Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-10-13

Mr.. Will Meredith was soon put in DO
session of the points connected with th
will. The lady furnished him with
copy, and made brief statement whic
was very simple and clear. Then til
brothers retired together as before, an
Doctor George said to Will:
What do you think of her ~
81 think she is charming" was th
reply.
lyon are right, Will-why don't 70
make love to herY'
What an ideal I'm not marryin
man.
You will marry, some day. Here
your opportunity. Go and gain he
lawsuit-yo say it involves larg
property. Then she will be grateful
you see-you will be married and liv
happily afterward -
Win blushed little and said
We'll, as you have so high an opinio.
of the little widow, why not court he
yourself ?"
"Pshavj" said Doctor George, witt
something very much resembling hi
brothers blush, "you can't expect al
old fellow like myself to fall in Low
with every pretty patient I havel'
"Not with all with this one"
II have no time, my dear fellow-to,
busy. There is some one coming afte
me now"
A summons came for the doctor to Sc,
one of his patients, and the converse
ton ended.
Thereafter. as the days wore on,
closer and closer intimacy grew up be-
tween these three persons. The widow
who had lost all her color, and becom,
as white as a Gala lily at her child'l
danger, was all roses again. Little
Marie-thanks to the assiduous attend
ance of Doctor Meredith-had recov
cred from her illness; and ten times
a day the happy mother told him how
grateful she was for all his kindness.
After while this close friendships ri
pened into charming intimacy and un
reserve. Mrs. Beresford was one ol
those persons who give their confidence
unasked to those who win it, and hel
relations with the two brothers were
full Of frankness and sweetness like hel
bearing. She came TO call one of them
Doctor George and the other Mr.. WILL
and part of every day was passed in
the society of one or the other of them
Not with both together. They did
not. visit Mrs. Beresford in company
with each other. Was this by design
Probably. The truth is, the brothers
were both very much in love with Mrs.
Beresford. She seemed moro and more
worthy of it as they knew her better
and better. Some persons impress at
first-afterward not SO favorably; others
more as one knows them better; third
class please in the beginning, and end
by becoming charming. 70 this latter
class belonged the little widow. She
was perfectly natural, and knewno more
OF the world than girl of seventeen.
Certain words conjure up certain ideas
and images. The word "widow" is one
of these. You conceive person dressed
In black who does not smile, having
buried her sunshine; or gay some one,
not dressed in black, who makes eyes
and beams on everybody-provided the
everybody is of the opposite sex. There
was nothing at all of either in Mrs.
Beresford. She had been married at
seventeen, lived In the most private
manner, and had only emerged from
this retirement ON the death of n hus
band to come to the beach for the bene-
fit of her child's health. It was impos-
sible to imagine any human being more
innocent and confding. She wore half
mourning, but it did not resemble
mourning. Years had assuaged her
grief, and her smile was fresh and
young; that she had ever been married
would have seemed impossible but for
the presence of little Marie.
1t was not so much to be wondered
at, therefore, that she fascinated the
brothers. What would result from
that? It seemed a great misfortune.
Was this pretty little face, with the
blue eyes, the chestnut braids and the
innocent lips, coming to cause dissen-
sion between the two brothers? That
would be terrible pity. They had
loved each other with the warmest af.
fection from their childhood, and never
before came into collision. Was Q
woman now to interrupt this brotherly
love?
Not a word on the one subject had
been said between these three persons
The little lady and her friends seemed
united by no more than the ties of q
close and affectionate intimacy. But
the old careless unreserve had disap
peared. From time to time stoler
glance from the blue eyes of Mrs. Beres.
ford interrogated the faces of the
brothers, and shade of sadness, like
the fitting gloom from floating cloud
passed over her face. At such moments
she sighed and said nothing.
CHAPTER II.
George" =" Will"
sc am going to look after the mat
ter of the suit now. The trial comes
on in ten days, and there is no time tt
lose. You know it is full two days
travel to I had better start
therefore. But I'll be back prett,
soon-as soon as possible. Look afte,
the little widow while I'm gone"
VIII Meredith said this in the sim
plest way, and walked to the mantel-
piece to relight his cigar, which he hat
suffered to go out. A light movemen
of his breast thus escaped DR.. George
who for moment made no reply.
But-you are not obliged to go a
once you In fact, Will, I wa
going to recommend the little widow Il
you" said DR.. George, with forces
laugh.
"To me? But you ARE going nc
where"
!" I had thought of making trip.
| will tell you about it another time. Ar
| you obliged to go? MY own absenc
would be for onlynot for SO much a
month"