Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-03
A LAcoNIC w00ER.

| AAAos &A0A80AA w A~6AAf - ~s~@~s~A "~eS~ "
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. A cheerful wood fire
burned on the hearth. its flames reflected
on the glistening brass frs-dogs. only lest
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 few white threads disturbed the
raven gloss. There was an air Of deter.
mination, 1t is true, In her firm lower jaw
but this was SO overshadowed by the gen.
eral rosiness and jolity Of her face al
hardly to be perceptible, and even Gloss
observer would have pronounced Mistress
Abigail, as she sat placidiy sewing in the
afternoon sunlight, dame ~ gracious q
she was comely.
The clock in tie corner licked monoto.
nously, the cat on the hearth rug alter.
nately slept, and then awaked by asudden
snap of the fire. awoke to purr Justify un.
til drowsiness again overcams her. The
widow sewed on with perfect composure,
and scarcely even firmer curve OF the
mouth betrayed the fact that she Wa
keenly debating some important matter
in her mind. Only, from time to time,
her glance was raised to the dial, and
when at length the sounds OF footsteps
crunching 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 trim for::the coming guest, and
showed. moreover, that the new conner had
been expected.
A moment later and lilly. the trim
maid, had ushered into the room dapper
little man with q markedly legal air.
shrewd. twinkling eyes and shining bald
spot on the top OF his head.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Sharperson." the
widow said, briskly, rising with hospita-
BILE alacrity. II began to fear you were
not coming"
"Good afternoon" the gentleman re-
turned. allowing his hand to be shaken
vigorously.
"Sit down by the fre." pursued the
widow, bustling about with the desire Of
doing something. yet not quite knowing
exactly what to do. "It must be cold
day for all the sun. The snow crunches
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 to elicit q
response from the taciturn lawyer.
"Yes," he answered briefly.
"Uncommon cold, should say" went
on Mrs. Widgin, seating herself opposite
her guest. and spreading out her plump
hands to the blaze as il talking OF the
temperature made her more sensible Of 1t.
''Colder than usual for this season, don't
you think SO ?"
'Perhaps."
sOh, it certainly il much colder"
No response.
/ "But then it 10, after all, the time OF
year when you expect cold weather."
Still no reply.
ssThe days begin to lenghten," you
know the proverb, 'the cold begins to
strengthen.
Still unbroken silence on the part Of
the lawyer, and the hostess was forced to
abandon the weather for q moro pr0mis-
ing topic.
"You brought the papers for me to sign,
r a,,nDoca Ar 2hornoraor pS3
Eyes"
"Of course you know that they are
all right. 1 trust it oil In your hands.
I never cid know anytbing about mort
CAGES" H.
It was In Mr.. Shsrpersons mind that
for one who knew nothing about legal
documents the widow had managed her
property with remarkable shrewdness. but
it not being his costum to waste supesflu-
! GUS words by putting his thought into
speech, he made no remark.
81 will sign whatever you tell me to-"
his client continued. with really touching
confidence. ut is hard for Q woman to
have nobody but herself to lean upon.
am sure don't know what l should do
without you"
Again no response.
81 quite depend upon you.'
Still no reply, unless faint sniff. more
or less scornful. might be 10 consid-
ered.
"Where are the papers ?"
Mr.. Sharperson rose with great deliber-
alton, and from the green bsize bag. which.
on entering, he had deposited upon thu ts-
BILE, produced small package Of legal pa.
pers. He turned again to the widow end
the fire. his ave dwelling aDpreciatfv0lv