The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-07
A CASE OF COURTSHIP.


The widow Cumiskey was standing at the
door of her little millinary store in Newark
avenue the other evening, as Mr.. Costello
came along. Mr.. Costello stopped
'sGood evenin' to you, ma'am," said he.
s'Good evenin' to you, Mr.. Costello, y
answered the widow.
s'It's fine weather, we're havin', ma'am, y
continued Mr.. Costello.
cit is that, thank God, replied Mrs.
Cumiskey, s'but the winters comm at last
and it comes to all, both great and small :"
ssAh |" said Mr.. Costello, "but for all that
it doesn't come to us alike Now here are
you, ma'am, fat, rosy, and good lookin',
equally swate as summer greenin', fall
pippin or winter russell"
ssArrah, hould yer whist, now," inter-
rupted the fair widow, laughing. s'Much
an old bachelor like you knows about ap-
pies or women. But come in, Mr. Costello,
an take cup O. tay with me, for was
only standin' be the doore, lookin at the
people passin' for company sake, like, an
Tn sure the kettle must have sung itself
hoarse."
Mr.. Costello needed no second invitation,
and he followed his hostess in her snug
back room. There was bright fire burn
ing in the little stove, the tea kettle was
sending forth cloud of steam that toek
rudy glow from the fire, the shadow lamp
on the table gave mellow and subdued
light to the room, and it was all very sug-
gestive of comfort.
ssIt's very cosy ye are here, Mrs. Cumis-
key" said Mr. Costello, casting look of
appreciation around the apartment.
ffVac " rar,li ad Tho xpi1ouv oc oh Ia,J Ar
supper, sit is that, whin do be havin'
company"
s. All, said Mr.. Costello, I" it must be
lonesome for you with only the cat and yer
cup O tay."
Sure it is, answered the widow, " But
take safe and set down, Mr.. Costello.
Help yeursilf to this fish, an don't forget
the purtaties. Look at them they're
splittin' their sides with laughing"
Mr.. Costello helped himself and paused.
He looked at the plump widow with her
arm in that graceful position assumed in
pouring out tea, and remarked, I'm sensi-
BILE of the comfort of q house, Mrs. Cumis-
key, though I've none myself Mind now,
the difference between the tastes O. tay
made and sarved that way and the tay
they give you in an 'ating house."
Sure, said the widow, ssthere's nuthin'
like little home O. your own. wonder
you never got marrit, Mr.. Costello"
IS was about to make the same remark
in reference to yourself, ma'am, answered
Mr.. Costello.
"God keep as, exclaimed the Mrs Cum
iskey. 'arn't wilder woman this seven
year ?"
"Ah," rejoined Mr.. Costello, " but it's
thinkin' was why ye didn't get marrit
again.
Well, it's sure I am" said the widow,
thoughtfully, setting down her teacup, and
raising her hand by way of emphasis,
there never was better husband to any
woman than him that's dead and gone.
Heaven save an rest his sowl He was that
aisy child could do anythin' with him,
and he was as handsome az a monkey.
You favor him very much, Mr. Costello.
He was about your height, and complicated
like you"
"Ah !" exclaimed Mrs. Costello.
He often used to say to me in his BAN
tering way g Sure, Norah, what's the wur-
rold to man whin his wife is wilder,
manin', you know. that all the temptations
an luxuries of this life can never follow
man beyant the grave. Sure, Nora, says
he. what's the worrold to man whin his
wife is wilder 2 All, poor joint"
Sc 1t was sinsible sayin', that" remark
ed Mr. Costello, as he helped himself to
more fish.
81 mind the day John died." continued
the widow. "He knew everything to the
last, and about four in the afternoon-it
was seventeen minutes past five exactly by
the clock that he died-he says to me,
Mora, says he, you've been a good wife,
says he, and I've been good husband
says he, sand there's no love lost between
us, says he, 'and I can give you good
character any place, says he, sand wish
you could do the same for me where I'm
going, says he, but it's case equal, says he,
sevry dog has his day, and some has day
and half says he; AM says he, I'll
know more in a bit than Father Corrigan
himself, says he, but Ill say now, says
he, that I've always been a true son of the
Church, says he, $50 Ill not bother me
brains about it, and he says, says he, 4
Fave you in good hands, Nora, for lave
you in your own hands, says he, 'an' if at
any time We see man We like better nor
me, marry him, says he. tAh, Nora, says
he, for the first time, speaking 1t solemn
like, whats the wurruld to man when his
wife is wilder? And, says he, 4 Fave $50
for masses, and the rest Fave to yourself,
says he, and needn't tell ye to be good
mother to the children, says he, sfor we'll
we know there are none All, poor John
Will ye have another cup of tay, Mr.. Coz
tello ?"
SIT must have been hard on We, said Mr.,
Costello. 'sThank ye. ma'am, no more"
sit was hard, said Mrs Cumiskey; ssbut
time will tell. l must cast about me for my
own Twin; and SO | gotuntil this place, and
here am to-day
"Ah !" said Mr. Costello, as they rose
from the table and seated themselves before
the fire, ssand here we are both of as this
evenin'"
ssHere we are, sure enough, rejoined the
widow
Gan SO mind ye of-him. do I ?" asked
Mr.. Costello, after pause, during which
he had gazed contemplatively into the fire.
ssThat ye do, answered the widow. Eye
favor him greatly. Dark complicated and
the same pleasant SMILE"
ssNow, with me sittin' here and you sit
tin there feminist nee, We might almost
think ye were marrit again, said Mr.. Cos.
tello, insinuatingly.
ssAh, go away now, for t'aze that ye
!" exclaimed the widow, mussing hel
clean apron by rolling the corners Of IL.
ST disremembered what it was he sai6
about seem any man you liked better mol
him" said Mr.. Costello, moving his chail
little nearer to that Of the widow
ssHe said, said he" answered the widow
smoothing the apron over her knees will
her plump white hands, Nora, said he, &
any time We see man ye like better nor me
marry him, says he"
Did he say anything about any wal
ye liked as good as him? !" asked Mr.. Cos
tello.
81 don't mind that he did," answere,
the widow, redectiyely, folding her hand
IN her lap.