Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-23
HOW A WIFE WAS WON.
Che Trouble Experienced by Major
SDloIIctt Of Texas in Win
Mug q Widow.

mug u ~ 10oN.
Probably the most embarrassing
courtship on record WAS that Of BASH
full Texas major, which eliminated in
bis marrying rich young widow, who
is now one OF the most popular members
OF ST Louis society. The circumstances
were related to me 10y planter on the
Braaos. whose immense cotton and corn
fields atiioin those Of tho major and of
&he ey-widow in question.
"Ncn, sir, said he. "sale was reared
here and was tho sweetest and most
popular girl in Texas. She was known
everywhere, and was courted i'll Calves
ton and Austin as we'll as in st. Louis
circles after she returned from school
aud from tour of Europe. But she
always seemed to like Texas the best
Maj. Smollett began to shy around her
when they grew up and took her to
siDging-school and other country frolics
while she was here. He was bashful,
and while we all know he was in love
With her and she with him, blamed if
he didn't let that cr1ssed fat-head Joe
Broadus cut him out and marry Annie.
ice only lived two years, and in less
shan six months after he died it was
plain to all, except Smollett, that the
widow was more in love with him than
ever
They We're both wanting each other,
ard he too bashful to shy up to her. We
all knew that with her chances and be-
ing alone in the world with so much
property Cher father died and left her
AL his possessions) she would marry
some ONO soon. And that good-for-
nothing village lawyer, Ed. Wilder,
WAS shutting around her in great shape
J saw This and determined to make the
major cut him out.
so I said to my wife one day: Mag
gle, GIN going to bring that bashful
zeal, Smollett and Annie together
She iold me l had better let them alone,
as would most likely make mess of
tlle whole thing. [ allowed that 1 did
not see how | could do worse than the
ana1or himself was doing, and Maggie
agreed with me. Just as we had come
so the point who should ride up but the
major.
Good morning, Major said I.
Good morning, MIR. Wiley said
lle. WHAT'S the news your way?'
ooh, nothing replied, except
That Annie has come back to enjoy her
self among the friends of her girlhood ,
s1es; I've secn-so I've heard, he
replied blushing like Il turkey gobbler.
And, 1 continued, careless like,
I've just been up town, and John Rob
anson's big show is coming, and every
Body and his girl is going. was over
10 Judge Wilders and l see that Ed has
u spanking, span new buggy and fast
hocse, and is going to take Annie to the
show. He has been hanging around
ller grca. deal every time he gets q
chance, By jings, I wish 1 was young
'11'sn; I'd cut that popinjay out. Annie's
too nice woman to marry such sap
slesad as Ed Wilder; though if she takes
him we can't blame her much, as she is
very lonely, and men who seem to have
any sense are too shy to speak to her.
f&seewhilillins! If 1 was only single, I'd
sno~ them thing or two
~The Major blushed but made no re-
ply, except to say that he wanted to
borrow some cotton baskets for the
hands to pick in till he could go to town
and buy some. showed him where
they were, and then crept to knot
hole and listened, for 1 knew that he
had a habit Of talking to himself, like
all bashful people when bothered.
Damn that young jay lawyer he
said. With his slick tongue and no
brains he thinks he's first in everything.
Got a new buggy, has he? Well, so
have I, and his horse can't hole candle
TO mine. By gosh! I've mind to
yes, ] will go this afternoon and ask her
to go to the show with me, and then I'll
speak out and show Gus Wiley that I'm
not such a donkey as he and his wife
think me, even if L did let Joe Broadus
get ahead of me the first time
Il almost laughed out at this, and
went and told Maggie how it was work.
ing.
"Smollett had his new buggy aud
CAST colt with him. and happened to be