The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-06-04
MY BROTHERS. WIDOW.

/ don't deny but that my brothers
widow is a good looking woman for
| her time Of life.
She ought to look we'll however, for
| my poor brother Bob left her all he
| possessed, and she is pretty we'll
fixed" as we say down in our part of
| the country.
Other people think her good look
| inc, whether | do or not, and she
might have changed her condition in
a very short time if she had felt in the
| least inclined, for I've been told that
the doctor the schuolmaster the law
Yer, and even the preacher himself. all
gave her Il chance 10 do so, while she
still wore the widows cap, and before
brother Bob had been gone year.
But, no, my sister-in-law is very fas-
tidious, and nothing would do but she
must set her cap" for David Moore,
| the young man who clerked for us.
He is not II day over % while she
owns to being 26. and will never see
40 again, in my opinion.
If poor Bob hadn't said to me before
he died John. do be kind to Maria
and give her good advice" | would
only have laughed ut her follics and
let her go on. As it was | felt sorry
and so one day | said:
Maria, why don't Won sell out vour
share of the store and 90 travelling, or
live ut ease on the income of YOUR
property?'
But she laughed ut me and would
not hear of such Il thing, SO what could
l do?
Nou coo Ci,o LoJ -. ,>,,,ot ,,;,.l,. .L,,,
as anybody. for Bob owned half the
store, and left his share to his widow.
David Moore is Il fine looking, noble
young man. and hc has been with us
since he was Il small boy. He is one
of those fresh, roSv-faced blondes who
have a kindly smile and "A very win
ming way with the women folks. ALWAYS
courteous and dcferental, and it is no
wonder that Maria liked him. for he is
favoritc with all the ladies.
1t was because David was there that
she liked to come sailing down to the
store in her rich black silk. and was
always finding excuses Ito help u.s. in
waiting on our customers. in handing
down the dry goods and mixing things
up generally. In fact she gave no
end OF trouble, but we could not help
it. If | advised her to 90 home she
would cry and say she was 80 lone
some, f." so that David began to pity her
and to call ne hard-hearlcd
Well things went on in this way for
nearly year. Bright eyes flashing at
David, sweet smiles, bouquets of flow
ers and all sorts of kind attentions. |
used 10 wonder how my brother Bob
would feel if he could know how
things were going on. To be sure, he
was an old man Mhcn he died, bald
headed Sloop-shouldercd and near.
sighted. and he always made a regular
baby of Maria.
But knew how TO change the looks
of things. ! had suspicion that
David was in love with Il very pretty
little girl. who was bookkeepcr with
the firm across the way, So one night
| called him and said: David, we
need new bookkeeper. | think |
would like lady this time. What do
YOU say to trying Mary Owens?' The
modest young fellow bIushed and said.
Il am sure, sir. she would give salts
faction
So next day | met Maria and said:
Maria, am glad YOU came down
this morning, for we will have q new
bookkeeper to-day"
is that sop said my brothers
widow. 'Wcil. | hope she will prove
success. and help to draw custom"
| could not help smiling when | saw
the meeting between her and our new
bookkeepern that afternoon. But |
didn't smile much when she came into
. % of hnr
mind.
What did you do that for? You
know | don't like women about Il
store. You'll see if your beautiful
bookkceper doesn't get YOU into trou-
bic. and so on. and so on.
But she had sense enough to know
that it was of no use TO scoId, and said
no more, but kept close eye on David
and Mary. Meantime. these two
young creatures were rs happy as
spring robins. always have thought
that Dave proposed behind the coun-
ter, and. at any rate, it happened some
where, and somehow. and he was GER
tainly accepted Even an old crusty
bachelor like myself could see how
biSsful they looked and could not help
calling down blessings on their heads.
And somebody else soon saw the
state of things. Maria came to me
one morning in rage: Now. John
what did tell you? Didn't | know
that Mary Owen was no better than
she should be? Didn't tell you she
would bewitch David Moore and keep
him from his work? | wonder what
YOU would say if you knew what l saw
this morning?'
We'll, Maria, and what did you
see?"
Why. sir, l saw Mary Owen kiss
Dave Moore behind the shop door this
very morning"
Now. what do you think of her?'
"Oh. sister-and [ suppose David
didn't want her to do it aud called for
help. didn't hep
'Ah. you know what fools men are
OF course he had to pretend that he
liked it. OF course he kissed her
back said Maria. spitefully.
We'll, 1t is too bad-but after all,
Maria. David is not the first Young
mau that has kissed the Oirl he