Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-12-12
ALAC0NIC LOVER.


a..
Mrs. Abigail Widgin, a buXom widow
of four and forty, sat sewing in the win
ter sunlight which fell through the stand
of geraniums and petuniaS before her Sit
ting-room window. n cheerful wood fire
burned on the hearth, its flames reflected
in the glistening brass fire dogs glistened
only less brightly than the sunbeams
themselves.
Mrs. Widgin was roly poly little wo-
man, with swapping black eyes, cheeks
like Baldwin apples and hair in which
only Il few white threads disturbed the
raven gloss. There was en- air OF deter
mination, it is true, in her firm lower
law, but this was so oycrshadowed 10y the
general posincss and jollity of her face as
to he hardly pcrceptble, and even Il close
observer would have pronounced Mistress
Abigail, as she sat placidly sewing in the
afternoon sunlight, Il dame as gracious rs
she was cOmcly.
The clock in the corner ticked mOnoton-
ouslv. the cat on the hearth rug alternate
" slept, and then, awakened By sudden
snap OF the fire, awoke TO purr Justify UNI
Ill ,,rowsincss again overcamc her. The
widow scwcd on with perfect composure
and scarcely Il llrmer curve of the mouth
BETRAYED the fact that she was keeniy de-
batting 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 crunchcd on the snow
without was heard, the quick, comrrehen-
siyc survey which the black eyes made OF
the room indicated some desire that ey-
erythiug should be right and trig for the
coming guest, and showed, moreover, that
the newcomer had been expected.
a moment later and Tilly, the trim
maid, had ushcred into the room Il dappcr
ii.io- maa with Il markedly legal air,
shrewd, twinkling eyes, and d" shining.
bald spot on the top of his head.
Good afternoon, Mr. SharperSon," the
widow said, briskly, rising with hospita-
bic 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, bustling about with the desire Of
doing something, yet not quite knowing
exactly what to do. 'It must be cool
day for all the sun. The snow crunchcs
too much for one not to know that. You
found it so, didn't you!" she concluded,
knowing by experience that nothing short
of direct question was likely 10 elicit
response from the taciturn lawyer.
YES" hc answered, briefly.
"Uucommon cold, l should say" went
on Mrs. Widgin, seating herself opposite
her guest and spreading ont her plump
hands to the blaze as if talking of the
temperature made her more sensible of it.
"Colder than usual for the season, don't
you think so:"
"Perhaps." -.-.--.--.
"Oh, it certaiuly is much colder"
No response.
But then it is, after all, the time of
year, when one expects severe weather."
Still no reply.
"'The days begin to lcngthcn,' you
know the. prevcrb, 'the cold begins to
strengthen
Still unbroken silence OIL the part Of the
lawyer, and the hostess was forced to
abandon the weather for u more promis-
ing topic.
"You brought the papers for ME to
sign, suppose, Mr.. Sharperson."
Yes
"Of course, you know that they are all
right. ! trust it all in your hands. |
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 sircwtness,
but il not being his custom to waste SUI
perfuous words by putting his thoughts
into speech, lac made no remark.
81 will sign whatever you tell me to,
his client continued with really touching
confidence. at is hard for woman to
have nobody but herself TO lean upon.
lhn sure you don't know whit should
10 without you."
Again no response.
~ quite depend upon you"
Still no reply, unless a faint sniff, more
or less scornful, might be 80 considered.
"Where are the papers?"
Mr.. Sharperson rose with great deiiber-
alton, and from the green baize bag which,
on entering, he had deposited upon the
table, produced a small package Of legal
papers. lie turned again to the widow
and fire, his ere dwelling appreciatvely
upon the chcery proportions Of both, as,