The daily gazette., 1875-09-10
The Lucky Widow.
By PAUL PIT ME.

| II Nh9 u NbIu ulEHt III btCt1n Der
but the drawing rooms OF Mrs. Lori
mer Wheeler were rs pleasant as tn,
atmosphere of May. From her magni
llcent conservatory the perfume OF q
thousand flowers lloated through the
apartments and q small but excellen,
orchestra discourscd enchanting mu.
SIC. Mrs. Wheeler was giving one OF
her delightful reunions, and the ellte
ol = was ever sure to be found
at her hospitable home.
Mrs. Wheeler was a widcw-a CAV.
dashing and fashionable widow
wealthy, but not tprctty, and her friends
SAID that she was of no particular
| age. 1t would have been indicate
and uncivil to have said she was forty,
though it perhaps would have been
strictly true. The lady herself had been
| known 10 admit to some confidential
| friends that She was among the "thir.
ties, and could an old family Bible,
| safely hidden away in stout chest
and guarded by heavy locks, been
opened to public inspection, Mrs
Wheeler would have been compelled
to take her stand in life among those
Who were no longer counted Young
ehe was a remarkable woman; her
cheeks were as plump as peach, and
her great blue eyes as bright as any
girl S OF eighteen, and though she could
not lay any claim to beauty, she was
exceedingly attractive and an enter
tanning conversationalist. She was a
naughty creature to those she dislikcd
or wished to keep at q distance, and the
cold, contemptuous expression that
sometimes lurked about the corners of
her mouth, plainly indicated that a
fountain Of sweetness had not a per.
petual dwelling place in her heart.
Mrs. Wheeler had never been mother
Eleven years Of her married life had
glidcd away, and she reveled away in
purple and fine linen" with hus.
band obedient to her very nod, and
always in haste TO crafty her most cx.
travagant whims. Eleven years closed
and as the twelfth year dawned, good.
obedient and selt-sacrihcing Mr.. Lori
mer Wheeler died, and left his beloved
wife Susan the whole of bis vast for.
tune. But the bereaved lady never
permitted herself to be addressed hv
her own proper Christian appellation:
1t was high offense TO style her Mrs.
susan. Mrs Lorimer Wheeler she
insisted on, and always got it, unless
some new acquaintance made the un.
fortunate mistake tn call her by the
name she detested, then that erring
sodl wac instantly cut on from the rich
dinners and the grand society that held
al the shortest bidding to the Wheeler
mansion
Reader. did sou ever see dignity r..
suppose You think you have but YOU
ought 10 have seen Mrs. Lorimcr
Wheeler when she had occasion to ap.
pear in that role, Did YOU ever beholl
modc5ty and humility combined in one
creature? You ought to have seen
Mrs. Lorlmer Wheeler when she drop.
ped her Easter offerinr in the capaci-
Gus pouch Of sleek, lat and sleepy
Bishop PoundteXt as he sat At her
board on Easter eve, and reasoned
Of judgment and things t. come.
said there w. 4 reunion At Mrs.
Wheeler 5 home, and SO there was Law.
YER, judges, dlyines and politicians, au-
thor5, physiciaL3 players of music and
players Of naughty prank not yet known
to the public, all mingled. laughed. chat
ted, axe and drank the good things from
the tables III the dining.room 1t is 4
blessed thing TO have 4 go9d digestion,
Il you have friend who feeds we'll"
Mrs. Wheeler demanded the homage of
her gentlemen friends, and the majority
of them seemed loyal in their devotion
TO her. but she had secret sorrow that
made her unhappy. There was a ceItain
Mrs. Augustus OyertOn who had lately
appeared upon the surface of fashionable
society, As 4 contestant Of popularity with
Mrs. Lorimer Wheeler.
Mrs. Overton was certainly not over
thirty five years of age, was sery neautl-
ful. very accomplished pretty well on IN
life as To wealth, but not half or quarter
as rich as Mrs. Wheeler Mr. Oyerton.
or Gussie overton, as her friends famll-
larly styled her, WAS a wife scarcely more
than month when her husband was lost
overheard from his yacht. and before as
sistance could be rendered he sank be-
meath the sea, and Gussie was 4 widow.
She was n fair match for Wheeler, for
she well understood the wiles of women,
and knew how to take advantage Of the
most trihlng circumstances and turn them
to her own good account.
The company were in the midst Of their
enjoyment when Clement Seal, a notable
ladies man, sauntered across the room
to whore a half dozen brilliantly. attired
ladies were engaged in an animated de-
bate.
I'm soon find ont" remarked Mr.. /
BettertOn. Where Is Mrs. Oynrton. /,
Glenn 2" she inquired. Mrs. Betterton !
had free and easy way of calling people !
by their Christian aame that sometimes |
shocked her friends.
How should know % replied Seal, as
he settled down in chair and dlved both /
hands deep in his pockets.
You know very wel.' retorted Mrs. !
Bettorton. but you are provokingly dis |
obliging Tell me, will she be here this |
evening"
II don't know" returned Glenn, but |
what DO you fair creatures care about /
her presence
Not much. that true" returned Mrs. |
Betterton but Gussie il monstrous |
of the gentlemen, and We |
wished to know if We were going to have !
n clear field tonight. Somehow or other I
all the men think it duty 10 take to |
Mrs. Overton."
Perhaps they consider it pleasure or
m advantage, suggested Glenn.
spshaw p exclaimed Miss Lochland |