The Washington critic., 1885-07-11

silent that ever before.
~ shall soon begin to look out for for
tune hunters" remarked Mrs. Widgln,
archly. IL hope you'll protect me from
them when they como"
Mr.. Sharperson's looks expressed such
entire willingness to undertake the de-
Tense of his fair client, that he evidently
did not feel 1t necessary to put it into
words.
81 don't know pursued the widow,
gazing rather abstractedly INTO the fire,
but ] shall have to look about for some
body TO take care of me. What do you
say, Mr.. SharpersonY
"Certainly, you. You know my bust
ness affairs perfectly, and can advise me
better than anyone | can think of. Now,
to be perfectly frank, what do you say to
my being married again ~
Nothing"
ooh, 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."
"Iesn
"Tvcbccn 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 looScned.
"IfF echoed he, very significantly, as
"Why, of course" she retorted, lyon
will allow that there must be a right man
somewhere, if one could find him."
"Nes"
"And, perhaps" she continued. mis-
chievous smile revealing to the lawyers
eyes new dmplc, hitherto wholly unsus-
pected, in her check, "and perhaps you
would even let me come to you for legal
advice in my choice, if paid wcll?'
"Ccrtainlyr
"Well, then, advise % cried the widow,
desperately.
She had been pretty sure for two or three
months that Mr.. Sharperson was longing
to propose to her, could he but get the
words over his tongue, and she had SAID to
herself that this afternoon he should do it
if feminine wit could devise way. Any
thing short of deliberately proposing her.
self She was prepared to do, and she began
now to fear lest she should be forced to
even that extreme measure,
Now, when everything had been so adj
mirably worked up toa 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 question asked rs was the
widow, could he but overcome his natural
lacOniC habit and the bashfulness which
Just now exaggerated it.
Mrs. Widgin's mouth set itself trfe
more firmly than before.
THAT is always the way if one really
wants advice. If didn't you'd probably
be ready to give it,"
This was so obviously absurd that they
both smiled, and both, pretending to move
nearer to the fire, moved their chairs
little nearer together.
81 see" said Mrs Widgin, with an air
of mock despair, 81 shall have to make it
Il, N, t,,1~ In1 hatN p,t
get married-yes or nor"
Yes he replied, with very signifi-
cant smile.
"Haye you any idea where 1 had better
look for n husband"'
Yes
Good Now we are getting on. Where
is it?"
Here
Here in Westerly? Oh, very well, Mr.
Sharperson, but who is there in Westerly
for me to marry / assure you | wouldn't
think Of Mr.. Smithers, with his five small
children; never could endure Mr.. Green,
the tailor I'm sure you don't mean me
to marry Mr.. Church, the butcher, and
Mr. Stnchtield is too odious for anything
You see, can't you that ] can't marry any
one of them"
YES
"Well, who else is there"
"Me."
"You?''
"Men
1t was done at last, and if the lawyer
could but have so far conquered the habit
of half century of bashfulness rs to
follow up his advantage, everything would
have gone ON swimmingly.
He was, however, almost stupehed by
his own timerity, and the widow on her
side of the Fireplace, cast her eyes down
coyly, believing that now, at least, he
would take the initiative. Mr.. Sharperson,
ON his side, none the less abashed, glanced
at her out of sheer bashfulness.
"Heavensn' thought the widow, slyly
accommodating out of the corner of her
eye, "have | got to get up and rush into
his arms? Was there ever before such an
| aggravating man|'
She coughed softly she patted the
| hearth with her slipper-tip, secretly de-
termined that nothing short of the most
| absolute desperation should make her
| break the silence this time.
At length, when there seemed an inn
| mlnent prospect that the pair would CON
| sumo the remainder of their mortal exist
| and Just as the widow reached that point
| when she felt that she must speak or 20
mad Mr.. Sharperson did renew the con-
| yersation.
"Well?' he queried,
"WellP' she echoed.
| "Ehr'
The lawyer was wholly unprepared for
having the burden of the talk thrown
upon him, and beyond his incohcrent eX'
clanation, could say nothing.
The widow looked at the fire, and then
| at her taciturn wooer.
81 must say" she observed, with q
| touch of sarcasm in her voice, 'that
have seen more ardent lovers"
| Mr.. Sharperson looked rather abashed
at this, and indeed began to feel that il
| his suit for the rich Widows hand was to
| have any chance whatever of success, il
must be urged with more vigor
He reused himself by great effort and
said, with warmth:
"That showed it more"
Come" the widow thought with some
complaccncy, 1--WE are getting on; it is
something to elicit speech of that length
from him"
Aloud, she said
Very well, that showed it more, if you
will; how am | to judge she continued,
smiling and glancing up in q manner
which no man with blood in his veins
could have resisted, chow am to judge
but by what have seen"'
For reply Mr.. Sharperson committed
the most remarkable deed of his entire
life. lie rose from his chair with the ut
most dcliberation, took Il step across the
wide hearth rug to the side of his hostess,
threw his arms around her neck and
kissed her with great heartiness and ap
parent satisfaction.
"Mercyw cried the widow Widgin
making Intellectual efforts to disengagC
herself, "Who gave you leave to kiss me-
| ] never saw such impudCnceV
But the other having once tasted th(
sweets of her lips, apparently enjoyed
them far too well to abandon the feast sc