Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-12-18

-Four" he said, but he volunteered
no 'urther exclamation.
The widow unfolded the papers while
he lawyer watched with professional
narrowncss, and as she looked them o.
yer the color flushed yet more in her
somewhat horid cheeks,
did you succeed in Selling that ten
acre lot to Mr.. Woodh0ifl 4r ?" she ex-
claimed. "How PEI fectlY splendid !!
Why, Mr.. Sharperson, am positively
getting to be quite an heiress. Isn't
there some mistake ?"
No"
"And the sale is really made ?"
Eyes"
"For three thousand ?"
Yes"
"Mr. Sharperson, have the greatest
mind | ever had IN the world to kiss
YOU"
DO"
The widow was so astonished at hav
ing elected monosyllable of such a
character from the bachelor that she
almost forgot to bride, but Fortunate
ly remembered il time what was ex-
pected of her sex.
Really" she simpered, 'you are
positively d eadful ! wouldn't haye
believed 1t of you !"
She paused 10 give him an opportu.
nifty of adding something more, but
Mr.. Sharperson had already exceeded
the ordinary limits of his habitual re-
ticence, and by not unnatural recoil
was now more silent than ever.
81 shall soon begin TO look out for
fortune hunters" remarked Mrs. Wild
gin, archly. "l 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
evidently did not feel it necessary to
put it into words.
Il DON'T know" pursued the widow,
gazing abstractly into the fire, but /
shall have to look abou; for somebody
to take care of me. What do you say
Mr.. SharpersOn ?"
~ ?"
Certainly you. YOn know my
business affairs perfectly, and can ad-
wise me brtter than anybody | can
think Of Now to be perfectly frank,
what say you TO my being married a
gam %
Nothing"
"Oh, you think ought not to talk
so plainly about it. Well, very likely
not, but you'll at least allow that there
might be circumstances which would
make it best for me to marry again"
Yes"
"I've been widow five years, and
if the right man turned up"
She paused with the secret desire to
shake the gentleman opposite, to see If
by that operation his taciturn tongue
might not be lJoseled.
If" echoed he Significantly, as she
paused.
"Why, of course" she retorted, "you
will allow that there must be a right
man somewhere if one could find him "
Yes"
"And perhaps" continued she, a
mischevous smile revealing to the
lawyers eyes a quite new dimple,
hitherto wholly unsuspected, in her
cheek, land perhaps you would even
let me come to you for legal adYice IN
my choice, if l paid well ?"
''Certainly."
"WeIl, then, advise" cri ed the wild
ow desperately.
She had been perfectly sure for two
or three months that Mr.. Sharperson
was longing to propose to her could lie
but get the words over his tongue. and
she had said to herself that this after
noon he shoul do it If feminine wit
coulu devise a way. Anything short
of deliberately proposing herself she
was prepared to d. and she began now
to fear lest she should be forced to g.
ven that extreme measure.
Now when everything had been so
admirably worked up to a speaking
point for him, instead of uttering the
decisive word the lawyer only smiled
and was silent. To tell the truth he
was as eager to get the important ques-
ton asked AS the widow, could he but
overcome his natural ldcOnic habit and
the bashfulness which just now exag-
gerated it. Mrs. Widgin's mouth set it
self tri1e more firmly than before.
"Hhat is always the way if one really
wants advice. If didn't you'd proba-
bly, 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 a
little nearer together.
Il see," Mrs. Widgin said with an
air of mock despair, 81 shall have to
make it catechism. Do you think
h.d hottar ,ynt noorripd WOO or no 2,1