The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-07-14
A YOUTHFUL VI IDOW;;
Or.
EJ0W Number Nine Became Num-
ber One.
BY LIEUT.. SUMMERFIELD.

When Milford Brightly died he left his
young and pretty widow in a predicament.
TO be sure the Widow Alice remained in
charge of the Pelican Hotel, which he had
rendered popular, and which was consid-
cred a valuable piece Of property, still bid
ding fair to do a thriving business; but no
sooner had her husband departed than
Mrs. Brightly found herself the chief topic
of the toWn--the object Of vigilant and
curious speculations among the boafders
and frequenters of the Pelican and the
neighbors generally as to the prospect Of
her marrying again, when and to whom.
A question arose as to whether she had
really loved her husband, who, though
good and affcctiollate, had been much old
er than she. This question was decided by
the gossips in the affirmative. Then a
question followed as to whether she now
loved anybody else; and on this there was
much doubt and much positiyeness, and a
vide difference in opinion. The theme
was SO interesting aud prolific that it
sprouted, under much care, and branches
grew from it.
One branch was, whether in 4 moral, re-
Iigious, and sentimental point Of view, she
ought TO marry. Very quarrelsome chat
ters and tWtters perched upon that branch,
and agitated themselves in the breeze 4
branch from this branch was, whether, if
the widow was justified in marrying, with
in about what time it would be perfectly
decent for her to do the same, and a twig
on this branch was, what her own iudg-
mcnt might be ON that particular point.
Then there was another grand branch, viz:
whether AIRS. Brightly wanted to marry
again; ;lBn this was, perhaps, the most
important brach of all; because, if she
should not happen to want to marry, no
power ON earth could force her to do so,
and she would remain Il widow--and there
would be an end Of all discussions.
But there were yet other branches which
claimed careful attention. One of these,
quite melancholy and romantic, was
whether Mrs. Brightly could marry again,
and not violate her husbands dying wish; !;
for there was a report, Of uncertain au-
thenticity, however, that Milford Brightly
had been so fond of his wife, that he
charged her, as she valued his memory, to
remain widow forever, and come to him
in Heaven without encumbranccs.
Some said, il this was true, it might not
deter the widow, but then here powerful
branch grew out, in the shape OF another
report, which insisted that the lamented
husband had left the principal part Of his
property to her.. eonditionally upon her
never marrying again. This seemed a
kind Of ugly branch, but it also seemed as
strong as it was ugly, and commanded re.
spect, because its leaves on one side were
golden.
But the eyes Of many refused to con-
template this branch. They stood entirely
on the other side of this tree Of discussion,
and delighted to dwell upon yet another
and more agreeable branch, which took
the shape Of an interrogation, as to whom
Mrs. Brightly would be most likely to
marry, if she chose, and could marry at
all. This was the most popular and fruit
FIJI branch of all; it waved over a variety
Of eligible heads, and bore many apples Of
accord and discord; but all the town
agreed upon one point, which was the soil
that gave the growth to this tIee. They
agreed that Mrs. Alice Brightly, the wild
owed hostess Of the Pelican, would be a
good match for almost any man, and they
also agreed that they would watch her ac-
tions, so as not to be taken by surprise by
anything which was coming. ...#
On her part, the youthful widow was
fully conscious of being thus closely
watched, and she kept her eyes and ears
open, and her mouth closed, in conformity
with her own ideas Of discretion. She
superintendent the household affairs with
her customary dignity and grace, her nat
ural animation tempered by her loss, tho
none the less hospitable to all, and her for
titultc ANU icsl iitetloal AC1 W Neii ttes
by the youth and strength of her constitu-
tion. She wore her weeds calmly and
without ostentation of grief, and resolved
to be circumspeet and taciturn regarding
her intention and affairs.
But though she might keep people from
knowing, she could not prevent them from
thinking and talking. Possibly she did
not wish it. Certainly it is, that she
learned that among her suspected suitors
were no less than eight men, who had
been acquaintanees of her husband. There
was the Rev. Mr.. Sable, a young clergy
man of thirty, at whose church she now
attended more regularly than before; Mr..
Greenmore, a rich gentleman farmer Of
sixty, still hale and hearty; young Mr..
Terrence, the handsome barkeeper Of the
Pelican; Or. Valerian, a physician in the
meridian of life; Mr.. Vieegage, a real estate
agent in the city; Mr. Bullock, anextensiVe
dealer in cattle; Mr.. Carver, the thriving
furniture dealer; and Dir. Flood, the
Wholesale dealer in wines and liquors.
These all were among the frequent Visi-
tors at the hotel-f:onl some plausible
cause or other apart from any matrimo-
NAL purpose; and these all, equally with
each other, but more than all others, ap-
peared to enjoy ;lsnspectable Il share of the
widows confidence. They were known
to have many little separate chats with her
ii private; but who was to tell what was