Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-15

| almost forgot To bride, but fortunately
remembered In time what was expected
| of her sex.
"Really," she simpcred. ''you are
positively dreadful. I wouldn't have
believed il of YOU"
She paused TO give him an opportun-
ity of adding something more shocking,
but Mr.. Sharperson had already OK
cceded the ordinary limits of his habit
ual reticence, and by a not unnatural
recoil was now more silent than ever.
II shall soon begin to look out for
fortune hunters, remarked Mrs. Wild
gin, archly. al 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 cv-
identity did not feel it necessary to put
il into words.
81 don't know" pursued the widow,
gazing abstra teddy into the fire. 'but
/ shall have to look about for somebody
to take care of me. What do you say,
Mr.. Sharpersong
Certainly; you. You know my bust
ness affairs perfectly and can advise me
better than any body can think of.
Now do be perfectly frank, what say
you to my being married aganp"
Nothing"
"Oh, you think l ought not to talk
so plainly about il. Well, very likely
not, but you'll at least allow that there
might be circumstances viii h would
make il best for me TO marry again"
"Yes."
"I've been widow five ears, aud if
the right man turned up
She paused with secret desire TO
shake the gentleman opposite, to see il
by that operation his taciturn tongue
might not be looscncd.
"If," echoed he. significantly, as she
paused.
"Why, of course" she retorted, ''you
will allow that there must be right
man somewhere, if one could find him. y
| "Yes."
Sand perhaps" continued she, a
mischevious smile revealing TO the law
yer's eyes quite now dimplc, hitherto
wholly unsupported in her cheek, ''and
perhaps you would even let me come to
you for legal advice in my choice, If
paid WE'LL"
Certainly"
"Well, then. advise" cried the 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 after
noon he should do it If feminine wit
could devise n 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 measur'.
Now when everything had been so
admirably worked up to speaking
point for him, instead of uttering the
decisive word, the lawyer only smiled
amorously and was silent. TO tell the
truth he was as eager to get the import
ant question asked as was the widow,
could he but overcome his natural la
comic habit and the .bashfulness which
just now exaggerated it. Mrs. Wild
gins mouth set itself trhc more firm
ly than before.
THAT is always the way if one really
wants advice. If | didn't you prob
ably 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 Il
little nearer together.
81 see, Mrs Widgin said, with an
air of mock despair, IL shall have to
make il catochism. DO you think
had better get married. yes or nop"
Yes" he replied, with n significant
smile.
Have you any idea of where l ha /
better look for husband?'
"Yes."
"Goodl Now we are getting on.
Where Is itp'
Here
"Icre in Westerley? Oh, very well,
Mr. Sharperson, but who is there in
Wcsterlcy for me to marryP rs ;sure
you l wouldn't think of Mr.. Smthers,
with his five small children never
could endure Mr.. Green, the tailor Tn
sure you can't mean me To marry Mr.
Church the butcher; and Mr.. Stinch.
field is too odious for anything. Yor
see, don't you, that ! can't marry any
of thcmP"
"Yes.n
"Wcll, who else is thcrep''
"Mc." g....
"Your'
"Me."
1t was done at last, aud il the lawyer
could but have so far conquered tn,
habit of half century of bashfulnes
as to follow up his advantage, every
thing would have gone on swimmingly
He was, however, almost stupefied b,
his own temerity, and while the widow
on her side of the fireplace cast her eye
down coyly, believing that now at leas
he would take the initiative, Mr.. Sharp
erson on his side none the less abaset
his chances out of sheer bashfulness.
l "Heavens ~ thought the widow
slyly accommodating out of the corne
Of her eye, "have i got to get up an,
! rush into his arms Was there ever s.
, aggravating q man created ~
She coughed softly, she patted tn
! hearth with her trim slipper tin
! secretly determined that nothing shor
of the most complete desperation
should make her break the silence thi
0 time.
At length when there seemed an emf
nent prospect that the pair would cor
Q sumo the remainder of their mortal eA
y istence in staring wordlessly into tn
' Goals, and Just as the widow reache
thot DOlhb Whth oiiC iclb tnbb ohC
y speak or 60 mad, Mr.. Sharperson di
u renew the conversation.
Il "WellP" he qucricd.
y "WellP" she echoed. "i
l. "Eh!'
IL The lawyer was wholly unpreparc
for having the burden of the tai
y thrown upon him, and beyond tn
l. rather incohcrent exclamation coul
n say nothing. The widow looked at I'll
!. fire and looked at her taciturn wooe
% 81 must say" she observed, with
touch of sarcasm in her voice, that
have seen more ardent lovers.
= Mr.. Sharperson looked rather abasho
T. ut this, and indeed began to feel that
L. his suit for the rich widows hand WI
TO have any chance whatever OF succe
it must be urged with more vigor. L