The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
WINNING A WIDOW.

Palmleaf when he was alive; he was a
chronic borrower. l don't want any
thing to do with his widow"
"All right" observed lothian, philo-
sophically, and his master resumed the
perusal of his newspaper once more.
"Jotham?" said Mr.. Wiggleton, about
ten days afterward. as he came in heated
and out of breath from walk. (Mr.
Wiggleton wasn't as spry as he had been
before his five-and-fortieth birthday, and
the Locust Hill was pretty steep ascent,
"Well, what now?"
81 wonder if that was the Widow
Palmleaf l saw gathering blackberries
into basket by the south wall of the
cottage garden?"
, "Kind O slim and tall?"
eyes"
'Blue eyes and hair as shiny as satinT'
eyes"
"And little white parasol, lined with
pink"
eyes"
"Reckon likely it was" said lothian.
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 Jo-
than, dryly.
Mr.. Wiggleton was silent for a mo-
ment or two.
"JothamT he finally said.
"Well?"
"Has she sent to borrow anything?"
'Sent yesterday forenoon--asked if
we had screw driver to lend-the hinge
was comm loose on the garden gate"
"And what did you tell her?'
''Said my order was contrary wise to
lendin' or borrowin'"
lothian, you are fool"
""Tain't the first time you've said so,
and faint the first time you've been
wrong" said lothian, with calmness of
demeanor that was beautiful to behold.
Hard words is considered in the wages,
and amt the man to find fault. Ionly
did as you told me.
Eyes, but, lothian, never mind; the
next time she sends let her have what
ever she wants."
''Said somethin' about wantin' man
to come and hoe them early potatoes. Be
1 to go?"
Certainly of course. Neighbor.
should act like neighbors. especially in
the country"
And Mr.. Wiggleton sighed, and wished
that he was not too corpulent and unused
to labor to hoe the Widow Palmleaf'i
early potatoes himself.
But he did the next best thing; h,
went over to look at the field after 10
than had hoed it, and gave the widow
good advice concerning 4 certain rocky
up hill bit of sheep pasture that belongea
to the cottage.
''Fd lay that down in winter rye if
were you. ma'am,' said Mr. Wiggleton
81 am SO much obliged to you," sait
the widow, sweetly. "Since poor, dea
Hobart was taken away have no one t.
advise me on these subjects"
And Mr.. Wiggleton thought how sof
and pretty her blue eyes looked as sh
spoke.
''Oh, pshawI" said lothian, leaning OF
the handle of his hoe, winter rye aim
the sort O crop for that spot. Sprinl
wheat's the only thing to grow there"
Hold your tongue, Jothamr' cried hi
employer, testify.
"Yes, sir, will" said lothian, with
broad grin over Mr.. Wiggleton's shinin,
bald head.
"And about these hyacinth beds
ma'am," said the latter, recovering hi
equanimity, I'll come over this evening
if you will allow me-
81 shall be delighted" interrupted tn
widow, with smile that showed a Sc
of teeth as white and regular as pearls.
''This evening, ma'am," repeated MI
Wiggleton, with a bow, land wei
sketch out diagram. Hyacinths hav
to be humored, Mrs. Palmleaf."
80 have always heard" said tn
widow.
That evening, after Mr.. Wiggleton ha
returned from discussing the momentou
question of sandy soil, dubious roots an
crescents and circles, he found lothian
on the front porch contentedly breathin
the flower scented air.
"a very pretty woman, that Mrs
Palmleaf, lothian" said the employee,
not because there was any special cor
geniality of soul between himself and hi
farm hand. but because he could hav
talked to the gate posts If lothian hadn
happened to be there
well. nobody doubts that, as ever
heerd on" said lothian. with his elbow
on his knees and his face complacentl
turned toward the full moon.
And she can't be over thirty"
$50 | should a-said myself" assente
Jotham
I'm glad she has taken the cottage O
long lease. lothian, pursued Mr. Wig
gleton- Il like good neighbors."
Most folks does, observed lothian
And he got up, shaking himself like
great Newfoundland dog, and went int
the house, leaving NJ. Wiggleton to th