Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-07-31


Of her sex
'.Really." she simpercd. ..you arc
positively dreadful I wouldn't have
believed il Of you-"
She paused to give him an opportun-
lty Of adding something more shocking.
but Mr.. Sharperson had already ex-
cceded the ordinary limits of his habit
ual reticence. and BY 4 not unnatural
recoil was now more silent than ever.
i shall soon begin 20 look ous for
fortune hunters. remarked Mrs Wild
gin. srchly- Il hope you'll protect me
from them when they come"
Mr.. Sharpers0n's looks expressed
such entire willingness 20 undertake
the defense of his fair client that ne ev-
identity did not feel il necessary to put
IL into words.
# don't know pursued the widow,
| gazing abstra tedly into the fire. s.but
/ shall have to look about for somebody
70 take care Of me- What do You say,
Mr. SEarperson2
s.I?''
Certainly; you You know my bust
ness sfairs perfectly and can advise me
better than any body I can think of.
Now do be perfectly frank, what say
yOa to my beingr srried agains''
Nothing"
'-0h. YOU think I ought not to talk
so plainly about IT, Well. very likely
not. but you'll ~ least allow that there
might be circumstances wni would
make il best for me TO marry again"
~Yes."
i've been = widow five Years. and if
the right man turned up
She paused with q secret desire 20
shake the gentleman opposite, to see if
BY that operation his Iariturn tongue
might not be lOosened-
'-h.' echoed he. significantly. as she /
paused.
why. of COURSE = she retorted. ..vou 1
viii aliow that there must be a right 1
man somewhere, If one could find him
Yes"
'And perhaps" continued she, a |
mischevious smile revealing to the law
yer's eyes quite new dimple. hitherto /
wholly unsuspected in her chssk. '-and /
perhaps you would even let me come 20 /
you for legal advice in my choice. If 1
paid we'll :"
Certainly"
''Well. then. advise" /" cried the widow,
desperately
She hsd been perfectly sure for two
or three months that Mr. Sharperson
wss longing to propose 10 her could he
but get the words over his tongue. aud
she had said TO herself that this alter
noon he should do il If feminine Wit
could devise 4 way. Anything short
of deliberately proposing herself she
was prepared TO do. and she beran now
% fear lest she should be forced to even
that extreme measars.
Now when everything had been 50
admirably worked up to 4 sDcakinr
point for him, instead of uttering the
decisive word, the lawyer only sm led
amorOusly and was silent To tell the
truth he was rs eager 70 get the import
ant question asked as was the widow.
could be but overcome his natural Ia
comic habit end the bashfulness which /.
Just now exaggerated il. Mrs. Wild
gin.s mouth set itself t1iie more firm
IL than before.
That IS always the way If one really
wants advice II didn't you'd prob ,
ably be ready enough 10 give it. = This
was 50 obviously absurd thar they beth .
smiled and both. pretending 10 move ,
nearer the fire. moved their caars a
little nearer together.
Il see. Mrs Wiigin said. with N /;
air OF mock despair. Il shall have to +,
make II cz.cchiSm- DO YOU think | ,
had better get married: yes or mop
- Yes, he replied. with a significant
smile
Have yOu any idea of where I hal /,
better look for busbandg'
s.les"
Good Now We are getting on. 3
Where is ifs''
Here
Here in Westerley? Oh. YER well. :
VI. SharpersOn. but who IS there in :
v esferiey for me to marrv2 IsssslIre
you wouldn't think Of Mr.. Smithers.
With his five small children: never
'ouid endure Mr. Green. the tailor I'm
,are you cant mean me 10 marry Mr.. .
-hurch ne butcher; and Mr.. Stinch- :
leld l. too odiOus for ANYTHING. You y
Zee. don yOu. that cant marry anv \
# ihemsi =
YES
.'Well, who else is thersF" =
NE"
"Youf'' !
ME-
II was done At last. and IL the LAWYER n
'ouid but have so far conquered the Il
labt OF half n century OF bashfulness Il
s % follow up his advantage. every 4
hing would have gone on swimmingiv. !
he was, however. almost stupeiied b. ~
Is own temerity. and while the widow n
n her side of the fireplace cast her eyes n
own eoylv. believing that now at least r.
le would tafe the initiative, Mr. Sharp- I /.
rson on his SIDE none the less abased =,
rs giances out of sheer bashfulneSs. :,
:. Heavens = thought the widow. r.
lyly necOunOitering ont Of the corner n
{ her eye. have got 20 get up and n
ush into -is arms Was there eve- so n
gcravating mar created - ~
She eoughed softly. she patted the m
earth with her trim slipper tin. K
ecrefly determined that nothing short N
the most complete desperation i
bould make her break the silence this =
Ime. 2
AT length when there seemed an emi- Ir
ent prospect that the pair would con- :,
ume the remainder of their mortal ex- 7,
itence IN staring wo-dlessly into the ri
oals, and Just as the widow reached a,
nat point when she felt that she must =
peak or 90 mad. Mr. Sharperson did "
enew the conversation. :,
''Wellp' he queried Iv
''We,I2'' she echoed.
s.EhI''
The lawyer was wholly unpreparcd ot
" having the burden OF the talk N
irown upon him. and beyond this ~
ither incOherent exclamation could 81
y nothing. The widow looked at the ~
re and looked at her taciturn wOOer. m
i must saw" she Observed. with a nj
'uch Of sarcasm in her vo.ce. that l ~
ave seen more ardent lovers K,
NJ Sharperson looked rather abashef OF
this. and indeed begzn To feel that IL n
b ..-.sl L.. -. -. IL. l.. l