Sharp County record., 1885-11-05

Then she looked in the glass agalh'
for the widow was but woman aI'er
all. .,,.
Mr.. Patterson came to the widow $
and obeyed the DOCTOR prescription
carefully. He ate bread and milk
robbed the orchards like a school--ooy'
and reclined over the strawberry snort
cake after a fashion that would nave
made his reputation at the bar. Then
too, Mrs. Muntle did not smile at his
aches and pans and insist that ne must
be perpetually we'll because ne had a
fresh complexion and dimples IN MS
cheeks. She had Savory herb teas and
potions which she produced When ne
complained of feeling miserable, ana
she had that blessing for all hyPocon-
driacs, homeopathic box in the house
There were remedies in that box tor
everything; and it was pleasant to ind
that when there was crawling sensa-
ton in your flesh, or kind OF an un-
easy feeling in your legs, there were
daily little globules to be had Just
suited for Your symptoms; that to ma
yourself very angry about nothing IN
dicated pulSatilla, and that for even un-
| re01lited love there was medicine.
For two months and more Mr. Pat
terson boarded with Mrs. Muntle, and
happier months he had never lived
through. Then he went back to the
CITY for a few weeks, returning IN ur-
cent need of more pellets from the
medine-chest, and staying until the last
pink chrvsanthemum was blooming on
its withered branches. He had grown
so fond of his little room with It's white
curtains and fresh grass-bleached linen,
of the country good things and OF the
buxom Mrs. Muntle, that he could not
bear the thought of parting with them
altogether.
After all, why could he not buy a
house and get Mrs. Muntle to keep 1t
for him? Perhaps she would. He
would offer a high salary, and she
could have plenty Of servants. Then,
indeed, he might have friends to dine
with him, and be as happy as possible
If only he could approach his hostess
showing her as he did so that he con-
sidered her his equal and lady-and
all that she certainly was; little coun-
trifed, of course, but clergyman 5
daughter and the widow Of a country
doctor.
After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
walked into the front parlor and sent
the servant to ask Mrs. MuntIe topleaSe
step there for moment
"Gracious" thought Mrs. Muntle to
herself; "what can he want?'
Then she bluShcd brightly, settled
her necktie, took off her apron and
walked demurely in. r..
''Be seated, ma a'am, said Mr.. Patter-
son. ''Sit here please. Allow me to
sit near YOU, as | have something to
ask which may require some considera-
ton"
"Oh, dear, it is coming" thought
Mrs. Muntle.
Il suppose you know I'm man OF
considerable means, ma an" said the
old bachelor, liable to buy nice house,
furnish it we'll and live in it comforta-
bly?" =,
$50 I've understood, Mr.. Patterson, "
said the widow.
.And, of course, it is pleasanter to
live that way than at a hotel, said Mr.
Patterson.
81 should Judge it might be-" said
Mrs. Muntle, cautiously
"You judge rightly" said Mr.. Pat
terson; "but you know a bachelor
must be in the hands Of servants if he
keeps a house. A gentleman doesn't
want that; he wants lady to superin-
tend things for him-some one OF taste
and refinement and all that Common
people don't understand his feelings,
and mercenary servants are poor de-
pendence."
81 know that" said Mrs. Muntle.
"You are almost as much alone as |,
aren't you, Mrs. Muntle?" said Mr..
Patterson, coaxingly.
The doctor knew him. He's going
to do it Just as he said he would if he
ever did," said the lady to herself.
Aloud she answered: "Well, sir, | am
pretty free, it is true. All my children
are married well. "
Il know money would be no object
to YOU" said Mr.. Patterson. you
! have enough. But if / was to tell you
that | hated boarding-houses and
wanted a home, | think you would have
pity on me. I'll buy beautiful house,
and you shall have complete control of
everything; only to make my straw
berry shortcake for me all my life. "
He paused and looked at the lady.
That is delicately put, he thought
"Now will you hire out for house
keeper, wonder"
81 ain romantic, though" said Mrs.
Muntle; "but still we amt young,
neither of us, and it gets to be just that
with the most sentimental after
awhile.',
"Don't refuse me-" pleaded Mr.. Pat