The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-30
THE BEAUTIFUL WIDOW.
BY l.. "

The BEAUTIFUL WlDOW.
g. BY l.. W.
Hugh Barham had married, in his old
age,a girl young enough to be his daughter
and after rowing man-of the world life,
come home to settle on the old place in
Pelham. It had been for three genera
items in the family, and at the bottom
Of his heart he had fondness for it.
It was not fondness, however, whish
led him to make Improvements upon 1t.
During the period when he had been
sowing his wild oats it had heen left to
run down, till, at the time of his MARI
age and return to it, it was in decld-
edly neglected condition. He simply
moved into the house and commenced
housekeeping with as little preparatory
stir as possible.
The Pelhamites were a highly moral
and steady.going set, and Hugh Barham
had never been popular among them.
He was aware of this, and repaid the feel
ing IN kind; SO that it was lonely and
cherries life to which young Mrs. Bar
ham was destined. .#eF ..u..
But she bore it uncomplainingly, and,
as the years went by, the hearts of the
villagers insensibly warmed towards her.
Then people called on her. The rector
and his wife, of course went in due state,
and were stately received.
"She is very beautiful" said Mrs. Ash
burnham, "and her manners are as sweet
and guileless as possible. She Is accom-
plished. too. He addressed her in French,
and she answered very readily, and she
seemed quite familiar with the language;
and before we lett he made her play for
us. She declined to sing, and I thought
he did not quite like 1t. The servants
say she has wonderful voice. But l
doubt if she has seen much Of good soci-
ETY.; she has no air at all"
'sMost lkely,'' said Mrs. Sinclair,
"she is some poor singing girl"
"No,' said Mrs. Ashburnham, II don't
exactly think that. It seemed to me
that she was of good blood. I should
say rather that she was of some decayed
family, whose poverty has kept them
aloof from society"
b.. "Of course said Miss Sinclair, some
what acidly, "she married him TOR his
name. I don't see how any true woman
could make such sacrifice as that
The years went by, and gradually the
circle of Mrs. Barham's acquaintance in
creased by one and another of the ladies
calling and inviting her to tea; but on
the whole the young creature lived a
most secluded and unsocial life.
That she was devoted to her husband,
in quiet, daughter-like fashion, every
one could see. They came quite regular
~ to church in the great, old-fashioned
carriage, into which he always assisted
her with the air of cavalier; and when
she took his arm, it was always with the
most winning and affeetlonate confidence.
People puzzled themselves over the mat
ter until they grew tired, and then they
at last gave up conjecture and quietly
accepted things rs they stood. .. "
But at last, in the third year after his
marriage news came that Hugh Barham
was very i'll, and upon the heels of that,
that he was dying, Mr.. Ashburnham
was sent for in haste, the elder of the vii
lage call. d with offers of assistance, snd
everybody felt an. interest in the poor
young thing likely to be left so soon a
widow. 49,.
The church bell tolled out its solemn
'tidings at length, and pretty Mrs. Bar
ham was widow. It is said that she
was overwhelmed with grief, and would
see no one but the rector; but of course
she must have mourning, and by that
means Miss Needless. the village dress,
maker, got admlttei. When she: Re;
turned from that sad eirand It SEEMED AS
though every: lady in 'the tewn, had: NEED
of something. in hei establishnent.: Miss
Sinclair was one Of the first to drop in.
$50 you saw the widow, she said. @How
docs she bear her lossg I suppose she is
almost in hystericsr'
"Nothing Of the kind" said Miss Nee
dies. Her eyes were little red, and
she was paler than usual; but on the
whole, she was very quiet. She knew
perfectly we'll what she wanted, and gave
her orders with the utmost calmness. I
l must say thought more OF her than
I ever did before"
The mourning is SO handsome, I sup
pose?''
"Be-eau. tifulp' said Miss Needles,
growing enthusiastic when the subject
OF her vocation was approached. "Eve-
rything is to be of the best and plenty of
it, but plain. And widows caps are so
becoming to her"
Did you find out how the will read?'
"Oh, yes. Jarvis clerk was there.
met him as / was coming down the aven-
ne, and he said Jarvis had let on to him
that the widow is to have everything
She'll be immensely rich.
Miss Needles had orders for all the
mourning, and she felt as if she was
called upon to set matters in a strong
light.
She won't stay in Pelham long, then, you
may depend" said Mrs. Arthur who had
just dropped IN. young and pretty as
she is, with fortune Of ten thousand
pounds or so, she II seek her fortune else
where, you may depend
"'Ten thousand!" shrieked Miss Nee