Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-09-11
Tie Little Widow in Mauye.

In one of the rooms of the st. Charles
Hotel, New Orleans, young lady was
reclining on lounge AS soon as the
porter had deposited her trunks, shawls
and belongings, she changed her travel
| ing dress for light dressing gown and
again threw herself on the Lounge.
'"Send word to Mr.. George" she said
to the chambermaid, "that my head is
SO much worse that I will not 90 down
to dinner. nor can l see him again this
evening""
The girl went and soon returned with
message from George that he, too was
little ailing-that he had sent for cup
of tea and piece of toast, and that he
would retire early.
Miss WOodville-thatw was her name
let her thoughts run, and they started
on thus:
peet he is rather glad than otherwise to
be excused from entertaining frivolous
little creature like me. Now he can re-
tire early to his hearts content, after
slipping his tea and nibbling his toast,
like Miss Nancy, as he is! What a
humdrum man he is! I suppose he
should be liked because he is so very
good. But how Maria can ever think of
marrying him is more than can tell
When my time comes, I don't want a
middle-aged, church-warden like Mr..
George. Give me young man who is
not saint on earth, and I'll answer for
him.
Her reverie on the young man who
would not set himself up as "gruel and
grits" Christian went on and on until
she fell asleep, which was the very best
thing she could do for her headache.
She is petite, pretty and interesting-
but | am not going to describe dropping
eye-lashes and TetrONsse nose. will not
argue the question whether her hair is
reddish gold or goldish-red, for her looks
have very little to do with my story.
Miss Woodyille is. travelling with Mr..
George because he is engaged to marry
her best friend, Maria Mears, and she
is to be brides maid-they are on their
way to Mr.. Mears' house, where they
are to spend three weeks previous to
the wedding.
They have reached New Orleans,
where they are to stay over night, and
then in the morning take the cars for
Mearsdale, about seventy.five miles
from the city. When Miss Woodville
awoke, she would have found herself in
complete darkness had it not been for
the faint streak of gas-light which came
in over the top of the door.
"What! SO late that the gas is light
ed?" she exclaimed.
She INDUCED in two or three yawns
and stretch to wake herself thorough
ly and then she struck match and look
ed at her watch.
"Can it be possible that it lacks only
few minutes to eleven Pr she cried:
"yet stay! What is that I hear! Music
at this late hour"
She Immediately went to the door and
listened:
"Music and dancing, I do DECLARE
Ihls must be very gay place!" and
away went little Miss Woodville waltz
ing around her room to the sound of the
violin down stairs.
She peeped out in the hall. No one
was to be seen.
Everybody is down stairs, and feel
so lonesome" She leaned over the
balustrade of the staircase.
Along with the enhancing music and
even tread of feet came the subdued MUIR
mur of the dancers merry voices.
First one little slippered foot and then
her other becameuneasy and Miss Wood
vile actually ran to the room for fear
they would get the better of her, and
make her go whirling around the hall.
But in five minutes she was out again.
She traversed the intricate winding of
the hotel corridors, and at last succeed
ed in finding "bell-boy" snoozing in
corner: The magic touch of money
aroused him from his dream of broken
bell-wires.
From him she learned that some benev-
olent society was giving a ball for the
benefit of charitable purpose in the
rooms of the hotel.
But what impressed her most was the
information that it was a masked affair.
Boy, run quick, and send a chamber
maid to number forty-six," Miss Wood.
iyille commanded and then said, under
her breath: "Why not have a half hours
fun ?"
All traces of headache had disappear
ed-lndeed she was under the influence
OF q reaction that made her brilliant.
There was whispering and money
changing hands-running here and
there-more whispering-and perhaps
more money, and at length the maid
might be heard to say:
Miss, I'm afraidsyou'll think it rath-
er somble-looking, but it is the only one
n l. UHl