The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-03-02
VOL. II.


increased to more pounds avoirdupois thar
we care to mention. And now we have ar
rived at the point where we laid down tht
thread Of our narrative, but TO which w
will return.
The fair widow was reading again The
dainty note over which she had puzzled Sc
long before opening-true to her sex ever
! then for she was SO busy wondering who
il could be from, that she quite forgot how
easily her curiosity might be satisfied By
just breaking the seal.
As this billet is the hinge on which oul
story rests, We give it here without any
apology:
"Haye you wholly forgotten the mem
ories of life goue by? / would fain hope
not; therefore am | writing these lines
Twenty years since we have met! Twen-
ty years since you wept the last tears OF
parting on my bosom ere they made you
the bride of another. [ think of you only
as when | last sawyou, with eyes speaking
such sweet tales, and those long curls fall
ing round the waist this arm has SO often
eneircled. But let me not brood over
these memories, though they have compris-
ed tue sum Of my existence during these
lonely years since we parted.
II am not married, Jenny-can you
guess why ?-and it is to ask permission to
visit you that | am now writing. If re-
ceive no answer to this / shall know that
you grant me leave, aud shall therefore be
at your house this evening
GAS Of yore-and well you know how
that was--yours, GEORGE ScMERs."
This was the letter which had slightly
discomposed the pretty relict's usual calm
demeanor, and during the slow hours Of
that day had she been turning leaves in
the long closed book Of her past.
Strange to say, she thought Of her old
lover only as he was when they parted-a
tall, straight, graceful youth with perhaps
six hairs in his moustache-and such a
figure as she quite expected to see now.
Many times during every hour did she
glance at the clock, and marveled that
''the wheels Of time worked heavily" At
last it beat right. Suddenly the door was
flung open-a tall, erect man, his air de
cidedly military, was ushered unannounced
into the room.
The widow started up. She had not
heard the door-bell, and, expecting no Wis
itor but her former fame, was naturally
astonished at the apparition which appear
ed before her. The gentleman seemed to
share her feelings of surprise and embar-
rassment, and bowed without speaking il
return to her slight gesture Of courtesy.
II beg pardon" he said, still standing
in the centre Of the room, "but ! expected
to see Mrs. Derwent"
That voice how natural it sounded.
could it be? O, impossible--her nameless
guest was forty.fve atleast.
q am Mrs. Derwent," she said, in fal-
tering tone.
"Tou2 don't wish to seem rude, but
it can't be-"
Perhaps yoa know BEST" returned she,
with slight ascerbity; pray, may | take
the liberty Of inquiring your name ?"
''Certainly-Colonel Somers.'
The lady sank back in her chair perfect
y aghast; the officer stood regarding her
With very puzzled expression on his
countenance. The silence lasted several
moments; then the widows natural love
Of fun overpowered every other emotion,
and screaming out "Bless my soul, the
man is bald Y laughed until the tears ran
down her checks, and then she wiped them
of, and laughed again-the gentleman al
The while standing erect as one Of the pill
lars to her mautel.
You are very merry, ma'am I see no
thing SO amusing"
20, you don't?-well, there isn't, only
II am Mrs. Derwent! Ha! ha !"
1t was too much for human nature !;
there was no use to be sentimental and the
colonel just sat down and laughed as hard
as she did. Between them both they made
such an uproar that the pug was loused
from his slumber, and added his shriil
bark to the general tumult. By the time
he was quieted, their nerves became more
!. and all embarrassment having
been rubbed off during their cachinatory
trial, they seated themselves to look things
in the face as they really We're.
II expected to see a young girl, said
lie.
And I lieutenant oftwenty-two," re-
turned she.
Only scared Colonel of forty-fve, 7
sighed the officer.
And fat woman Of thirty-seyen,"
the widow. Then she smiled
was she thinking that Mrs. Col. somers'
would look well on a wedding card. There
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