Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-03
EVENING STAR.
FL0RE NCE RSoN;
Or. the Young Widow
BY VIRGINIA rE FORREST,

4 Vtbi1c 1IdIlIlDIN
| . Well, cousin, if were, have you any OBJ
jection,"
Objections Why, Floy, he is Old enough =
"Just thirty-nine, cousin Jessie"
! = Thirty-nine and widOwer with two
/ children! But it is mistake of Harry,s
! you are not really going TO marry him, are
! you?
81 expect so," said Florence, quietly"
"Well. give you up. You, Florence En-
! erson, the belle of the season, with a large
| fortune; you, the beauty and heiress, with
! lovers, besuS, cfers without end or number. "a
| throw yourself away upon poor widower with
twO children, and no fortune except in his pro-
fessioR. Oh, Floy L thought you had moro
sense. What are you thinking of?
! Why, Jessie, you ere wasting your e.O-
/ Gucnce. George LangfOrd is handsome :"
| Granted"
Talented
Granted, again.
g He loves me -
80 do fifty others"
! "And, last Of all, my strongest argument
/ / love him -
well, L suppose you will marry him ia
| spite OK my disapproval, so L wish you JOY,
! and hope he will never hold up Mrs. LangIord
4. first as pattern to Mrs. Langford second"
= Il Mrs. Langford first was model for me,
l will follow in her footsteps"
| well, well, there's ore comfort Willie
and Edith are very pretty children, and 100
young to rebel at new mamma, believe.
How old are they exactly, FlUy2'
Willie is four, Edith three"
Keep you bUsy--the care of two such ba-
| bios''
Florence Emerson and Jessie Lawson were
| cousins, and had, until Jessie's marriage, been
! almost like sisters. Jessie, who was two years
the elder, was a gay, lively blond, vain, and
| pretty. Florence was a tall, stately beauty,
with large dark eyes, black hair. and features
! like Greek statue. She Was an orphan, aa6
! 1s Jessie said. an heiTess.
I George Langford was lawyer of some stand
| iEg. Handsome, talented, but grave and cui, {
IN bis manners: deyoteGIy attached to Flor
| eTcc, but be was thirty-nIne and widower
| JeSsies sentiments were echoed by all Flor
epceS circle on friends when her engagement
was krcwn. She, 50 beautiful, young, Ia
| crtcd. and wealthy. She always was diliei-
ent from other girls, they said So. after a
few days, the matter ceased to be discussed
aal sosaa new wonder of the fashionable weird
| .ocG lis place,
Florence had been marritl Just tw, years,
| wien II became necessary for Mr.. LGpgfoIG to
80 - Pdri-; his stay was TO be very short, 81
| he concluded not 20 take Florence. She Was
! fond o. Ecme, I'D won tho love of both Chii-
dren, and in return loved them fondly, and
| with their society, her home duties, AL q
| promised visit to Jessie, thought tae time OF
| her husband absence might Du made to pass
| pleasantly. But when the hour of departure
| came. wien his trunk stood waiting IL the
hall, - lie came 10 say farewell, the wlo,o
| aspect o. thing seemed changed Florence
| feil that her dearest treasure was leaving her;
| all looked dark, an1 a vague presentineEt u
evil filed her soul.
WHY, florence, you are as white as >
corpse" said George il ishtencd tone. "
tIought You had arranged sayetles withou-
aIEoer 70 occupy you while your grave Of.
| husband waS away. Cheer up, Fioy; L shall
| b. gOue oily short time
| oh. George, did not realize it til nov.
| Nhat can do without you -
| - You viii visit Jessie, t2i,o Willie and
| Edith IN the country, and-and-1,i. You had
Il whole list Of pleasures arranged. The car
| fi.;,o is hero. Good by, Florence"
Florence tIied TO speak, but the words died
| on her lips. She grasped his hand, aLd
| while her eyes flied with teags, AID then let
! him 20.
All her pleasures were forgotten as she
| watched the carriage rolling from the door.
and sAc remembered how lonely she would bc
wlthcat MIN; she looked back upon two wears
oI sU1h perfect happiness that IL SCENE. les,
| Ike realty than plcasa..t dream. Long she
stood at The WiuGU| watching, as IL she Cgi-
peated him 70 return, but the voioes Of tic
childion reused her, apd she stifed her oHn
srIct, aud Gc--I tO Ase and comfort theu
Willie thought papa was zeal urkird lac. e.
take them; while Edith clung close q F!cl-
c2ce, and hoped papa would be safe on tie
- deep WAFER
Jessie Lawson and Florence LaIsforI were
seated IN the piazza OF the pleasant couatry-
house they had hired for the season conveTs-
tns. EdiJh and Willie were romping with
Rover on the grass, while ever and anon their
% fHs. IL
turn and smile.
. forgive yoa now, Floy, for marrying
george, said Jessie, fUndly. " | think that,
II lie had asked ne, and 1 cOald have looked
into the future, l should have done just as ycl
did"
At that instant, Jessie felt hand laid On
her shoulder, and, looking UP, saw her hus-
oaLd; his face was very grave, AMI his whole
manner betoEened that something serious had
troubled him.
jessie he said, in low tone, ''cone |
into the parlcr; 1 want to speak with you"
He is jealous, whispered Jessie to Flor |
once as she rose to obey. Now for O matri- |
mOnial lecture"
g Close the door, Jessie, " said Henry. when
they entered the parlor. q do Lot wish |
Florence to hear what I have to say now. Poor |
Fioy We must break it gently to her
Why, Harry, said she, what is the mat |
ter! George
''Yes. The Eagle the vessel he sailed |
in, was wrecked, and but few escaped; a YES
sci going to Calcutta tOOk few OF the passen-
gers, but the rest were lost. George Lang |
ford name were among the missing
Harry had forgotten the open window. and |
was startled to see Florence now standing in ]
fI0Lt OF it. She was cold ard pale as marble. |
her hards were tightly clenched, her teeth |
set, and her whole frame rigid and motion
less. Harry sprlng to her side, and took her
hand TO lead her in. The touch broke her
stupor, and, with slight shudder, she feIl
IdintiBg to the ground.
For weeks, Florence Langford lay between
life and death; fever and delirium succeeded
her death-ike trance, and her life was dc
SPARED of. strong constitution, however
triumphed, and she recovered; but, oh, how
altered The pale, thin face seen now under
q close widow $ cap, was so wan and sad tia:
few would bave recognized the once blooIaii z
Florence.
Her sole comfort, now, seemed to lie in the
Children, las children. Size would hardly