Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-11-14
That Bewitching Widow.


chair and cigar, with a quiet make
yourself-at-home sort of GOODNESS which
showed he was no stranger to the prem
ises.
"Well, Frank" said he, eve got
through the last case to-day, and I'm
ready to be off tomorrow. You prom
ised to go home with me, you know"
No need to remind me of that, old
fellow" laughed Frank. "I'vs en-
dured the horrors of boarding-house
too long not to jump at the chance of
trying country life awhile"
=" Can you be ready by morning."
"Oh, yes! 1t won't take me long to
pack my kit. l havn't any Saratoga
trunk to fill with founces and fur
bellows"
"All right, then. We shall have a
cousin of mother to go down with US.
"The deuce we shall. Tom, if its a
girl won't go, by George! got
enough of travelling with girls last Sum-
mer."
"Yon will 60! I'll never forgive if
you don't"
els the cousin of the feminine per-
suasion?"
eyes, but she's not girl. She is q
sedate widow lady, who goes down to
make an annual visit to US every Christ
mas"
"Oh! that alters the case! One of
those motherly, mildle-aged ladies who
makes fellow look respectable, as if
he was travelling with his mother"
Tom repressed IN inclination to
laugh, and replied soberly:
"Yes, no doubt Mrs. Cameron will
appear like mother to both of u.s."
Mrs. Cameron. A good, old,
respectable na'ne," repeated Frank.
" Has she money, Tom?'
Well-yes, a fair, little fortune"
I" And you may stand chance in her
will p
Possibly"
eyes. Well, my boy, you are quite
right to be attentive to your mothers
elderly relations. No doubt Mrs. Cam
eron will be an addition to our Jour-
ney."
"Decidedly,' said Tom, feeling it
about time for him to go out of that
Office, where he could indulge in the
laugh he had reasons for wanting, and
rising as he spoke: You'll meet US at
the depot at seven in the morning?"
~ will"
"Sharp seven, remember"
eyes. As time and railroad cars
wait for no man. or woman either; de-
pend on me Tom to look after that ell
derly cousin.
"I'll do it. Good night then"
And, Us Tom went out, Frank arose
and began to put his Office in order to
make some preparations for his Christ
mas journey.
He meant to be very early next morn
ing, but oversight himself, and reached
the depot only five minutes before train
time. He went hastily into the ladies'
room, supposing Tom would be there
with Mrs. Cameron. The room, how
ever, had but one occupant bright
faced lady, in stylish black and white
travelling suit. with long white plume
dropping over coquettish black hat.
She turned pair Of brown eyes on
Frank as he entered, hastily glanced
around and retired.
Whewl" what pretty girl, glad
don't have her to dangle after and wait
on though" thought he. "But where
the dickens is Tom ?"
He hunted through the crowd, and
just as the train was starting, he found
Tom on the platform.
"Oh, here you are. Be quick now,"
hailed Tom. 81 thought you were
about to give me the slip after ALL"
"No danger; I only slept late, that's
ALL"
They went into the car, and the pom
derous wheels rolled off, and, as they
opened the door, Frank got glimpse
of pretty girl with a white plume seated
inside.
"Did your cousin Gomez" he said
to Tom.
Eyes; I'll introduce you."
Tom marched straight down the mar
now aisle to that very girls seat, and
as she arose, with q bewitching smile,
Tom introduced:
"Mrs. Cameron, this is my friend,
Mr.. Worthington. My cousin, Kate
Cameron, Frank"
Poor Frank! You might have knocked
him down with knitting-needle. But
he was gentleman enough to stammer
some response to the beautiful lady's
courteous greeting, and to try to re-
cover from his confusion as best he
might.
Half an hour later he and Tom stood
together on the car platform, and then
his wrath found vent.
"Tom Courtney, I'll never forgive
you!"
"You will. I had to deceive you so
you wouldn't act like fool, and disap-
point me in your visit. But Kate will
neither eat you up nor fall in love with
you, so you needn't be scared"
"Don't expect me to pay any atten-
ton to her"
"Hold on therel She hasn't given