Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-08-30
Asuhing for tbt TaNi,s,,
FLORENCE EMERSON:
Or. the Young Widow.

:, SFIOrence! crleQ jessie LaWSO
bursting into her cousins boudoi
e one morning-"Florence Emerso
: Harry says you are engaged to Geore
g Langford!"
aWen, cousin, if I were, have yo
any objections?"
"Okjectionsl why, Floy, he is ol
! ! enough" .
"Just thirty-nine, cousin Jessie"
E "Thirty-nme, and a widower wit
two children. But it is a mistake q
HarTy's; you are not really going t
;; marry him, are your
81 expect so," said Florence, quiet
ly.
DWELL, 1 give you up. You, Flor
ence Emerson, the belle Of the season
with a large fortune; you, the beauty
and heiress, with lovers, beaux, offer
without end or number, to throw your
self away upona poor widower witt
two children, and no fortune except
in his profession. Oh! Floy, Tthough'
you had more sense. What are you
thinking of?''
why, Jessie, you are wasting
your eloquence. George Langford is
handsome
Granted"
Talented"
"Granted, again"
"He loves me-"
SO do fifty others"
"And lastly of all, my strongest
argument, I love him.
"WeIl, I suppose you will marry
him in spite of all my disapproval,
SO I wish you joy, and hope he'll
never hold up Mrs. Langford first as
a pattern to Mrs. Langford second. "
"If Mrs. Langford first was a mod
ell for me, [ will follow inher footsteps" )"
"Well, well, there's one comfort. =
Willie and Edith are very pretty
children, and too young to rebel at a
new mamma, ] believe. How old are
they exactly, Floy3"
"Willie is four, Edith three
"Keep you busy, the care Of two
such babies"
Florence Emerson and Jessie Law
son were cousins, and had, until
Jessies marriage, been almost Like
sisters. Jessie, who was two years
the elder, was a gay, lively blonde,
vain and pretty. Florence was a
tall, stately beauty, with large dark
eyes, black hair, and features, like a
Greek statue. She was an orphan,
and, as Jessie said, an heiress.
George Langford was a lawyer Of
standing. Handsome, talented,
but grave and quiet in his manners;
devotedly attached to Florence, but
he was thirty-nine, and a widower.
Jessie's sentiments were echoed by
all Florence's circle of friends when
her engagement was known. She SO
beautiful, young,talented and wealthy.
She always was different from other
girls. they said. So, after a few days
the matter ceased to be discussed, and
some new wonder of the fashionable
world took its place.
Florence had been married just
two years, when it become necessary
for Mr.. LangEord to go to Paris; his
stay was to be very short, so he con-
Guided not to take Florence. She
was fond of home, had won the love
of both children, and in return loved
them fondly, and with their society,
home duties, and promised visit
to Jessie, thought the time of her
husbands absence might be made to.
pass pleasantly. But when the hour Of
departure came, when his trunk stood
waiting in the hall, and he came to
say flrewell, the whole aspect OF
things seemed changed. Florence felt
her dearest treasure was leaving her,
ali looked dark, and vague presentl-
ment of evil filed her soul.
"Why, Florence, you are as white
as corpse" cried George, 10 fright,
ened tone. 81 thought you had
arranged gayeties without number to
occupy YOU while your grave old hus-
band was away. Cheer up, Floy; l
shall be gone only short time
'Ob, George, ! did not realize 1t
till now. What can I do without your
You will visit Jessie, take Willie
and Edith into the country, and-and