Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-30
WINNING A WIDOW.

"Jotham /" quOth Mr.. Wiggleton
to his chief farmland.
"Well, what's wanuu'f" lazily
inquired lothian Hardcastle, with
a haltmasticated straw between
his teeth, as he looked up from the
bit of harness he was mending.
"The Widow Palmleaf has taken
the cottage at the foot Of the lane"
"Tell me something | didn't
know afore," said lothian, with
more freedom than reverence in
his manner.
"And if she sends mp to borrow
the rake or the hoe or the spade
@D
"Well, what theni"
"Tell her she can't have EN-
Women are always borrowing l
knew Hobart Palmleat when he
was aliye; he was chronic bor-
rover. l don't want anything to
do with the widow
GAIL ugnt," observed lothian,
philosophically, and his master re-
sumed the persual of his newsPa-
per once more.
"Jotham." SAID Mr.. Wiggleton
about 10 days afterward, as he
came in heated and out OF breath
from a walk. (Mr. Wigg'eton
wasn't as spry as he had been be-
fore bis 45th birthday, and the Lo-
Gust hill was pretty steep ascent)
"welI, what now -
"I wonder If that was the Wild
ow Palmleaf | saw gathering black
berries into a basket by the soulh
wall of the cottage garden 2
"Kind O. slim aud tall "
"Yes."
"Blue eyes and hair as shiny as
satin Z"
"Yes.'
"Reckon likely 1t was" SAID
Jotham.
"But persisted the puzzled land
owner, "she doesn't look at all like
a widow"
"There's as much difference in
WIDOWS as there is IN other folks"
observed Jothar, dryly.
Mr.. Wiggleton was silent for a
moment or Two.
"Jotham " he finally sad.
"Well ?"
elias she sent TO borrow any
thing? y
"Sent yesterday forenOOn-ask'
ed if we had screw.driver to lend
the hinge was comm loose on
the garden gate"
"Aud what did you tell her y
"Said my order was contrary
wise to lendin' or borrOwiu'."
"JOtham, you are a tool"
"Tain't the first tune you've said
so, and 'tain't the first time you've
been wrong" said lothian, with a
of demeanOr that was
beautiful TO behold. "Hard words
is considered in the wages, and |
amt the man to Gud fault. l only
did as YOU told me.n
"Yes, but, Jotham, never mind
the next time she sends let he!
have whatever she wants"
"Said sOmethiD' about wantln'
man to come and hoe them early
potatoes. Be | to goP
"Certainly-of course. Neigh
bors should act like neighbors, es-
pecially in the country"
Aud Mr.. Wiggleton sighed and
wished that he was not too cOrpu-
lent and unused to labor to hoe the
Widow Palmleafs early potatoes
himself.
But he did the next best thing
he went over to look at the field
after lothian had hoed it, and gave
the widow good advice concerning
a certain rocky, uphill bit of sheep
pasture that belonged to the cot.
tage.
"Pd lay that down in winter rye
If 1 Eerc you, ma'am," said Mr..
wiggleton.
NJ am so much obliged to yOu,"
sad the widow, sweetIy. "Slnce
poor, dear Hobart was taken away
| have no one to advise me Oh
these subjects
And Mr.. WiggletOn thought
hox soft and pretty her blue eyes
looked as she spoke.
"Oh, pshaw !" SAID Jotbam, lean.
ling on the handle CT his hoe, "win-
Ter rye amt the sort o. crop for
that spot. Spring wheat's the
only thing to grow there"
"Hold your tongue, lothian -
cried his employer, testify.
ayes, sir; WILL" sand Jotham,
with bosd grin over Mr.. Wiggle.
toms shining bald head.
sand about these hyacInth beds,
ma'am," said the latter, recovering
his equaDimity; "I'lI come over
this evening if you will allow me
v
81 shall be delighted" interrupt
Il ALn MILAN rniAh n nnniln Ahok