Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-01-19
his plate for the third time.

a NlNlu DiuSu' 4hl' OuIlNll uoVu W
say he couldn't bear to eat away from
home, cause we had such good
meals"
Mr.. Brown beamed at her.
After dinner he took Mr. Simpson
to one side. pretty as a picture an
plump as partridge; looks like she
could keep house for me and the
ugh! ugh! ugh?"
A severe fit of coughing interrupt
ed Mr.. Browns recital. Simpson
smiled knowingly.
you're in luck if you get the wild
der" he said. "But / can't say it's
quite fair to not tell her about the"
"H-u.s-h!" whispered Brown ner-
vously. "It'll be all right. I'll make
her good husband and she won't
mind the"
Another severe fit of coughing,
= hich nearly strangled the good man
nlpped his discourse In the Dud.
81 say, Simpson," he inquired, pre-
sently "has the widow any"
"None in the land of the living
interrupted Mr.. Simpson, hurriedly.
Mr.. Brown rubbed his hands with
satisfaction. Then the two joined
the ladies, and the courtship proceed
ed with such alacirity that the day
was set land as neAral ground, Simp-
sons house was rendered for the Oc-
caSiOn.
But Mr.. Brown visited the widow
at her lonely house several times, and
the widow in company with Mrs.
Simpson spent a day at the home
stead and was much impressed with
its "peace and quiet" She whisper
ed to Mrs. Simpson.
"rm so thankful | am going to
marry into a home where there amt
any"
"H-u-s-h. he's looking at us" eau
toned her friend.
Then both ladies laughed heartily,
as if they knew something that pleas
ed her immensely.
While Mr.. Brown was showing off
his roomy house he hazarded re-
mark:
"It's kind er lonesome in a house
where there are nobody but grown
ups. 1 believe you told me you had
not any"
"They are all in the grave yard!
every one of 'em, poor things!" sob
bed the widow with the handkerchief
to her eyes.
1t took some time for Mr.. Brown
to undo the mischief. He was COM
PEELED to support the clinging form
and dry tears he had drawn forth
by his careless remark.
"She's q tender hearted little
thing" he said to Simpson; "she'll
come all right when she sees the
Here he sneezed.
"You old fraudw thought Simp.
son. But he only said "Of course she
will"
They were married quietly, only
the immediate friends of the family
being present at the ceremony, and
they went to town where nobody
knew them, and spent their honey
moon providing around in each others
company, Seeing the sights, and were
as spooney as old folks in love usual.
ly are. Not that either of them was
old. No, indeed!
When they went back they first To-
ated at the Brown homestead. As
they couldn't live in two places al
once, the widow had decided to sell
and invest her money in more lane
in the neighborhood of her new home
plan highly approved by her new
partner.
The first cloud on the horizon O
their new lives appeared when they
reached home. 1t was no larger thar
mans hand-or a boys hand-ir
fact that was just the shape it tool
on the white walls.
Mr.. Brown looked frightened; blu
he asked boldly: "My dear; don'tyol
think it's kinder lonesome in hous
where there isn't any"
\ curious interruption happened
A troop of half grown boys rushed il
at that moment to welcome the bride
They did not go through the cere
mony of knocking, and seemed yer.
much at home, They could hav
sang. eve are SEVEN" exactly as t.
numbers.
"Who are they?" gasped the new
Mrs. Brown.
) Gill don't Know" faltered MI