Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-26

loss rushed over nm at sight OF 1t, and scaldlng
tears filled his eyes. Who can despise his weak
ness? None that have known grief such as death
brings!
Willard found his once pleasant cheerful
home now so lonely and desolate without its pre-
siding genius that he could no longer bear it,
and about six weeks after his wife's death he lett
for Europe seeking oblivion and interest in new
scenes of interest At first he grieved much.
but his wife had been really childish, foolish
and frivolous. His greater intellect was caught
by her extreme beauty and winning ways, but
these charms were beginning to lose their power
before her death, and he felt now a sort of free
dom for which he often reprOached himself After
year Of absence he returned TO America and re-
opened his house. Mrs Carr had kindly consented
10 take charge of it for him. but the offer had been
declined. One day as he entered the long unused
and darkened parlors, he saw on the mantle the
wire framework Of the once fresh and lovely
crown, with the faded flowers hanging from 1t.
Detaching the card, he rang for the maid to re-
move it, and he stood by the window, in the
flood of sunshine he had just lei in, watching
her. She was shocked. "TO think of dear mis-
sus only gone a year, and he ordering that
crown, which she was sure he had been keepin'
as soveney away to the ash heapl" Willard
was trying to analyse his feelings. Were they
grief or regret, or relief? Which was upper
most he could not tell. Then he glanced at the
bit OF pasteboard he was toying with, and read,
"Mary Lester" All at once he remembered his
sister writing to him of the mystery attached TO
the crown he had just ordered away, how
neither his wife's family nor his knew Miss
Lester, and how very singular it was for a
young lady to send widower funeral flowers
for his wlel Yes, he was q widOwerl He
smiled, and looked in the long mirror. The title
had been associated in his mind with gray hairs
and old age, and he saw the reflection of a man
still young and handsome.
His reyere was interrupted by Mrs. Carr.
ooh, Willard, am glad you are ut home. Now,
do he good brother, and take Helen TO Mrs.
Hubbell's party this evening. | cannot go, and
she has set her heart on it. Don't disappoint
the child. Oh, | know you are in mourning"
seeing him glance at his dress, "but Clara has
been dead over year now. Sarah Spencer is
going, and she was Clara's own sister. Don't
dSappoint poor little Helen"
Willard was inst going to say "nO"-the word
was trembling on his lips, when Helen herself
came running In the parlOr and looking up APP
peallngly at her brother, with tears in her eyes.
He could not refuse his favorite little sister, and
promised he would 20, although he feared he
would feel out of place in gay assembly. Bnt
when, once more clad in evening dress, with his
pretty sister on his arm, he entered Mrs. Hub
bells parlors, and met with gentle greetings on
every side, he felt as if he were again in his own
element
After supper, as he was leaning against The
parlor door, watching the mazes of the German,
his hostess captured him, saying, "Mr. Willis,
am going to introduce you to a lovely young
friend of mine who does not dance" and leading
him to lady in pink, she pronounced the ca
balistic words, "Mr. Willis allow me to present
you Miss" The name was lost in the crash
of the band.
Willard gave her his arm and led her to lit
lie reception room on the other side of the hall.
"Here at least we can talk without splitting our
Threats in trying to overtOp the band" said he;
and talk they did until Helen most exhaust
dancer FIR bar hrnfb To toll har
home
Willard found the young lady most delight
full conversationalist, witty, piquant, intellect.
ual and original, and could hardly believe they
had been talking two hours, until convinced by
his own watch.
The next Sunday Willard Joined his new ac-
quaintance coming out of church, and, accom-
panying her home, received al invitation to
CALL which he availed himself of very soon. He
discovered her name to be Miss Lester, and soon
found himself identifying her with the lady who
had sent the crown. One evening, hearing her
mother call her Mary, these suspicious grew
stronger, aud they wereconirmed when he COM
pared the address on the card in his possession
with her residence.
He found Miss Lester occupying large share
of his thoughts. II he was pleased with a book,
she must read it, and straightway q copy was
sent her, and her opinion asked on all subjects;
no plan was undertaken without her approba-
ton; and as Willard knew all the symptoms, he
soon knew he was in love, deeply in love with
Mary Lester.
at is all those flowersP' thought he. of she
had never sent them would never have thought
of her again after our casual meeting; but |
wonder" Then he asked himself for the thou
sandh time, "Why did she send me that
crownp Finally he concluded to ask her,
which was, after all, the wisest plan. To his
great disappointment, she denied all knowledge
of it; but when convinced by her card, she
rccollected sending crown to her cousin Ma
rienne on her husbands funeral.
ut was some fearful mistake of the florist"
said she at length. ooh, Mr.. Willis. what must
you have thought me capable of Setting my
cap at you the moment you were ayaiabeP
and she buried her face, suffused with bushes,
in her hands.
"To speak truly, | did not put that construc-
tion on it, but it does look like it. Oh, Mary,
how could you do it'll And l. a poor helpless
innocent man, have walked right into the snare,
for you have caught Inc. Mary, my darling,
love you truly" taking her hands down. "Don't
hide your pretty face, or, if you must, hide it
here, )" drawing her head to his shoulder.
Need the rest be told2 Mrs. Willis. No. 2,
thinks widowers very bold wooers, but her hus-
band says she encouraged him at first before he
ever dreamed of marrying again. and this is the
only rock on which this happy couple split.
And in their happiness the dead is not forgotten,
for pretty rosy checked little girl bears the
name of Clara Spencer.-N. Y. Sunday Times.