The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-06-11
THAT BEWITcHINo WIDOW.

Just before dark one evening Tom
Courtney came into his little Office
where Frank Werthington kept his
dusty law books and helped himself
to chair and cigar, with a quiet
make-yourself.at home sort of cool.
ness which showed he was no stran.
ger to the premises.
'Well, Frank said he we got
through the last case to-day, and I'm
ready to be off tomorrow. You
promised to 60 home with me, you
know
No need to remind me of it, old
fellow laughed Frank. I've endur-
ed the horrors of a boarding house
too long not to jump at the chance
of trying country life awhile.
'Can you be ready by tomorrow p
'Oh, yes 1t won't take me long to
pack my kit. l havn't any Saratoga
trunk to fill with founces and furbe-
lows
sAll right, then. We shall have q
cousin of my mother to 60 down with
u.s.
'The duce we shall Tom, if it's Q
girl won't 60, by George! I got
enough travelling with girls last sum
mer.'
you will go! I'll never forgive
you if you don't
rs the cousin of the feminine per-
suasion?'
Yes, but she's not girl. She is
a sedate widow lady, who goes down
to make an annual visit to us every
Christmas
'Oh! that alters the case! One of
those motherly, middle-aged ladies
who makes fellow look respectable,
as if he was travelling with his moth
err
tom repressed an inclination to
laugh but replied soberly:
'Yes, no doubt Mrs. Cameron will
appear like a mother to both of u.s.
MRS. Cameron. A good, old re.
spectacle name,' repeated Frank.
Has she money, Tom9'
'Well-yes, fair little fortune
'And you may stand chance in
her will?'
Possibly
yes. Well, my boy, you are quite
right to be attentive to your mothers
elderly relations. No doubt Mrs.
Cameron will be an addition to our
journey
Decidedly said Tom, feeling it
about time for him to get 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 in the morning p
Il will
SHARP 7, remember
'Yes. As time and railroad cars
wait for no man or woman either /;
depend on me, Tom, just look after
that elderly cousin
'I'll do it. Good night, then
And, as Tom went out Frank arose
and began to put his Office in order
to make ssme preparations for his
Christmas journey.
He meant to be very early next
morning, 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, however, had but one oc
cupant-a bright.faced lady. in G
stylish black and white travelling suit
with long white plume dropping
over a coquettish black hat. She
turned a pair of brown eyes upor
Frank as he entered, hastily glanced
around, and retreated.
'Whew !! what pretty girl; glad
1 don't have to dangle after and wai
on her though thought he. 'Bu
where in the dickens is Tom 2
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. Il 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 th'
ponderous wheels rolled off, and q
they opened the door, Frank got
glimpse of pretty girl with whit
plume seated inside.
Did your cousin Gomez he sait
to Tom.
sYes; I'll introduce you
Tom marched straight down tn
narrow aisle to that very girls seat
and, as she rose, with o bewitchins
: smile, Tom introduced:
Mrs. Cameron, this is my friend
Mr.. Worthington. My cousin, Kat
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 greet
ing, and to try to recover from hi
confusion as best he might.
} Half an hour later, he and Ton
stood together on the car platform
and then his wrath found vent.
tom Courtney, I'll never forgiv'
you
you will, / had to deceive you 81
you wouldn't act like fool, and dis
appoint me of your visit. But Kat
will neither eat you up nor fail il
love with you, so you needn't b.
scared
Don't expect we to pay any atten
ton to her.
, Hold on there! She hasn't givel
you the chance yet. Kate is quite {
belle in city society, and awful par
: ticular in her company. Sad dog
like you and wouldn't stand ghos
of a chance
J Il don't know that she could d,
better growled Frank, with man
usual contrarinsss, taking the oppos
, ite track.
, sShe might think SO. I am goint
to the smoking car, Frank, com
along
NO, I don't care about smoking
| now
, sAll right; look after Kate till
! come back, that's a good fellow
, Now Frank had not the least in
tention of looking after Kate, bu
, when he approached her seat, sh'
looked up with such frank, pleasan
smile, and moved her shawl iron
the opposite seat to make room TO
him, with such q cordial air that b
could not resist the temptation to 81
down and enjoy her society.