Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-04-19

ooH1e uIAACuACy IuChaueiAS AAUO SO"6"'
You've got a cold, said the widow
sympathetically. Do, please, have one
of my troches; they are so soothing to
the throat.
took the troche, but I didn't swal-
low it. I would as soon have eaten q
priceless pearl. Iputit in my left hand
breast pocket, as near to my heart as
practicable.
Her first gift. -..
A bachelor like me is accustomed to
such things, I replied in an off-hand
manner.
A bachelor! exclaimed my travelling
companion. Dear me, then you are
not married?
Unfortunately, no.
It is never too late to mend, said the
widow, with a momentary eclipse of the
limpid, brown orbs, beneath the whit
est of dropping lids. But what is the
use of my talking about it to you? You
can't understand.
I can imagine, was my modest reply
You must find o wife as soon as pos
sible, said the widow, looking intently
at the hem of her pocket han dkerchief
You're only living half life now.
All! you cannot think how much hap
pier you would be, with some gentle,
clinging being at your side-some con-
genial soul to mirror your own.
Instinctively I laid my hand upon my
heart.
Do not fancy that shall lose an in
slant in the search, I said. I have
already pictured to myself the pleasure
of newer existence.
Have you? and the brown eyes shot
an arch, challenging sparkle toward
me. Tell me about her.
Do you really wish to know?
OF course do.
1 congratulated myself mentally on
the fine progress was making, consid-
ering the small practice in making
that I had had. Bob Carter himself,
with all his ready tongue and good
looking face, could not have carried on
a Irritation more neatly.
Is she fair or dark? questioned the
widow, with the prettiest of interest.
Neither-about your complexion.
Oh! laughed my interlocuter, a
charming pink suffusing over her dim
pies. Is she young?
Yes, about your age.
Pretty?
More than pretty-beautiful.
The widow arched her perfectly pen
ciled eyebrows.
What n devoted husband you will
make! And when are you going to be
married!
AS soon as I can induce her to name
the day.
That's right! said the widow, clasp
ing her hands over the Astrakan muff.
Because you know you have no time to
lose.
Isighed ostentatiously.
am we'll aware of that. You will
let me call on you in Glendale?
Oh, certainly if she don't object.
She will be willing, am sure.
Where are you staying? I asked ca
gerly.
I shall be Mrs. Alvern's guest. Do
you know many people in Glendale?
Only few. I am going down on
some legal business for one or two of
my clients.
Are you?
Yes.
And then there was brief silence,
Are you acquainted with Mr.. Carter,
Mrs. Alvern's brother? asked the Wild
ow presently.
Yes, I answered with little grimace.
A Aself-conceited and dissagreeable pup
py.
Do you think SOP asked the widow.
Of course, as does everybody else.
So will you when you meet him.
Shall I?
A man who thinks because he's got a
smooth tongue, that nobody else has
any business in creation.
Dear, dear! twittered my companion,
that's very bad, indeed.
OF course he will pay good deal of
attention to you, if you are to be his
sisters guest, I pursued, but it won't
do to encourage him.
No!
By no means. He is professional
flirt.