Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-10-13
a Little Widow and Her rSnitors
CHAPTER /.

- AAtho luuU uuu uVl DullUl
CHAPTER I.
Mrs. Beresford, young. pretty. or. 1,
be more precise, Just twenty-two. witt
chestnut braids, blue eyes and an air O
sadness, came to The Beach-our ittl,
seaside rescrt-for Aer daughter
health. 1t was secs known that tn.
lady was '<idow, and wrapped MP il
ner child. Every day the frail littl,
one was Sen in her baby-carriage, will
ner mo thet and maid, moving to and
Iro ulAder the shade of the trees, anc
MIS- Beresford's s cottage was the favor
lte resort of the best people of the
place.
These were ladies only, since Mrs
Beresford did not mingle much with OF
make the acquaintance of gentlemen
The moment came, however, when she
was to become less exclusive.
Marie, as she called her child, was
taken quite i'll, and Doctor George
Meredith, the resident physician, was
sent for in haste. He obeyedwith great
promptness. For just two weeks be
had been following the little widow
about with his eyes. thinking of hel
when he retired at night, and specu.
dating vainly on the possibility of in.
-ducing her to become permanently
associated with his household in the
character of Mrs. Doctor Meredith. In
other words, George Meredith, twenty.
eight, tall, good-looking. and man
esteemed by everybody, had fallen in
love with Mrs. Beresford.
He went in haste to the small cot.
tage, and announced himself Mrs.
Beresford exclaimed:
sob, doctor, I am SO glad you have
comel Marie is SO ill'
Then her blue eyes filed with tears,
and she drew him to the small he'd.
The manner in which she did SO, laying
her hand on his arm, was childIike and
confding. Her eyes interrogated him
with earnest feeling as he felt the child's
pulse, and he could hear her suppress q
little sob.
When Doctor George Meredith went
back to his Office he found his brother
Will there, smoking cigar. They were
not unlike, but Will was two years
younger. He had already acquired q
very gratifying practice in his profes-
sion, the law, and his cordial manners
made him a general favorite.
"Well, old Galen, where have yor
been this hour?" he said.
ITO see the little widow"
ssYou don't say2 Then she really al
lows man to look at her.
"Her child is sick-is going to bt
very i'll. I am very sorry-and she has
other trouble"
Mr.. Will Meredith listened atten
lively.
"Other trouble9" he said.
ssShe told me all about it in the sim
plest manner. I don't know how i
came about, but as the little one wal
asleep under the effect of an anodyne
she made conidant of me. She ha.
q claim under her husbands will which
is disputed. Everything depends upor
it. Without success in the lawsuit
which is about to be brought, she viii
be penniless. She asked me to recon-
mend counsel and recommended you.
"Me r exclaimed Will Meredith.s
Why not? 1t was natural. You are
thoroughly competent to conduct thu
suit, and promised to bring you Il
see her and consult about it,
Will Meredith smoked for some mo
ments in an absent way. At last b.
said, quietly:
ssOf course, I will go at once. Hav,
Jou made an appointment r
"For this evening. Come at six
when / will make little Marie anothe
visit and present you"
At six the brothers entered Mrs
Beresford's cottage, and Will MEREDITH
was presented to thelady. She receivet
him with the same air of childlike con
fidence, and then all her attention wa
given for the moment to DIR. Georg'
Meredith, who was st the bedside o
Marie. The little sufferer had burn
ing fever, and Doctor Meredith, WHIT
31as too young to have become pro
sfsssionally hardened, looked very mucl
tronbled. The lady saw his expression
and again her eyes filed quickly.
"Oh, doctor, she is not worsef" sh
exclaimed.
ssNo, madam" he said, ssbut it is m,
duty to tell you that she is very ill.
trust by to- morrow, however
Mrs. Beresford sank back in her chair
and, covering her face with her hand
kerchief, uttered hopeless sob.
There was no legal consultation tina
evening. The child had plainly drive
from her mind every other thought. al
considerations of business, of none
and lawsuits had disappe peared from view