Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-19
THE BEwITCHING WIDOW.
BY MATTE DYER BRITTs.

Just before dark one evening, Tom
Courtena came into the little Office
where Frank Worthington kept his
dusty law books and helped himself
to chair and a cigar, with q quiet
make-yourself-at-h sort of cool
ness which showed him no stranger
to the premises.
"Well, Frank" said he, "we got
through the last case to-day, and Pm
ready to be off home to morrow.
You promised to go with me, re-
member"
'sNo need to remind me of it old
fellow" laughed Frank, 'I've en-
dured the horrors of boarding
house too long not to jump at the
chance of trying country living
awhile"
''You can be ready by morning ?'
ooh, yes! 1t won't tale long to
pack my kit. l haven't aly Sarato-
ga trunk to fill with founces and
furblelows.'
call right, then. We shall have a
cousin OF my mothers to go down
with u.s."
"The deuce we shall Tom, if it's
glrl wont 60, by George! 1 got
enough of travelling with girls last
summer"
"You will gol I'll never forgive
you if you don't"
'Is the cousin of the feminine
persuasion 2"
"Yes, but she's not a girl. She is
sedate widow lady, who goes
down to make an annual visit to us
every Christmas"
"Oh, that alters the easel One of
those mOtherly, middle aged ladies
who makes a fellow look respecta-
BILE, as if he was travelling with his
mother!"
Tom repressed an inclination to
! laugh, and replied, soberly;
ayes; no doubt Mrs. Cameron
will appear like mother to both OF
u.s."
''Mrs. Cameron. A good. old,
respectable name," repeated Frank.
HAS she money, Tom z"
''Well-yes, fair little fortune" +"
"And you may stand chance in
her willn
Possibly"
"Yes. Well, my boy, you are
quite right to be attentive to your
mothers elderly relations. Nc
doubt Mrs. Cameron will be an adj
| dition to our Journey"
Decidedly" said Tom, feeling il
about time for him to get out of that
Office, where he could indulge in the
laugh he had reasons fer wanting
| and rising as he spoke. ''You'n meet
US at the depot at seven in the morn
ing?'
81 will"
"Sharp seven remembers"
"Yes. And time and railroad cars
wait for no man or woman either
depend on me Tom, and just look
after that elderly cousin"
''I'll do it. Good night, then"
"Good night, old fellow"
And as Tom went out, Frank a
rose and began to put his Office il
order, and make some preparation
for his Christmas journey.
He meant to be up very early mex
morning, but oversight himself, anC
reached the depot only five minutes
before train-time. He went hastily
into the ladies room supposing Ton
| would be there with Mrs. Cameron
The room however, had but one oc
cupant, q bright-faced lady, In f;
| stylish black-and-white travelling
suit, with long white plume droop
ing over coquetish black hat. Shl
turned pair of saucy brown eye
upon Frank as he entered, glanced
around and beat a hasty retreat.
"Whew! what pretty girl, glad
don't have her to dangle after, ant
wait on, though" thought he
"Where the dickens is Tom?''
He hunted through the crowd anC
just as the train was about starting
found Tom on the platform.
"Ah, here you are. Be quick, now
hailed Tom. 81 thought you wer,
about to give me the slip, after all. ,
mo danger; 1 slept late, that's all.
They went in the car, as the pom
derous wheels rolled of, and as the,
opened the door, Frank got a glimps
ofthe pretty girl with white plume
seated inside.
'sDid your cousin Gomez" he aske,
of Tom.
Eyes; I'll introduce YOU"
Tom marched straight down tn
narrow aisle to that very girls seat
and, as she rose, with a bewitchin,
smile, Tom introduced:
'Mrs. Cameron, this is my friend
Mr.. Worthington. Ny cousin Kat
Cameron, Frank"
Poor Frank! you might hav
knocked him down with a knittin
needle. But he was gentlema
, enough to stammer some response t
the beautiful lady's courteous greet
! ing, and try to recover from his cor
! fusion as best he might.
5 Half an hour later, he and Tol
E stood together on the car platform
and then his wrath had vent:
''Tom Courtena, I'll never forgiI
you'll"
"You viii. 1 had to deceive yor