The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-24
CHARMING MRS. HILLwAY.

Mrs. Hillway had so many admirers that young ladies who were of the social circle which she adorned were sometimes heard to say they might as we'll make up their minds 10 live and die old maids. The reasons were few and simple. Mrs. Hiiiway was a pretty widow whn hsd no. seen thirty winters, she owned two or three houses besides tha, in which she lived. a,.d she had no children 10 demand part of her time and income.
 She would have been desirable had she been rich only in personal charms, or poor only in appearance. but with both beauty and money she seemed to two or three score oi men the most interesting woman that had ever lived.
 Mrs. Hillway enjoyed her popularity far less than young women who envlcd her supposed. Inc most persistent ador- CTS of rich and pretty widows are somehow a class by themselves, and rot one that Is particularly Ist,resting 10 ladies who have had experience in masculine gender can be disposed oi by lady when they propose. but Mrs. HiIlway found, as many lady in similar circumstances had learn cd before her. tha, men who lay seige to d piCtA@ HtAON NlkAi piOit1 oi sitphNf aiN never abashed by a single mo" so before she had been out of widows weeds year she was not at all satisfied with the class of men who haunted her parlors. None of them were rude or presuming; all of them dressed well and tried to talk of whatever interested their hostess still they were-well, they were wha, Mrs. Hillway came to call "widow-hunters."
 Two pleasing exceptions to the rule were Captain Baylord and Doctor Whyde. The Captain was old enough to be the doctors father, but he was so robust, manly, handsome and courteous that many lady much younger than Mrs. Hillway would have favorably entertained a proposal from him. As for the doctor, he simply writhed with anguish when he thought of the splendid fellows advantage over a modest. awkward young nan like himself
 He wished the captain had been killed during the war he wished the war had never existed, to teach the fellow to carry himself so splendidly and gain official title that set him far above civilians in the es- timation of ladies. And ;hcssellow-eon- found him Y was awidower. so of course he knew womens ways tha, must be the reason that Mrs. Hiliway always greeted him more cordially than she did other middie-aged men besides people said the two had known each other when Mrs. Hillway was girl.
 And yet the doctor. when not wholly given over to jealousy, could no, deny that he himself was treated very gracious ly by the charming widow. She. never cnr.hha1 hin, ac Sha 3.d atft md he fancied she never was on guard agains, him as she seemed to be when some other men were talking to her. He really thought himself worthy of her considera- ton. for. although almost as bashful as a boy he was year older than Mrs. Hill way he had income enough to support two people, and his lie was pure and his tastes refined. Bu, how was he to make Mrs. Hillway know all this How among so many men more brilliant and promin- ent, could he ever summon enough cour- age to propose.
 He trembled over the matter until one New Years day; then, by making num- Der of calls. and taking few glasses of wine from graceful fingers. he became 90 emboldened that he resolved 10 propose that very evening. come what would. He would delay his call upon Mrs. Hlllway until the very last; then the chances would be in favor ofhis finding her alone, as she seldom was, and of her having seen enough stupid and heayy fellows during the day 10 be more than usually able to listen kindly 10 gentleman.
 The doctor rang Mrs. Hillway's bell only few minutes before ten. As he entered the parlor his flushed cheek paled and his throbbing heart seemed to stop beating, for in front of the lady sat the captain. T~o young ladies received with Mrs Hiliway, and the doctor was obliged to be polite to them bu, he was sure he was not succeeding a, all, for it seemed to him his spirits had departed and for ever.
 Fortunately trio of very young men dropped in, and the doctor. emboldened by wine, deliberately endeavo.ed 10 dis tract Mrs Hillways attention from the captain.
 @We were talking about you, doctor. said the captain. with fain; smile.
 Mrs. Hillway looked b, confused, and then gave the captain an appealing glance. She did i, quickly, but the doc soT noticed t and ragged inwardly What NOAA4 AilGt R6sC AAG VI dS SAAE HIS rival could no, have uttered one plezsan, word about him. Never mind he would bully the rascal. So he said in a tone that was intended to wither both:
 " suppose you found the subject of conversation very interesting
 The quirzical look the captain gave the hostess, although expressed in the slyes; way in the world. made the doctor almost crazy with rage, especially as it seemed to annoy Mrs. Hiliway. The lady's