Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-05-25
Ny Widow.
BY ROCHESTER.


told me a man past forty simply made fool
of himself by matrimony.
Tewksbery-a man who is notorious sor
never minding his own business-told me she
had made love affair with Harry Birmingham,
before be went South
Allen shook his head, and said Clara Myers
might be very pretty but he liked somebody
maturer and settled. IN. Bile married his
heusekeeper the next week and she is mature
enough for Methusalch limself
Everybody thought was trying danger
ous experiment; but didu't pretend to suit
overybOdy-sO / simply suited myself, went
quietly to church with Clara Myers, and mar
red her one glorious January morning, when
the old St. Paul's was fringcd with glttering
icices and the brisk wind was freighted with
the particles of flying snow, like battalion
of diamonds on a double quick.
She was nineteen and was nine and thirty.
She was as beautiful as a rose bud was a
rough old codgcr, sound enough at heart but
like winter apple, unpromisiug on the ex-
terror
In short we were as unlike as May and No
vomber and the good natured world shook its
head, and said "no match" But she said
she loved me, and ! believed her. Nobody
could look into Clara's blue eyes aud not be-
lieve her, you see.
The next day made willard bequeath-
cd all my property Internationally to my
wife.
"Are you sure you are doing wise thing,
Mr.. Folliot ?" said Mr. Mardyn, the lawyer,
pushing his blue spcctacles upon his forehead,
until he looked like an old bald gnome, with a
double pair of eyes. You zee she is very
much younger than yourself, and
"Pease to be so kind as to mind your own
business" said brusquely. "Don't be Offend
ed Mardyn, but really people seem to suppose
ain not able to attend to my own affairs"
Just as you please" said MOrdyD, in
rage. 4" I am mere tool in your hands"
"lhat's it exactly" said |. So signed the
will and went home TO Clara.
"Oh, Paul, you must not die !" said Clara,
with sacred look, when told her what had
done. Nobody ever loved me as truly and
generously as you have done. and don't know
what ! should do if you wore taken away"
"There was young birmingham, if all re-
ports arc true" mischieyeously began, but
the curl on Clara's lip stopped ms.
"A mere butterfly" she said haughtily,
without either brains or principle Paul.
Paul have found shelter in your true lov-
ing heart, and mean to nestle there always" |"
And then she cricd-this foolish, soft-heart-
cd little wife Of mine.
Jones and Tcwksbery might have called
this policy. FIrnum would have said tt was
acting. But it was very pleasant, and | felt
more than ever like man who has found some
precious jewel, and wears it like an amulet on
his breast.
So the thing went on until the firm Of which
I was managing partner needed to send some
one to Calcutta to see after tnrbaned Sound
rel Of an agent, who had absconded with more
money than we could well afford to lose
Morrison was old and fceble-IIewi;i's wife
lay very i'll, so was the ono to 60. kissed
Clara goodbye as chcerfully as could, fully
expecting to be back in three months or so.
had to follow the agent up into the noun
tains Of Iudia-I fell i'll Of one Of those burn
ing climate fovers in the bungalow Of an old
native priest, and the month few by, until it
was more than a year before found myself
on the deck Of the Blue-eyed Mary" steam
ing into the New York harbor.
And all this time Clara had not heard a
word from me.
had written TO her TO prepare Ler for
what seemed almost like my rising from the
dead bnt had afterwards found my letters
in Che pocket Of tho neglected. native servant
who had undertaken TO deliver the mail to the
Calcutta Office.
But It don't matter so much now ~ !
thought she viii be the n.osC delighted poor
little girl
And thcn a cold chill seemed 10 creep
through al my veins, like November's wind
suddenly Breathing across bed Of flowers
Clara had heard nothing Of me for nearly
fifteen mOnths-what might have happened in
that time? All that TeHksbery, and Jones
Allen, and all other prophetic ravens Of my
acquaintance had said, recurrod to nay mind,
like burden Of an uneasy dream had been
counting the hours and tho very minutes, uu-
til we should touch port-but now that my
feet rang once more upon the pavement ofmy
native city, actually dared not go home.
/ turned into down tom restaurant, where
had been wont to 60, in the days Of my bach
eorhood, and skunk into that dark corner-tbe
twilight was just failing, and was sheltered
by the partition.
Hush! that was Tewksbery's voice, harsh
and jsrring, as Of old.
Just what might have been expected" "
said Tewskbery. Pretty aud young widows
don't 90 begging in this market"
FoIliot might have known it" growled
old Farnum. "Poor Folliot there were some
good points about him, too sad thing that, very
sad thing!"
=. w -. ~ IL. % Ill Tousli,o,, o,avo