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

to bride, but fortunately remembered In
time what was expected OF her sex.
''Really. she simpered, ''you are posi-.
lively dreadful. wouldn Z have believed
it of you.''
She paused to give him An opportunity
of adding something more shocking. but
Mr.. Sharperson had already exceeded the
ordinary limits Of his habitusl reticence.
and by not unnatural recoil was now
more silent than ever.
81 shall soon begin to look out for for.
tune hunters remarked Mrs. Widgin,
archly. II hope you'll protect nae from
them when they come"
Mr.. ShsEperson's locks 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'e kncy;" nursued rs -idow,
gazing abstractedly into, uns rps f6ut I
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 advise me better
than anybody can think Of. Now do be
perfectly frank, what say you to my being
married again p''
'tNothing.'
''Oh. you think ought not to talk 30
plainly about it. Well. very likely not.
but youIl ct least allow that there might
be circumstances which would make it
best for me to marry again."
EYES,"
, "I've bsen q widow FIVE years, and If the
right man turned UP"
She paused with . secret desire to shake
the gentleman opposite, to see 1t by that
operation his tseiturn tongue might not
be loossned.
''If." echoed he. significantly, a. she
paused.
why, of course,' she retorted, s.you
will allow that there must be right man
somewhere, IL one could and him."
Eyes"
'.And perhaps. Z" cont inued she. mis-
chievous smile revealing to the lawyers
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 choice, II paid WELL"
''Certsinly."
"Well, then, advise" cried tho 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 aftertnoon he
should do 1t IL feminine wit could devise
. way. Anything short OF deliberately
proposing herself she was prepared to do,
and she began now to fear lest she should
be forced to even that extreme measure.
Now when everything had been 50 sd-
mirably worked up to speaking point
for him instead of uttering the declsivs
word, the lawyer only smiled amorously
and was silent. To tell the truth he was
- eager to get the important question
asked a. was the widow, could he but
overcome his natural laconic habit and the
bashfulnsss which just now exaggerated
1t. Mrs. Widgin's mouth set itself tri1e
more firmly than before.
"That Is always the way If one really
wants advice. II 1 didn't you'd probably
be ready enough to give it. This was 80
obviously absurd that they both smiled,
and both. pretending to move nearer the
fire, moved their chairs little nearer to-
gether.
81 see." Mrs. Widgin said. with an air
Of mock despair, II shall have to make it
. catechism. DO you think I had better
get married; yes or no ?''
Eyes," he replied. with . significant
smile.
"Have you any idea of where had bet.
ter look for husband2''
"Yes."
"Good! Now We are getting on. Where
10 ttp''
"Here."
"Here In Wsstsrleyp Oh, very we'll,
1AAa OuSt fCASVut UuV WIZ - tuo4U III W Cd"
terly for me to marry I assure you l
wouldn't think Of Mr.. Smithers, with his
Eve small children. I never could endure
Mr.. Green, the tailor; I'm sure you can't
mean me to marry Mr.. Church, the butch
err, and Mr.. Sinch6eld il too odious for
You see, don't you, that I
can't marry any of them?"
Eyes"
"Well. who else is there?
"Me."
"YOu!"
"Me."
It Was done at last. and II the lawyer
could but have 10 far conquered the habit
Of half century OF bashfulness as to fol-
low up bis advantage, everything would
bave gone on swimmingly.
He was. however. almost stupsfled by
his own temerity. and while The widow on
her sids of thu fireplace cast her eyes down
coyly, belissing that now ct least he
would taxa the initiative. Mr.. Shsrperson
on hispide none tho less absshed his glanees
on Of Shear hashfulnsss.
4 'sNseysns!" thought the. widow, slyly
accommodating out OF the cotner Of her