West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-09-12


;young widow say the other day that all
bachelors were bears and that YOU were
the 'Ursa Major of the lot-the biggest
bear of all.p
Hmphl Hang widows, saylp
fes, she said that any man who
wonld hye bachelors life in such a
trfetty place as yours aud put. up notices
'on the grounds warning off trespassers
ought to be caught in Trap and put out
oftheir misery
We'll, you can tell her for me that I
think the native East Indians the most
sensible people in the world. When a
married man dies there they burn his
widow on a wood pile and get rid of her
at once. If that were in the law here
we would all be more comfortable. /
detest widows, anyhow"
Squire Burnham reported this conver-
sation, with few rhetorical additions
NJ the tea-table of his sister-in-law n
pieasant-faced maiden lady, who eked
ont rather narrow income by taking
nall a dozen summer boarders. Her
house, long and low and old fashioned
and shaded by grove of ancient cherry
trees, was one OF the oldest in the pretty
little village of Edgewood, but it de-
lighted all strangers by its picturesque
surroundings.
The show place of the village was the
handsome stone mansion of Mr.. Piukle-
Derry, who was reputed to be the richest
man IN the township and who. as the
neighbors said with disgust, had 'neither
chick nor child 10 leave his money 10 -
40 speak more truthfully, his would have
been the show place If he had permitted
visitors within his gates, but he never
entertained any strangers at his house.
the notices against trespassing which were
conspicuously posted up over every en-
trance to his grounds kept away those
who would have been glad of n nearer
view of his residence and of sight of mis-
household furnishings and treasures which
common report had fabulously enlarged
and foyervalucd
All the boarders were present M Miss
Harkins's tea-tablc when Squire Burnham
repeated his conversation with Mr.
Pnkleberry. "The mOnsterw said the
widow Smith, whose two sprightly
daughters from the metropolis had made
themselves recognized at Edgewood as
the bellies of the season. Gle ought to
be married to an old maid who would
nag the hfc out Of him." said the elder
daughter, and changing would be too
good for him, " chimed in the Younger.
Indeed, it might have gone hard with the
woman-hating bachelor had this bevy Of
ladies been made the jury with power to
administer to him such punishment as q
Feminine Judge Lynch should decide
upon.
There was one lady present who lis
tened to the discussion with quiet mien
lbut an ominous flashing of her hazel ewes
she had been staying at the house for
nearly month, but no one knew any
thing about the bright, pretty little wo-
man Of twenty-five, whose face was al
ways demure but her conversation was
sparkling and witty, except that her
name was Wiley. The fact that she was
a guest there was sufficient evidence Of
her respectability, and her manners gave
the best Of evidence to her good birth
and breeding. But the young ladies had
OIL along been puzzled to know whether
she was the rival they most feared in
their hirtations-a widow. In vain they
had applied to Miss Harkins for informa-
ton. That lady was accustomed TO
speak, In the village vernacular, even of
the most venerable Of married ladies ne
Miss Smith" or "'Miss Brown" " and she
aosNered their queries by saying claw.
mel I've something better to do than po
asking Miss Wiley II she has ever buried
a husband or hotl"
It was few days after this heapinp of
feminine anathemas on the head of Mr
Pinkleborry that this gentleman made his
appearance at the boarding house TO con
suit Miss Hsrkins in reference to the pro-
posed purchase OF a portion Of her land
which lay contiguous to his own. When
the conference had been concluded the
two walked out on the front piazza
where tho pretty little widow-ffDr we may
as well confess here that Miss WILEY
was "a widow indced') sat in n camp
chair busily crocheting in worsted. Mr.
Pinkleberry nodded bare acknowledge
ment Of the introduction which Miss
Harkius gave him to "Miss Wilev.n but
as he did 50 must have found the picture
presented ~ bis ewes a most eutrancing
one--and, 70 be sure, he might have
joumeyed ffty miles without meeting a
more attractive face and fgure-for he
paused, and, leaning against pillar.
with his hands In his pockets and his hat
on his head, watched her busy. dainty
fingers for a full minute before he spoke
''Stranger here9" At last asked the
rich man Of Edgewood, in o patronizine
fashion.
The lady looked up with a surprised
rather than naughty air, and looked The
lron-clad bachelor squarely in the face.