DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-03-06
AN OLD MAIDS QUEST.



Some years ago, after had worked up
d case in town in Ohio, a woman called
at the hotel one day and asked to see
me. found her to be spinster, about
fifty years old, wearing the traditional
ringlets and eyeglasses, and as stiff as
a croWbar in her demeanor. She, too,
had an original way Of arriving at tho
point. After introducing herself she
said:
Il am rich. Some folks call me ecCen-
trio, but | am simply sensible. | wish
to travel, and | wish to hire you as my
escort. You will be my employe, and
shall exact the most formal respect Of
you. Imay need you for year, or may
not but | will hire you for that length
of time"
After little talk we arrived at figures
satisfactory to both. She lived in town
twenty miles away, and she gave her
self week to get ready in. At the end
of that time | reported for duty, and
found her ready to start. She had
two fair-sized trunks for baggage, and
eha di~oa+aI mo +~ l,.s- 4.-l.~I" 90 fNV"
York. She didn't say how much money
she had, how long she was going to stay,
or give me any other particulars. l
obeycd directions, and in due time we
arrived in Gotham and put up at first
class hotel. / acted as her guide and
escort, but such was our demeanor to-
ward each other that no one could have
made out the relationship. She seemed
to argue that if she dropped formality
for moment might propose marriage,
and it was sir" on every possible occa
sion.
She settled the hotel bill herself, but
gave mo money to buy tickots to Boston
after a stay of twenty days. We were
in Boston fortnight and thon went to
Hartford, and there got the first inkling
Of her idea in making the trip. She
sent for me to come to the ladies par
lor, and when | arrived she began.
"Mr. Jewett, you have noticed the
portly man seated on my right at the
table,"
"Yes'm."
'sBlue eyes and bald-headed, and looks
very fatherly?'
"Yes' m"
81 wish you to ascertain whether he is
married or a widower."
That evening reported to her that
the bald-headed man was widower
and in the real estate business in an in
terror town.
"Verv well, sir" she stif1y replied,
"you may now retire and will send for
YOU when l want you"
After that I watched her atmeal time,
and soon caught on to the fact that she
had "set her cap'' for the widower. 1t
was laughable to see her try to ape the
pirl of twenty, and in three days every
body in the dining-room had caught on
and was giving her the guy. The old
gal knew her gait, however, and in about
n week | got an order to show up again
in the parlor.
"Mr. Jewett," she said, as | stood be-
fore her, Il think that MF' oan pSon
rath-rather likes me-"
''Yes'm."
"You may say to him that ! am worth
$50 900 in cash and bonds, never have
been married, and that his appearance
pleases me-"
managed after day or two to get in
with Mr.. Sampson and convey this in
formation, and I saw that it hit him
right between the eyes. Two hours
later he called on her, and three days
after his call she sent for me to say;
"Mr. Jewett, you will accompany me
home, where l will pay you your salary
for the year. Mr.. Sampson and are
engaged" ~
And three months later they were
and it turned out to be happy
match. An. Y. Sun.