qucs-
ton asked as was the widow. could he
but overcome his natural laconic habit
and the bashfulness which Just now ex-
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itself a trifie more firmly than before.
"That is always the way if one really
wants advice. If l didn't you'd proba-
bly, 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 lit
tie nearer together.
II see," Mrs. Widgin said, with al
air of mock despair, 81 shall have to
make it a catechism. Do you think l
had better get married yes or no."
"Yes," he replied, with a significant
smile.
"Have you any idea where I had Bet
ter look for a husband?"
Eyes"
Good! Now we are getting on.
Where is it,"
Here"
Here in Westerly? Oh, very well,
Mr.. Sharperson, but who is there in
Westerly for me to marry? 1 assure
you I wouldn't think Of Mr.. Smithers,
with his five small children; I never
could endure Mr.. Green, the tailor
I'm sure you can't mean me to marry
Mr.. Church, the butcher; and Mr..
Stinchfeld is too odious for anything.
You see, don't you, that I can't marry
any Of them?"
"Yes.n
"Well, who else is there?"
"Me."
"You?"
"Me."
It was done at last, and if the lawyer
could but have so far conquered the
habit of half a century of %bashfulness
IS to follow up his advantage, every
thing would have gone on swimmingly.
He was, however, almost stupefied by
his own temerity, 0nd while the widow
on her side of the fireplace cast her eyes
down coyly, believing that now at least
he would take the initiative. Mr..
Sharperson on his side none the less
abased his glances out Of sheer bashful-
ness.
"Heavens!" thought the widow. shy
~ accommodating out of the corner OF
her eye, "have 1 got to get up and rush
into his arms? Was there ever SO ag-
gravating a man created!"
She coughed softly, she patted the
hearth with her trim slipper tip, So
cretly determined that nothing short OF
the most absolute desperation should
make her break the silence this time.
At length when there seemed an emil
nent prospect that the pair would con-
sumo the remainder of their mortal ex-
istence in staring wordlessly into the
Goals, and just as the widow reached
that point when she felt she must speak
or go mad, Nh. Sharperson did renew
the conversation.
"Well?" he queried.
"Well?" she echoed.
Chi"
The lawyer was wholly unprepared
for having the burden of the talk thrown
rpon him. and beyond this rather in
coherent exclamation could say Moth