Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-03-18
The Widows WileS.

| Paul Carroll was one afternoon sitting
| listlessly on the porch of the Farmers
Inn," when who should alight from the old
stage but his friend, Harry Coleman. There
was hearty greeting; each had surprised
| the other by his selection of this rustic re-
/ treat
''Come!" said Coleman, 'tell me who
she is. Some rustic beauty I'll venture,
with cheeks like blush roses.
''Ha, ha!" laughed Paul. did the
green-eyed monster inform you that | was
trespassing on your rightsl"
Harry, with miSchievous twinkle in his
eyes, answered: Il have run down at the
solicitation of a little cousin of mine. Come,
get off that hunting regalia and will pre-
sent you to the sweetest little cousin in the
world"
Paul drawled listlessly: "Well, any
thing for change!"
GOod-natured Coleman was used to his
friends manner, and only quickened his
pace when once they had started. They
approached the farmhouse as the twilight
| descended.
''Geod evening, gipsy!" said Harry, rals-
| ing his hat. ''You see | have kept my
word" He fastened towards the old swing
| gate to receive the merry greeting awaiting
him, then said, gaily, Il found my dearest
friend at the inn, and have brought HIM
with me. Miss Jardine-Mr. Carroll"
Paul opened his keen gray eyes a trifle
wider to discern the young girl in the COM
ing shadow; her mellow, rich voice fell
upon his ear so harmoniously and musical
ly, that he tried to hear what was said.
| This much he did hear, as she tripped
ahead, leaning on her cousins arm, and
| talking in an undertone: 81 detest that
dearest friend of yours! He has shot all
my pet squirrels"
''Ha, ha.'' laughed Coleman. Yes, he is
a cruel fellow; look out for him. "
Well did Anna Jardine remember those
warning words!
The family and visitors formed pleasant
group Paul tried his best to define the
peculiar charm of this girl. She avoided
him; that he knew, and there was a novel
| ty in the fact. She was young and culti
waited, not beautiful, but with a presence
bewitching and piquant. She seems alb
stracted, not entering into the general con-
versation; but as she raised the shy brown
eyes there was a language in them that en-
tered his heart.
One by one the rest strolled out. Paul
walked to the piano and, turning over the
music, found the popular songs of the day.
''Will you sing, Miss Jardine2' he said,
almost implorlngly.
! Without moments hesitation she COM
piled with his request The sweet con-
tralto, with it's soul stirring pathos, was too
grand for commonplace thanks.
Paul Carroll and Anna Jardine had been
betrothed one year. He had won her by
his deep, idolatrous love, and she had en-
throned him king-her first love and her
last.
Paul Carroll was one of the guests at the
mansion of Annals aunt, where she was
spending the winter in the gay metropolis,
and grand dinner was given in his honor.
The bewitching woman on the barrister's s
right had suddenly, like some great light,
burst upon the fashionable world. A widow
and blonde! A woman in her early thir-
ties, with soft blue eyes that knew how to
send every glance with power. She had
come among them with reports Of unbound
ed wealth.
Paul Carroll seemed completely captiva-
ted by her fascinations, careless of the suf-
fe ing he was infiicting upon one constant,
true souled woman.
Tonight, for an instant, he mentally
contrasted the two, and on a sudden im-
pulse drank to the health of his betrothed.
The sudden shock to Mrs. L'Estrange's feel
ings was beyond description. She was foil
ed.
When he led her to the piano, and solic-
tied a farewell, she sang vocal waltz; the
brilliant air fell fatty on his ear; there was
no reponse in his heart to the words she
sang at him.
''Ah! fly to the one most dear. :"
He followed his betrothed to her hiding
place in Wonder alcove, and she, crimsoning
like rose with joy, looked his forgiveness,
and they were one in heart again.
Two years passed. Summer with its
dreamy days and shifting shadows, had
come once more Two years had been a
century in Annals life; within the brown
eyes was written, ''Life is earnest" and
there were tell-tale lines that lay in broken
bars over the fair, girlish brow. Not, how
ever, that Paul Carroll neglected any of the
great items that 60 80 far with the world as
regarded his wife's happiness.
Carroll was lounging on the steps of sea
side hotel with friend, who remarked,
'tHave you seen her-the newcomer? She
gets Up stunningly, assure you. But talk
of angels and they are unfolding their pin
ions, for here she comes.
He rose with courtly bow to the magni-
! fcenty-dressed lady coming toward them.
But, to his surprise, Mrs. L'Estrange coolly
: nodded and rustled on.
Carroll's face, at all times puzzle, now