Middletown transcript., 1910-04-23

morning as ne sat stlrElnS MS
coffee with one hand and holding
3 plum cake on his knee 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
Robinson's 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 morn.
ing when I was hanging out some
clothes, and he looked over the
fence and spoke, but when I shook
ont q night gown he blushed like
o girl and went away.
I think I can manage it, said
Ed; but I'll have to lie just a lit
tie. But then it wouldn't be
much harm under the circum-
stances, for / know she likes him
and he don't dislike her; but, as
You say, he's shy. I'll just go
over to his place to borrow some
bags of him, and if l don't bag
him before I come back, don t
kiss me for a week, Nelly.
So saying Ed. started and
while he is moving the fields we
take q look at Bill Smiley. He
was rather a good looking fellow,
though his hair and whiskers
showed some gray hairs and he
had got in d set of artificial teeth.
But every one said he was good
soul and so he was. He had as
good q hundred acre farm as any
in Norwich, with a new house
and everything comfortable, and
It he wanted q wife many girl
would have jumped at the chance
like q rooster at a grasshopper.
Bill was so bashful-always was
~-Rnd when Susan Berrybottle,
that he was sweet on (but he
never said "boo" to herr, got
married to old Watson he just
drew his head like q mud turtle,
into his shell, and there was no
getting him out again, though it
had been noticed that since Susan
had become a widow, he had paid
more attention to his clothes and
had been very regular in his at.
tendance ct the church that 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 I
know of, said Ed, only Robin.
sons show that everybody and
his girl is going to. I was over
20 old Sackriders's last night, and
I see his son Gus has got q new
buggy and was scrubbing up his
harness, and he's got that white
faced colt of his slick as a seal. /
understand he thinks of taking
the Widow Watson to the show.
He's been hanging round q
good deal Of late, but I'd just like
20 cut him out, | would. Susan
is a nice little woman, and de-
serves a better man than that
young pup Of a fellow, though l
wouldn't blame her much either
If she takes him, for she
must be dreadful lonesome, and
then she has TO let her farm out
on shares and it isn't half work
ed and no one seems to have
spunk enough to speak up to her.
BY jingo! If I were a single
man I'd show him q trick or two
SO saying, Ed. borrowed some
bags and started around the cor
ner Of the barn, where he had
left Bill sweeping, and put his
ear TO q knot hole and listened,
knowing that the bachelor had a
habit Of talking to himself when
Anything worried him.
Confonnd that youngSackrider!
ssid Bill, what business has he,
then, I'd like to know I Got a new
buggy, has he ? Well, so have l,
and q new harness, too; and his
horse can't come in sight Of mine;
and / declare I've half q mind to
Yes. / will! I'll go this very
night and ask her to go TO the
show with me I'll show Ed. Wilbur
that I amt such q calf as he thinks
I am, il I did let old Watson get
the start of me in the first place !
Ed. could scare help laughing
outright, but he hastily hitched
the bags on his shoulder, and
with q low chuckle at bis seccess,
started home to tell the news
70 Nelly; and about FIVE o'clock
that evening they saw Bill go BY
with bis horse and buggy on his
way to the Widows. He logged
along quietly thinking Of the old
singing school days-and what a
u