Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-22
The STORY Teller.
BILL AND THE WIDOW.

"Wife," said Ed Wilbur, one morn
ing, as he sat stirring his coffee with
one hand, holding piece of plum
cake with the other, and looking across
the table into the bright eyes of his
neat little wife, "Wouldn't it be a
good joke to get bachelor Bill Smiley
to take Widow Watson to the show
next week ?"
"You can't do it Ed; he won't ask
her, he's so awful shy. Why, he came
by here the other morning when 1 was
hanging out some clothes, and looked
over the fence and spoke; but when
I shook out night-gown he blushed
like girl, and went away"
81 think can manage it," said Ed ;
"but I'll have to lie just little. But
then it wouldn't be much harm under
the circumstances, for know she likes
him, and he don't dislike her; but, as
you say, he's so shy. I'll just 60 over
to his place to borrow some bags of
him, and if I don't bag him before 1
come back, don't kiss me for week,
Nellie"
So saying Ed started, and while he
lie crossing the field we will take a
glance at Bill Smiley. He was rather
a good-looking fellow, though his hair
and whiskers showed some gray. He
wore a set of artificial teeth. Every
one said he was a good soul, and so he
was. He had as good hundred-acre
farm as any in Norwich, with new
house and everything comfortable, and
if he wanted wife, many girl would
have jumped at the chance. But Bill
was so bashful-always was-and
when Susan Berrybottle, whom he was
so sweet on, though he never said
"boo" to her, got married to old Wat
son, he Just drew in his head like a
mud-turtle into his shell, and there
was no getting him out again, though
it had been noticed that since Susan
had become widow he had paid more
attention to his clothes, and been very
regular in attendance at the church
the fair widow attended. But here
comes Ed Wilbur.
"Good-morning, Mr.. Smiley"
"Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur; what's
the news your way ?"
"Oh, nothing particular, that 1 know
Of" said Ed, "only the show. that
everybody is talking about, and every
body and his girl is going to. was
over to old Sackrider's last night, and
| I see his son Gus has got new buggy,
and was scrubbing up his harness, and
he's got that white faced colt of his
as slick as a seal. I understand he
thinks of taking the Widow Watson
to the show. He's been hanging
around there a good deal of late, but
I'd just like to cut him out, would.
Susan is nice little woman, and de-
serves better man than that young
pup of fellow, though I would not
blame her much either if she takes
him, for she must be dreadful lone
some; and then she has to let her
farm out on shares, and it isn't half
worked, and no one else seems to
have the spunk to speak up to her.
By jingo if I were single man I'd
show trick or two"
So saying, Ed borrowed some bags
and started around the corner of the
barn, where he had left Bill sweeping,
and put his ear. to a knot hole and
listened, knowing the bachelor had a
habit of talking to himself when any
thing worried him.
"Confound that young Sackrider J"
said Bill "what business has he there,
I'd like to know? Got new buggy,
has hep Well, so have I, and new
harness, too! and his horse can't get
in sight of mine, and I declare have
half mind to-yes, I'll 60 this very
night and ask her to 60 to the show
with me. I'll show Ed Wilbur that |
amt such a calf as he thinks l am, if
I did let old Watson get the start of
me in the first place."
Ed could scarcely help laughing out
right, but he hastily hitched the bags
on his shoulder, and, with a low
chuckle at his success, started home
to tell the news to Nellie; and about
5 o'clock that evening they saw Bill
20 by with his horse and buggy on his
way to the widows.
He logged along quietly, thinking
of the old singing school days, and
what a pretty girl Susan Was then,
and wondering inwardly if he would
have more courage now to talk to her,
until at a distance of about mile
from her house he came to a bridge
over creek-and it so happened that
Just as he reached the middle of the
bridge he gave a tremendous sneeze,
and blew his teeth out of his mouth,
and clear over the dashboard, and
striking on the planks, they rolled
over the side of the bridge, and then
dropped into four feet of water.
Words cannot do justice to poor
Bill, or paint the expression of his
face as he sat there, completely dumb
founded at this startling piece of i'll
luck. After a while he stepped out of
his buggy, and settling down on his
hands and knees, he looked into the
water. Eyes, there they were," at
the bottom, with a crowd of little