The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-03-11
Bill Smiley And The Widow.

"Wlle, Salu Eu. WllOuc one
morning, as he sat stirring his cof.
Zee with one hand, holding Il plum
cake on his knee with the other,
and looking across the table into
the bright eyes of his neat little
wife, wouldn't il be u good joke
to gel bachelor Bill Smileyio take
Widow Watson TO the show next
week I"
"You can't do il, Ed; he won't
ask her, he's so awful shy. Why
he came by here the other morn
ing when l was hanging out some
clolhes and he looked over the
fence and spoke, but when shook
out a night gown he blushed like a
girl and went away"
IL think l can manage it," said
Ed "but III have 10 lie just a lit
tie. But then il wouldn't be much
harm under The circumstances, ior
| l know she likes him, and he don't
dislike her; but as you say he's so
shy. I'll just go over TO his place
to borrow some bags OF him, and if
don't bag hlm before l come
back, don't kiss me Tor Il week,
Nellie"
So saying, Ell started, and while
| lie is crossing The field we will
take a look at Bill Smiley. lie
was rather a good looking fellow,
though his hair and whiskers show.
ed some gray hairs. and he had got
in a set Of artificial teeth. Every
one said he was a good soul, and
so he was. lie had as COOL n hun
drcd acre farm as any in the coun.
ty, with a new house and every.
thing comfortable, and if he want.
ed Il wife many a girl would have
jumped al the chance like a, rons-
Ter on a grass.hopper. But Bill
was so observation-disclosures was-and
when Susan Berryboltle, who he
was 50 sweet on. though he never
said "boo" to her, got married to
old Watson, he just drew in his
head like an old mud turtle INTO
his shell, and there was no getting
HIM out again, though it Tad been
noticed tina, since Susan had be.
come widow, he had paid rather
more attention 10 his personal ap.
pearance, and had been regular IN
his visits 10 The church The iair
widow attended.
But here comes Ell Wilbur.
"Good morning, Smiley"
Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur.
What's the news?"
"Oh, nothing Lariicular. that I
know Of" said Ell, "only Barnum's
show, that everybody is talking
about, anc everybody and his girl
Is going to. | was over to old
Soskriders last night, anl l sec his
son Gus has got new buggy, aud
was scrubbing up his harness. and
he's got that whiie.laced colt OF
his as slick as u seal. | under.
stamd'he thinks of taking widow
Watson to The show. He's been
hanging around there a good deal
OF late, but Id just cut him out,
would. Susan is a nice little wo
man and deserves a better man
than that young pup of a fellow,
though l would not blame her
much either il she takes him. for
she must be dreadful lonesome
and then she has 10 let her farm
out on shares, and 1t isn't hall
worked, and no one seems to have
The spunk 10 speak up to her. BY
| jingo! If | were single man Id
show thing or two.
So saying, Ed borrowed some
bags and started around The cor.
ner Of the barn, where lie had left
Bill sweeping, and put his eur to a
knot.hole aud listened, knowing
that tie bachelor had u habit 0l
talking to himself when anything
worried him.
! "Coniound that Young Sockri.
der!" said Bill, "what business has
he there I'd like to knowg Got q
new buggy, has heg Well, Ac
have ]. and new harness too; and
his horse can't get in sight oil mine
and III declare have n mind