The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-22
The Three Widows.

Mr.. Emanuel Dovedale; why was [
not applied to sooner?" and giving or
ders for his long CATERS and water
proof coat, he told his housekeeper
that he must have an early dinner, for
he had a very long walk before him
that afternoon.
viii you not have conveyance
of some kind, sir? It never suited
you to walk directly after eating
No, thank you, Sarah; | cannot
very well drive to day. 1t won't hurt
me for once" he said looking away
from her. for he hoped she would
take the hint and go, as ne did not
Sarah understood, and went, but
came back again, saying, " | was going
to bake the pigeon pie to. day.
Yes, very good it will DO nicely,
said Mr.. Dovedale; with indiscreet
briskness, adding, : it will be just the
kind of dinner to fortify me for my
walk. ="
the cue thus imprudently given: L
can't get that oven hot enough to
bake that pie by half-past two; it's
impossible. "
Mr.. Dovedale glanced at the time,
and gave a shrewd guess at what made
it impossible, but only replied
Well, what you can get ready do,
for | must not wait beyond half past
two, even for a pigeon-pie."
Sarah slowly, reluctantly retreated.
Her master did not consider himself
quite safe till a minute or two had
elapsed, and then he unfolded his
newspa per and said, with a smile,
shall have the pigeon pie!'
And so he had; for having punish
ed him for changing the hour, and ex-
posing himself to the danger of indi-
gestion by the threat, the housekeeper
took the oven in hand, and soon con
WINGED it that the pie must be baked.
An hour after it had been served
up, Mr.. Dovedale was walking with
firm, quick step, stick in hand, CATER.
ed and water PROCEED, along the streets
of London. AS his errand was a
charitable one, and his own means
were appropriated almost to the ex-
tent of his power before the year
began Chat is he planned
out ali he could spare for the
year in January into certain channels,
leaving little for chance charities
he determined, for the purpose of in
creaslng his funds, to call on.a few
friends in his way to the house Of sor-
row whittier he had been invited.
Thirty yes, thirty-two," he
said, knocking at the door of hand
some house. is Mrs. Wickwork at
homer"
Yes, sir" said the footman, and
led the way to the receiving room.
By the side of abrilliant fire, sur
rounded by bright steel in every d.
rection, on the surface of which its
reflections danced, sat lady past the
middle age, but not much. She wore
a widows dress. She was pale and
serious looking. She had book in
her hand. Her chair was softly. cush-
toned, and on the rich rug an EN-,
broidered stool supported her feet.
All! Mr.. Dovedale! this is indeed
kind. 1t is treat | didn't expect, "
she exclaimed, half rising as her Wis
itor entered the room. -
:" am afraid it is a long time since
| was here" he said; F" but you are ra-
Their out of my beat I'm glad to see
you looking pretty we'll. Your room Is
a vast Improvement on out-of-doors !;
such fog-you can cut it. my house
keeper says; it is real wet blanket
in your face-chills you, chokes you
and smothers you all at the same
time"
Mrs. Wickwork languidly smiled,
and shook her head and sighed - | III
sure [ don't know what should make
ne look well. she said, / have SUI
fered much since [ saw you.
Indeed! Anything p fresh, Mr..
Dovedale would have said, but he
didn't like to do it by shooting up his
/ eyebrows In an inquiring manner.
What new sorrow do [ want? "
asked the lady, the tears slowly filing
her eyes; . it is just six months to-day
since"
Mr.. Dovedale saw the white hand
kerchief on its way to her face. He
heartily wished he had known the
day of AIr. Wickwork's demise, and
had called the next day, or the day
after; however, he kept silent until
he thought she was calm, and then
said gently, There are privileges at
tached to sorrow, and when the sever
ity of the blow is passed we are able
to consider them, to" ENJOY them,
he would have said, but the word
sounded harsh in the presence of a
widows tears, and as he couldn'
think OF abetter, he subsidized into a
close.
THE severity of an affection like
mine cannot pass. | can never suffer
less" said Mrs Wickwork. -
Mr.. Dovedale was very sorry, and
he said so. : He said more; he added,
that if the suffering did not grow Tess
1 u III