The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-11-20
She Thought She Might BE Induced.

Col Webster had the misfortune to
lose his wife, to whom he was tenderly
attached. He was man character
lied by much coolness, wit, and
shrewdness. Time gradually soothed
down his grief, and finally he felt sufii-
GENTLY lonely to desire the companion
ship of wife once more. In the
course of conversation on the subject
his brother suggested that the widow
of near friend of the Colonel would
suit his case very satisfactorily, and
advised him to make q move In that
direction.
The Colonel pondered over the mat
ter, and came to favorable conclusion.
He was not acquainted with the lady,
and indeed had never seen her, but the
choice of so excellent man as his
friend, he felt persuaded, must be a
worthy one for him. Accordingly, he
made an early start to visit the widow
and propose his suit. Arrived at her
house, which was in a New Hampshire
village he apologized for any seeming
freedom on his part in calling, and
pleaded in excuse his intimacy with her
deceased lord. He was graciously re-
ceived and invited to remain. A view
of the dame and an evening spent with
ler did not prove as propitious as his
hopes had led him to expect. The good
lady was full of her admiration and
tender memories of her deceased hus-
band, nm whom her heart seemed still
wrapped up. In her praises of the
dead the Colonel cordially joined, but
he felt an awkward dissemination to
take to his bosom a wife whose love
was so ardently and warmly devoted to
the memory of a predecessor.
However, the Colonel was matter
OF fact man, and, having come upon
special business, he concluded TO ac-
complish it and take the hazards. Ac-
cordingly, about the time for retiring,
he opened his subject and stated the
purpose of his visit and his belief that
they could increase their mutual hap
piness by filling for each other the
places of their deceased partners.
Hereupon the widew burst into n
violent weeping-was surprised he had
dared do such thing-oould never
love another man-wSuld never wed
again would consecFate all her
life to the dear loved one so cruelty
torn from her arms, and now in the
cold, cold grave-and 80 'On in widow
fashion.
The poor Colonel, grievediand aston
ished, though not altoe ether dissatis-
fed. apologized earnestly. He was
! lonely and felt the need of a compan-
ion-had cherished the friendship of
! her husband, who WAS an intimate
fDiend-had thought thGt their union
might be mutually desirable and
beneficial, and made quite lengthy
speech in standardization and to soothe
the disturbed feelings of the unhappy
lady: and finally she dried her tears
ana ceased her lamentations, and the
scene was closed by the Colonels re-
firing TO bed.
In the morning the widow had re-
covered her peace of mind, and was all
attention, graciousness end smiles to
( the good Colonel. He bore himself
with the amenity of IA courtly gentle
man, and as soon as breakfast was end
| ed prepared to start. The widow
seemed in a mighty furry and urged a
stay to dinner, but the Colonel felt
0hlired to be on the none homeward
At last he was at the doOC and offered
Inns hand for a parting pressure. The
widow clasped it, held it fora moment,
tpembled, blushed, turned aside hen
head and gently murmured:
We'll, Colonel, l have been thinking
of-,0f-of-of what you said, and-I-
III think might be induced!"
The Colonel gave her half quiz2i
cal, half serious look, and replying
with Good morning, madam you're
too late for the train" entered his
chaise, started for home, and never af
terwaDd returned