The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-24
JOBS COMFORTER.
BY CAROLINE r. PRESTON.


thought he would always remain so, but
in so thinking they did not allow for the
fascination of widowhood.
Mr.. Pendleton met Mrs. Gray during a
brief sojourn at Conway. delightful vii
lage among the White Hills. 1t might
have been the beauty of the season and
the surrounding scenery that made him
more than usually impressible.
AT all events, certain it was, that he
soon got into the habit of taking walk
every morning, but not alone. Mrs. Gray,
with her mountain hat half covering her
face, was always ready to accompany him.
Before going any further, let me des
cribe Mrs. Gray. She had been pretty as
agirl, and at thirty-seven she was still
a good-loeking woman. L have incau-
tiously named her age. None to Judge of
her fresh complexion would have taken
her for more than thirty. She seliom or
never spoke of Mr.. Gray. Mr.. Pendleton
somehow conceived the idea that she had
not been happy in her first marriage, but
felt too delicate to question her on the
subject. He felt sure if such were the case
it wGs not the fanlt of Mrs. Gray.
In the midst of Mr.. Pendleton's enjoy
ment, he received letter from his en-
ployer-he was book-keeper of city firm
-summoning him to the city. He COM
municated this intelligence to Mrs. Gray
on the next walk. He thought she sighed.
:" do not dare to think you will miss
me-" he said
She put her delicate handkerchief to her
eyes, and, with a voice broken by emo
ton, faltered out
way will lose its attraction for me after
you are gone"
Mr.. Pendleton frightened up.
"Perhaps | have said more than
should,' said the widow, bashfully look
ing down. But it's so seldom that |
meet with congenial soul that forget
myself in the pleasure of their company"
Dear Mrs. Gray" said Pendleton in a
little trepidation, although our acquaint-
ance has been brief, to me it has been SO
pleasant that wish it would always last"
"You are very kind" murmured Mrs.
Gray.
81 have never till now met a woman to
whom l felt could safely contide my hap
piness, Our acquaintance has been most
hanpv. Mrs. Gray, will you become my
wife,"
Mr.. Pendleton felt an answering pres
sure from the hand which he held, and
without other response he knew his suit
had been favorably received.
Whether it was at the Widows sugges-
ton or his own, Mr.. Pendleton could not,
foro tho ;o+or,,;n,,, , 49, va, , u =; ao,eoM I'LL ve
aiiv amraaS tbat tbo ,,,orr;ar ~ h,ia ~
njehroted tbat vow, dap, co eou H
return to his business married man. Ac-
cordlngly they proceeded to a neighbor-
ing clergyman, by whom the ceremony of
changing Mrs. Gray's name was speedily
effected.
There might have been a look of tri-
umph in the new Mrs. Peudleton's eyes,
ltnf Foo ID1N i gl.,sN "a II
too happy in the thought of presenting to
his friends so charming a woman as Mrs,
Pendleton. He was very complacent in
the thought of the surprise and envy he
would occas on.
There was one request made by his
bride that seemed little singular. She
wished him to go to Boston bv himself.
and she would follow in three days. When
he demonstrated, she urged that the change
was so new and sudden that she had not
had an opportunity to settle her arranue-
ments. This was plausible enough, and
after positive assurances that on Saturday
morning she would START for the citv 1t
now being Wednesday, Job reluctantly
babe farewell to his wife, and. as in the
solitude of his old bachelor days. wended
his way to the counting-room of Messrs.
Jones 81 Pendergrast, i is employers.
Arrived in the city, Mr.. Pendleton stud
led assiduously the advertisements under
the head ''To Let" At last he came up
on the following nOtice -
ITO Let Furnished. A small house containing
sonbern Cline nG f tbe T 70 move 70
desirable for a small family Immediate nesses,
sion will be given.'
THAT will be the very thing" thought
Mr.. Pendleton. sIt will be much better
to live snugly in small house than to be
cOoped up in a boarding-house. And |
don't think it will be any more expensive,
which is certainly a consideration, for nv
income is not very large"
Mr.. Pendleton accordingly sought out
the landlord, and soon concluded an ar
rangement tor the house. He dispatched
a letter to Mrs. Pendleton, at Conway,
which he judged would be sure to reach
her before she left. When the lady received
the letter, she said to herself
Il only hope the house will be large
enough"
Why there should be any doubts in her
mind considering that there were only
two of them is certainly surprising but
perhaps future events will show what she
meant.
o,ran,n'n AncordlnS M TO, 10 Mr. Pendletons pro
SralIlhe, MS wiie, on reaching the Boston
uePoV, was W LlIG HACK 10 carry ner I'M
NV iueuidtcly W tlle Hotlse PROVIDED 1or her.
~ ms N;d was pecause ne would be SO occupied
py business cares tlaC he would not be
aoie " spare tne tlihe.
About SIX O'Clock, Saturday afternoon,
jon lett his coun'ing-rOOm with light
heart. lie knew that his wife must be al
ready in the city. He ran up the steps of
MS modest dwelling, and, without the