The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-29
The Widow Fitz Allen.
BY OSCAR DUMAS.

some months since l cDaNccQ TO be
riding in n cbaise ON the road from n q,
a shire town of some Importance.
This mode Of travelling l always adopt
whenever practicable II is far better
TO my taste, than TO be whirled
through the country bent up in a close
car, at a rate which precludes sight
seeing In addition to this a railroad
is generally located in the most unat-
tractiye portions of towns through
which it passes.
For these reasons, unless practically
hurried, ] usually eschew railroad and
railroad cars, and cling to the old
fashioned method of travelling.
So much by way of introduction and
explanation.
The scenery on either side of the
road of which was passing beng Of
a very attractive character, | checked
my horse to a walk.
In front of us, at some little dis
lance Iprecciyed a woman respectfully
dressed, who was walking slowly along,
and turning an occasional glance upon
us as if she had something to say.
She gradually slackcned her pace
as approached, and when fairly with
in hearing, inquired whether | had
any objection to take her in the chaise
with me.
Being naturally gallant, l could not
do otherwise than to comply with a
request from such source. OF course
| informed her that nothing would af-
ford me greater satisfaction. In u
trice l was roofing over the highway,
with an unknown lady at my side.
l had an opportunity to scan her
features, which ! did furtiyely.
She was what would be called rath-
or pretty. neatly not richly dressed
while from her neck suspended by a
guard hung a gold watch She took
it out at once to learn the time, which
gave me an opportunity to remark
that it was OF costly workmanship.
'Nou must think, said she after a
pause, chat l have made rather n
singular request of a gentleman with
whom | am totally unacquainted"
"Not IL the least, madam said !,
politely.
Nevertheless ] feel bound to give
some explanation of this step in my
justification. Ny name is Mrs. Fitz
Allen"
can aristocratic name thought l.
II wonder whether she's a widow
Il am something of an invalid, in
consequence, as my physician tells me,
of my taking too little exercise. He
has therefore directed me to walk three
hours day. In conformity with his
direction / set out this morning with
the design of walking to NJ, but /
found after a while that / had miscal-
culated my strength, and resolved to
throw myself upon the generosity and
kindness of the first passer by whom |
thought | could confde in; am sure
from your appearance, sir, that | am
not mistaken in judging You to be Of
that character
| felt exceedingly nattered at which
l rightly judged to be intended as a
compliment, and began to esteem my
self in luck at having encountered the
fair lady who had placed herself under
my protection
We kept up an animated converse
ton, which, however, was now and in
terrupted by Mrs. Fitz Allen bending
forward and looking over the side of
the chaise.
Surprising that she was DESTROYS of
seeing more of the country than could
be detained from covered carriage,
offered to let down the chaise top, but
she demonstrated so earnestly against
this proceeding, that | was fain to let
things remain as they were.
Meanwhile | became more and more
pleased with my companion, and be-
gan to consider more and more ear
nestly whether she was likely to be n
widow.
For the purpose of ascertaining this,
| resorted to a very ingenious iabrica-
ton as follows:
lit would be very singular, re-
marked carelessly, "ifi it should chance
that your husband and l are old ac-
quaintances. / used to know Mr..
Henry Fitz Allen, who was, if l re-
member rightly, IA lawyer"
"No don't think it could have been
the one. My husband died some
years since.
Besides his name was Robert, and
he was a merchant" -
| had gained the information / de-
sired.
need not say that Mr.. Henry Fitz
Allen the lawyer, whom l had men
toned, was quite an apocryphal per-
sonage. =,
JLepan 10 consider whether il would