The Republican journal., 1885-07-16
A Laconic Wooer,

of tOur-and forty, sat sewing in the win
ter sunlight which fell through the stand
of geraniums and petunas, before her
sitting room window. A cheerful wood
hre burned on the hearth, its flames re-
Elected in the glittering brass fire dogs,
glistening only less brightly than the
sunbeams themselves.
Mrs, Widgin was a roiy poly little
woman, with swapping black eyes, cheeks
like Baldwin apples, and hair in which
only IA few white threads disturbed the
raven gloss.
There was an air OF determination, it
is true, in her firm, lower Jaw. but this
was 50 over -shadowcd by the general
roslness and ioility Of her face. as to he
hardly perceptible, and even close ob-
server would have pronounced Mistress
Abigail, as she sat placidly sewing IN the
afternoon Sunlight, dame as gracious
us she was cOnclN.
The clock iii the corner tiched m0nut-
onously, the cat en- the hearth rug alter
nately slept, and then, awakened by a
sudden snap Of the lire, awoke to purl
Justify until droWsiness again overcdme
her.
The widow seWed on with perfect
colnpcsure, and scarcely a tirmer curve
of the mouth betrayed the fact that she
was keenly debating some important
matter i'll her mind. Only, from time to
time, her glance was raised to the dial,
and when at length the sound offootstepS
crunchiEg 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
little maid, had uSnered into the room a
dapper little man. with a marked legal
air, shreWd, tWlnkilng eyes, and a shining
bald spot on the top OF his head
"GOod afternoon, Mr.. Sharperson," the
widow said, briskly, rising with hospit-
able alacrity. II began to fear you were
not coming"
Good attelnoon,' the gentleman
quietly returned, allowing his hand to be
shaken vigorously.
"Sit down by the fire. said the widow
bustling about with the desire of doing
something, yet not quite knowing exactly
what to do st must be a cold day. f0,
all the sun. The snow crunches too much
for one not to know that You found il
SO, didn't you p she concluded, knowing
by experience that nothing short Of 8
direct question was likely to elicit a re-
sponse from the tacturn lawyer.
"Ies," he answered. briefly.
"lncommon cold, / should say" went
on Mrs. Widgin, seating herself opposite
her guest, and spreading out her plump
hands to the blaze. as if talking of the
temperature made her more sensible o
it. "'Tis colder than usual, for the sea
son, don't you think so :"
''Perhaps."
ooh, it is certainly much colder"
No oresponse.
''But then it is, after all, the time o
the year when one must expect vel!
severe weather."
Still no reply.
''When the days begin to lengthen,
you know the proverb, the cold begins
to strengthen
Still there was unbroken silence on the
part OF the lawyer, and the hostess was
forced to abandon the weather for more
prominent topic.
"Iou brought the papers for me to sign
| suppose, Mr.. Sharperson OF cours,
you know that they are all right. trus
it all in your hands. | never did know
anything about mortgages"
1t was in Mr. SharperSOn's mind tha
for one who knew nothing about lega
documents, the widow had managed he
property with remarkable shrewdness
but it not being his custom to vast,
superliuous words by putting his Thoughts
into speech, he made no remark about it
81 will sign whatever you tell me to,
bis client continued, with really touchn:
confidence. at is hard for a woman t,
have nobody but herself to lean upon
Pm sure | don't know what | should Il,
| without you"
Again no response.
81 quite depend on you"
Still no reply, unless faint sniff, mor
or less scornful, might he so considered.
"Wnere are the papers?'
Mr.. SharpersOn rose with great delib
Grafton, and from the green baize bag
which, on entering, he had depositeC
upon the table, produced small package
Of legal papers.
He turned again to the widow and fire
his eye dwelling appreciatively on til
| CHEEKY proportions of both. as. With0u
| speaking, he handed the documents t
Mrs. Widgin.
'Are there four of them 2" she asked
with some appearance of surprise. 90
only expected three"
-Four" he said but he volunteered II
further information.
The widow unfolded the papers, Will
the lawyer watched her with professions
narrowness and as she looked them ovel
the color flushed yet more in her alread
somewhat florid cheeks.
"Did you succeed in selling that ten
acre lot to Mr.. Woodhofflea ?" she eX
claimed. elbow perfectly splendid! Why
Mr.. Sharperson, | am positively gettin
to be an heiress. Isn't there some mis-
take ?"
"No."
"And the sale is really made ?"
eyes"
"For three thousand ?"
"Yes"
"Mr, Sharperson, have the creates
mind ever had in the world, to kis
you"
"Do."
The widow was so astonished at havin
elected a monosyllable of such characte
from the bachelor, that she almost forge
to bride, but fortunately remembered i
time what was expected of her sex.
"Really," she simpered. "you are pos
itively dreadful! wouldn't have believe
it of you +"
She paused, to give him an opportunit
of saying something more, but Mr. SHARP
erson had already exceeded the ordinar
limits of his habitual reticence, and by
not unnatural rebound, was now NOR
silent than ever before.
81 shall soon begin to look out fc
fortune hunters" remarked Mrs Widgi1