Year: 1872

How n Woman Blended Business


with Sentiment-The TribuIatiOns


of LOthariO of Seventy.


Living within the corporate limits of the
city Of Dubuque is youthful lover ofthree
score years or more. He is a widower, and
is reported to be well of. He has scarcely
yet recovered from the shock occasioned
by the departure from this mundane sphere
Of the former partner of his joys and sor-
rows, which event occurred about a year
ago. Hardly had the grass began to sprout
we'll over the grave of the departed, ere he
became enamored of buxom young widow,
who could boast of goodly proportions, and
who was fair to look upon.


The old man thought he espied in the
buxom widow partner of whom he might
justly be proud, and one who would tighten
his sorrows and smoothe the rugged path
way Of his declining years. He set about
the task of captivating the heart and hand
of the widow with will. He loved her
with all the ardOr of a youth of eighteen,
and for time was remunerated with reci-
procal affection on the part of the widow.
The billing and cooling went on for quite
while, when the old man informed her that
he meant business; that matrimonial alli-
ance would make him the happiest mortal
III existence; that one single word from
those pouting lips would insure all this hap
piness.


He told her of all his lands, his houses
and his ready cash. All these would, at no
distant day, become her own. The widow
smiled "smile that was child-like and
bland.' The offer was tempting one, but
she was at this time the recipient of
younger mans attentions. This young
man was not so well to do in the world.
His lands and houses were yet in the far
future, but he had little ready money.
The widow was rather partial to the latter,
in fact she preferred the younger man, but
the old mans wealth was not to be sneered
at, and she was in a quandary between
which to choose.


She kept them both on the string; mean
while she consulted her friends. Some
were for one and some for the other. Final
ly, after great deal of diplomacy had been
exhausted on both sides, she made the offer
of her hand to the younger. The marriage
day was decided upon, the prospective hus-
band had invested in furniture and fitted up
a couple of rooms very comfortably; the
marriage license was procured, and things
generally seemed lovely, when, loI "a change
came Ger the spirit of the widows dreams"


She began TO think she was not doing as
well as she might. She had the publica-
tion of the bannS postponed, and sought to
win back her old love. The old man in the
meantime sought out another partner, and
rumOr hath it that he is to marry her short
ly. The widow sought to reopen negotia-
tions with the old gentleman, but when he
found out how she was triling with his af-
fectiOns, lie wouldn't negotiate worth -
cent. He Informed her that his lacerated
feelings had not sufficiently recovered from
her cruel disappointment, and refused to
have any more to do with her. Here was
a terrible dilemma for the widow. Delay
was dangerous, and Lent was coming on.
A happy thought struck her. She sent for
her ,cond love, and made what he consid-
cred satisfactory excuse for acting as she
did, and blisstully ignorant of what had
been gong on, he agreed that they
should get married that evening, and ar
rangements were hastily made for the we'd
ding.