Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-04-09
Miscellaneous.
A Laconic Wooer.

! four and iortl, sat sewing in the winter sun
light which fell through the stand Of gerani-
uuis and peiunias before her sitting room
window. A cheerful wood FIRE burned on
+ the hearth. its flames reflected IN the glnicr-
/ ing brass fire dogs, gli,tening only less
brightly than the sunbeams themselves.
Mrs. Widgin was d rol, -po.y little wom-
an, with swapping black eyes, cheeks ike
Baldwin apples and hair in which only
few white threads disturbed the raven gloss.
There was an air OF determination, 1t is true,
in her firm lower jaw. but this was 50 over
sbado~ed by the general posiness and joiily
Of her face as to be hardly perceplibie, and
even q close observer would have pronounced
Mistress Abigail she sat placidly sewing
in the afternoon sunlight, dame as gracious
as she was comely.
he clock IN the corner tlcked monoto-
nously, the cat on the hearth rug alternately
slepi, and then, awakened by a sudden snap
of the fire, awoke 10 pur. Justify until
dro~ sness again overcsme her. The dow
sewed on with perfect composure aud scarce
ly frmer curve Of the mouth betrayed the
fact that she was keeniy debating some i'm
pGrtant matter IN her mind. Only from
time 10 time her glance raised 10 the
dial, and when al length the sound of foot
steps crunehing on the Snow without was
heard, the quick. comprehensive survey
which the black eyes made Of the room n-
cicsled 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 TliIy, the trim maid,
had ushered into the room dapper little
man with u marked legal air, shrewd,
t~inkling eyes, and a shining bald spot on
the top Of his head.
Good afternoon. Mr.. Sharperson," the
widow said. briskiy, rising with hospi,able
slscri,y. Il began TO fear you were not
coming"
Good afternoon" the gentleman re-
turned, allowing his hand to be shaken Wig
orously.
"Sit down By the fire." persuaded The
widow. bustling about with the desire OF do
ing something, yet not quite knowing ex-
actly what 10 do. at must be a cold day,
for all the sun. The snow crunches too
much for one not to know that. You
found IL so, didn't you?" she concluded
knowing by experience that nothing short of
direct question was likely to elicit re-
/ spon.e from the ,acturn lawyer.
/ "Ies," he answered briefly.
"Uncommon cold, should saw went on
Mrs. Widgin, seating herself opposite her
guest and spreading out her plump hands to
the blaze as if taking of the Temperature
made her more sensible Of it. Colder than
usual for the season, don't you think so ~
Perhaps"
"Oh. it certainly is much colder"
No response.
but then it is, after all, the time of the
year when one expects severe weather"
Still no reply.
1.-The days begin TO lengtben, you
know the proserb, the cold begins 10
strengthen.
Still unbroken silence on the part of the
lawyer, and the hostess was forced to aban-
don the weather for a more prominent topic.
"Iou brought the papers for ME to sign,
l suppose, Mr.. Sharperson OF course you
know that they are all right. l trust it all
in your hands. never did know anything
about mortgages"
1t was in Mr. Sharperson's mind that for
one who knew nothing about legal docu-
ments the widow had managed her property
with remarkable shrewdness, but it not be-
ing his custom to waste superfuous words
ps . ~ 'N'e"'' ''''' FPe'"' "e
~ viii ,;on wba,evsr xo,, ,el, me- IN hi.
c,;en, cor,;onsd w;,h rsstI., ,n,,oh;na con
f;denee sir !. bar,I for woman ~ have
nobody but herself to lean mon I'm sure
Won don, lnow xba, shnnld do ~;,bou,
you"
n w
Sill No r.,,I,. nn,a.. s ~ .,
~ u ia''' SUM "'o'e VI
"Whsrs .,s ~. nanars. -
Mr. Shsrnsrson ross With o,s., ds,;bsra.