Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-01
What is the gaina
A WIDOWS PROPOSALS;
or. Testing aLover Worth Having
CHAPTER I.

MY GEAR MrS. hartley, Wnat can i
say more to convince you of the truth p
Nothing, Mr.. Roberts. am not a
girl now, but a woman of thirty"
Surely not. You don't look twenty
fye.'"
Mrs. Hartley's eyes opened a little
more widely, and she gave Frank
Roberts so searching look that he saw
that he had made mistake, and hast
ened to try and recover lost ground.
"You doubt me again, he whispered.
81 tell you that in my eyes you do not
seem to be twenty-five. Mrs. Hartley
-Julia-why are you SO hard upon the
man who loves you with all his heart ~
Because am widow, Mr.. Roberts,
and trouble has made me hard and
worldly"
!" Yes, because you were married to a
man who could not appreciate your
worth, and who did not do his duty by
YOU
"Suppose we say no more about my
late husband, Mr., Roberts" said the
lady. coldly. "Mr. Hartley was just
man, even if he was stern"
'sYes, yes, of course" said the other.
s'Oh, what an unlucky wretch I am.
Here am I trying to advance my cause;
I came to the picnic on purpose; have
implored you to listen to me, and here
/ am constantly saying things you don't
like, and making myself stand lower in
your favor than did month ago.
" Nonsense, Mr.. Roberts" said the
lady, smiling, and her face wore a very
winning expression asshe spoke. " Why
cannot we remain friends as we have
been before Why" she added, laugh
ing, should I marry again 2"
'Why?" he whispered, passionately,
aid certainly Frank Roberts just then
looked very manly and handsome as he
pleaded his cause with the fair widow.
Why% he whispered, bending toward
her; "as duty as woman-to make
the man happy who loves you with all
his heart and soul. Oh, Julia, be mer-
ciful to me when I plead to you like
his, when-Oh, Heaven this is too
bad. You are laughing
"Guilty, Mr.. Roberts," said the
widow; "but how could I help it when
/ find you talking to me like hero in
story. l can only think it droll, and
OF course laugh.
"If did not know you to be all that
is tender and lovable and good" he
cried, f" should think your heart was
of stone."
Now you are trying the compli-
mentary tact, Mr.. Roberts, and you
know what I said about my age. Please
do remember that I am not young
girl"
6 | remember nothing but that love
you passionately," he cried, "and that
would do anything, even to plunging
into yon river, if it would make you
happy
g And pray how could your doing such
a silly thing as jumping into the water
and getting muddy and wet make me
happy p she asked, merrily.
/" You would be happier If I were
dead" he cried, tragically.
Good gracious, mop she cried.
There's plenty of room in this world
for both. But now look here, Mr.. Rob-
erts, you say You have fallen deeply In
love with me-"
$" | adore you,D he cried, rapturously.
Heavens, whata goddess must be,
yshe said, merrily. I" Well, then, you
worship me. and I understand from
your discourse, Mr.. Roberts, that you
would do anything to make me happy.''
Indeed-on my soul I would. !"
There is no occasion to swear it, Mr..
Roberts, said the widow. 'sProof viii
do.''
How can I prove it? Tell me-" he
cried.
BY talking no more nonsense to me
for the rest of the day."
Mrs. Hartley Julial"
"And by taking me at once back t.
the slope there, where they are spread.
ing the cloths, and giving me some din.
ner." --o @'''1'
! will, he cried.
For | feel half starved-ooddass
though be-" she said. roock;noIv ->-'~
put one moment more" he said.
NO, no, nor half moment she
said, nrmiy We shall have the good.
natured people Of the party making ali
Kinds OF unpleasant remarks about INV
frivolous behavior as it is.n
/" Why should we care for the ill-na.
tured remarks of tie maleyolent ?. be
exclaimed. - N'-e44s : As
don't know whether Won need
care, " she said, quietly, I" but / care e.
xgreat deal, and do not disown Il. III.
fnred, scandalous remarks make me-
lesl uncomfortable. Now, Mr.. Roberts,
Will you give me your arm, or shall j
walk back alone?'
~ ARMY band-my heart r. he