The Forrest City times., 1888-01-07
RiIL and tha Widow.

a
 aaee. with one hand ho dlng pinm cake on his knee with the other. a0d looking across the table in.a the bright eyes of Lis neat lii,ie wife. wouldn't it be a good iake Co get Lschelor Bill Smiley to take Widow Watson to Bsrnum . show next week.
 "You cant do it. Ed; he won't .sk her; he's so awful .hy. Why. he came by here the other morning when l was hanging out some clothes, and he looked over the fence and spoke, but when l shook out night gown hc blushed like 6 glrl. and went away.
 II think | can manage ii, said Ed. .but I'll have to lie just little. But then II wouldn't be much harm under the circumstances, for l know she likes him and he don t dislike be; but as you say, he's so shy I'll just go over 10 his place to borrow some bags of him, and fl I don't bag him before l come back don't kiss me for 8 week, Nellie. .
 So saying, Ed started, and while he is crossing the field, we will take, lock at Blll Smiley. He was rathers good-looking fellow. though his hair and rhiskers sh0ws some grey hAirs and be had got in a set of.rtihcial teeth. Everyone s.id he VA. good soul, and 80 be was. He hSd Ss good hundred acre farm as sny in Norwich. with a new house and everything com i rtsble. and fl he waited s wife, many gIri would have jumped al the chance like rooster on $ grasshopper. But Bill was so bsshiul. always was-and when Susan Berryboltle, who he WAS so sweet on. though he never sand "boo" to her; got married to old Watson. he just drew Tn his head like an old mud turtle into h;s shell, and there WAS no getting him out again. thongh it had been no ,iced that since Susan had become a widow, he had paid more attention 10 hs clothes, and had been very regular in his visits 10 the church tho fair widow attended.
 But there come Ed Wilbur
 "Good morning, Ar. smiley
 "Good morning, Mr. Wilbur, whats the news your way"
 "Oh, nothing particular. that know of." said Ed, "only Barnum'' show, that everybody is talking about, and every body and his girl is going to. WAS over to old Sockrider's last night, and 1 See his son Gus has new buggy, and va. scrgbblng mp his harness, and he's got that whitehead colt of his as slick as a seal. l understand ht thinks of taking widow Watson to the slow. He's been hanging around there q good deal of late but I'd inst cut him ont. 1 would 1 Susan is nicc lItlle woman, and deserves better man than that young pun of 8 follow, though would pot blame her much either if she takes him. for she must b. dreadful lonesome; and then sh. has to let her farm out or shares and it isn't half worked, and nc one else seems to have the spunk to speak up to her. By jingo! if were .ngle man I'd show z thing or two"
 So saying, Ed borrowed some bags and started around the corner of the barn. where he had loft Bil sweeping, and put hi, ear to , knot-hole and listened, knowing that the bachelor had & habit ot talking to himself when anything worried him.
 "Confound that young, Sock rieer," said Bill, "what bssiness hsl he there, should like to know, Got new buggy ha, he? Well, SC have l, and new harness, too; snt his horse can't got in sight of mine and I declare, I've half 8 minC to-ye., l'll go this very night anc ask her to go to the show with me I'll show Ed Wilbur that l aim such , calf &. he thinks l am, If did let old Watson Set the start il the first place.
 Ed could scarcely help laughing outright, but he hastily hitchoC bis bags on his shoulder, and will 8 low chuckle At hIs success started homo to tell the news to Nellie; and about five o'clock that evening they saw Bill go with hls hors, and buggy on his way to thu widows. He logged along quietly thinking of the old singings choo days-and what a pretty girl Susai was then; and wondered inwardly if he would have more courage t( talk up 10 her, until al q dlstanc, of about a mile of her house h, came 10 bridge, over s larg, creek, and it so happened that ju. as be came to the middle of tn, bridge he gave q tremendous sneeze. and blew his teeth out O hls mouth, and clear over the dash board, and striking plank they rolled over the side of the bridge and dropped into four feet of water Words cannot do justice to poo Bill. or paint he expression or his face as he set there, completely dun bfounded at this startling piece ofill-luck. After while h, stepped out of his buggy. anc getting down on his hands anC knees, looked into the water
 "Yes, there they were" at tn, bottom, with 6 crowd oflittle fi.hei rubbing their noses against them and Bill wished to good hess tha' hIs nose was as close for one second Ills beautiful teeth that had cos him so much; and the show eomina