Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-13
The Widow Smith.
ny ELLEN ASHTON.

Won.
No--no--shc is but girl, her right han
neghbor is the one allude to. The lady vii
the dark eyes and superb dlmples.'
Oh the widow smith
You know her them
Not exactly, but have heard Of her, an
was introduced, this morning
She is very beautiful. 4 perfect goddess
I Yes dryly remarked AIR Oxford.
And has such a high-brcd air =
Yes = still more dryly said his friend.
And is surrounded by beauX =
Yes was again the equlyOcal reply.
Her voice too Did you ever hear such
yoiccl'
Ycsr Mo-
Why what's the matter with you, Ok
ford' testify remarked his friend. You assent
and ye, don't assent to all ! say. Your word
express one ihlug and your tone another Ila
Mrs. Smith jilted your
A merry laugh was Oxiord's only reply IA
he glanced mischlevously at his friend. New
ton looked half indignant, At length his com
panion explained.
Harry, he said: ] see you don't know thu
widow Smith: the reason is that you came from
Boston and her solar system hitherto has beer
New-York. Imlght have been as ignorant o
her as you, but noticed hen manners this morn
ing, and having seen such characters before,
determined al once III my own mind what she
was. To satisfy myself, however, made in
qurics, nay even sought an introduction tt
her. The result is what expected. As she
seems to have made some mpressonOn you
will give you a little bit ii her history you
can then continue to admire her or not, as you
like
The widow Smith, as everybody in New
York calls her, made Il runaway match at seven
teen, with dashlng young fellow, who, after
living for couple Ofyears on his wits, left hen
n widow without a larthlng. Only nineteen,
and really quite beautiful, the young widow de-
tcrmincd To marry a fortune she had seen O.
nough of the prvations of small income anC
was resolved not 10 sacrifice herself seconC
time on SO foolish an altar as that of love
Since then four years have elapsed, vet tho
widow Smith is still unmarried. Tho fact is
suppose, she looks too high. \ small annuity
enables her 10 dress handsomely, as you see
This is her first advent to Saratoga, where she
is but little known and depend upon it, she
will make desperate efforts to secure 4 prize
before the season Is over.
She is a thorough nirt. Not having bit
of heart, bu, "A good deal of vanity, she gra,ifcs
herself by alluring around her crowd of bcaux
whom she keeps in play with the deXtcrlty of 4
veteran angler Did YOU mark her conduct In
the drawlng-room She had smile for one, an
apology for another, she dropped her fan that a
third might pick it up, fourth she langudly
asked TO enquire If a letter had come To her.
lct not one of these bcauX, half ofwhom are
madly IN love with her, would she marry she
has her eye on higher game; nothing short ofa
millionaire will suit her. In New York she
spolt her chance by letting her intentions be
seen but she is now older and more wary !;
besides here she is unknown Ten to one she
takes in some wealthy southcrncr
The conversation here closed. Harry Newton
was younger than his friend, and had great CON
fdcncc in OvforG's opinions : consequently
when he next saw Mrs. Smith, his fcclmg APP
preached disgust, lie could now sec the art
which lay hidden under her smiles and gentle
lnlonarIons and he turned with loarhing from
one so selfish, cod-h hearted and worldly. The
day before, the beauty of that face had cnchan-
ted him; the music Of that voice had thrilled on
every fibre and new he almost shuddercd at
the sight Of the one, and the sound of the other,
for purity and simplicity in woman MAS almost
worshippcd by tho warm and enthusiastic young
collcglan.
lie was however, considerably surprised 10
notice that Oxford spent much of his time III
the society of the very female whom he had
pronounced so designing. What astonishcd
him the more, was, that his friend had expressed
himself unusually delighted with the Miss De-
Won. whose blue eyes and golden hair he had
praised so rapturousy on the day of their arm
val. Oxford, indeed had been particularly ;t-
tcntve To her for several mornings; but gradu-
ally his devotion had slacbCncd, and he now
seemed TO have transferred his gallanlry To her
older rival Newton could not endure tins
trcachcry Of his friend. Miss Devon was as
ariess as child; with a warm and generous
heart in whose looks and ACTORS every impulse
of her gentle bosom WAS revealed: 10 whom
cOnccalncnt or deception seemed Impossible
Newton would probably have lost ls heart TO
her, but that he found her indifferent to all his
approaches she was kind and friendly, but that
was ail in her most anlma,cd conversation She
would suddenly grow absent and often, at
such times, Newton saw her eyes wandering
10 where his friend was talking gally with Mrs.
Smith, and then she would sigh.
'Can 1t be that she loves OXiordp hc said.-
lie watched her dcmcanol for some time, and
became satisfied that tins was the truth
Poor thing - he said, pity her for, once
loving, she will love forever. Hers Is not
heart easily TO forget FIRST passion Her nral
would oulyc dozen dlsappontmcnts the
first one will Kill her Vet the arlful widow
wins, aud the sweet girl loses. could curse
Oxford for his folly aud he TO warn me ofthi
syrcn too =
Harry could contain himsclfno longer, whcn,
on the following div, be saw Oxford select the
beautiful widow ~ hlS partner ior ride, and
IN such marked maHuCr that everybody no.
ilccd II. lie was still more yeNed when he
heard that two of her admirers were about sud
dcnly io leave Saratoga jealousy OF Oxford, Il
was said, was the cause; gossip even asserted,
and Tor once gossip was true, thl, they had been
off red and been refused. That evening the
two friends happened To be alone together.
You seem NIGHTLY pleased with this widow
Smuh. said Harry, testify.
Oxford daricd q searching iouk at hls friend
then -ming as much a to say, You wish to
cross-qucsiion me, do youp he knocked the
ashes coolly FROM hls scgH an3 deliberately
replied
= She is. certainly, one OF the most couvcrsl-
I'o ouoir.n ever m.t 'h. Sa.bd voice zoe