The Press., 1884-08-21
HOW THE BACHELOR LOST THE WIDOW.

MT. POdmOro Iempany 1elJ very mucu disgusted when the fair widow who had consented to share his name handed him a valuable bracelet in order that he might get missing stone replaced. He was an elderly bachelor of miserly proclivitles, and did not half relish the commission, though he could not very well refuse. It had been the aim of his life to marry wife with 8 fortune, and as Mrs. Bramwell Jay possess ed this desirable qualification, he was nat urally anxious to avoid offending her.
 He therefore reluctantly took the brace let to MT. Bevis, the jeweler in Sackville street, but finding the cost of replacing the missing stone would be considerable, he could not summon up courage to g1ve the order He locked the bracelet up at his lodgings, and fretted a good deal about the unnecessary expense the widow had put him to. By degrees, however, he be- came calmer, for it happened that Mrs. Bramwell Jay omitted to make any in inquiry about her property. As time slip ped by, he began to hope that the lady had actually forgotten all about it-which, indeed, seemed to be the case. Naturally MT. Tempany did not feel called upon to refresh her memory, and thus 1t came about that the bracelet remained in his possession until the date fixed for the we'd ding was close at hand. . ... ....... | Just at this inconvenient time Q friend of MT. Tempany s-to whom he was un- der obligations ill the way of business must needs get married, and MT. Tempany felt compelled to give him wedding pres ent. He resented this disagreeable neces- sity very much, because he had suffered 8 great deal of uneasiness of late owing to the increase in his expenditure incident to his engagement. He was also at the mo- ment particularly depressed by the pros pect of having to pay for honeymoon trip to the Italian lakes, not to mention such comparatively trifing items as an outfit for himself, and promiscuous gratul- ties to every one on his wedding day Even the consoling reflection that once married, his wife's income would be amply sufficient for both failed to soothe him, and in this unhappy frame of mind he suddenly recollected Mrs. Jays bracelet Since he absolutely must give wedding present to his friend Bullivant, why should he not make use of the bracelet? It was great temptation, for the ornament had lain in his drawer several weeks, and Mrs. Bramwell Jay had apparently forgotten It. If she should happen to ask for 1t before their marriage he could invent some plaus- ible excuse to account for the delay 1n re- turning it. When they were married he could pretend he had lost it, or that it had been stolen, and, if driven into corner, he could replace it by an inferior article. As matter of fact, however, MT. Tempany did not pause to reflect upon remote con- tingencies, for he felt so inexpressibly re- ieved at the prospect of avoiding further expense at the moment that he yielded blindly to an overpowering temptation. As to the morality of the transaction, 1t can only be charitably supposed that he vaguely imagined he had some sort of le- gal property ill the bracelet in anticipation of his rights as husband.
 l However this may be-, MT. Tempany dispatched the bracelet to his friends with a neatly worded letter of congratulations and good wishes. The fact of one of the stones being missing was 8 little awkward, because it showed that the bracelet was not new. But MT. Tempany fattered him. self that he got over the difficulty very adroitly by remarking that the bracelet had been cherished heirloom ill his family for years, and that he would never have parted with it to any one but the wife ot his dear and esteemed friend Bullivant. By return of post he received hearty let ter of thanks from the lady, and also from his friend, and MT. Tempany experienced thrill of virtuous satisfaction at having for once in his life gained credit for gen. eroslty.
 Of course, he did not mention this little episode to Mrs. Bramwell Jay; and he mentally resolved never to introduce Bul- livant to her. But few days afterwards he was considerably startled by the widow saying .... l 4lo& -,loo loc hol 1oio 1ntfa1 from you. Amy Markham and were old schoolfellows You never told me you knew her," .f
 CT never heard the name," said MT. Tempany, uneasily.
 ."How stupid of me! That was he1 maiden name, of course," exclaimed Mrs. Bramwen Jay, taking letter from her desk. "It appears she has recently been married. Her husband is Mr.-Mr.-such queer name, and I can't read her sigma ture But he is friend of yours.'
 "Not Bullivant P said MT. Tempany, with start. .. ...rg ..s....
 -"Yes. She writes that her husband is an old friend of yours, and that you sent her beautiful bracelet. How good ot you, Podmore You never gave me a beautiful bracelet" added the widow, re- proachfully.
 s'All in the way of business y muttered MT. Tempany, feeling faint. :,
 "Amy says she will be passing through town tomorrow, and will make point of calling to show me the bracelet con- tinued Mrs. Bramwell Jay, innocently: "She says it is extremely handsome, and she wants to read me your kind letter. Are you ill, Podmore?' | "No, no It is the heat of the fire, gasped MT. Tempany, wiping his fore head ''I wanted you to come somewhere with me tomorrow, Theodosia-for the whole day, I mean. I haven't been to the the Crystal Palace for years, or to Green wich Park. Will you come to Greenwich Park, Theodosia p heaadded, desperately.
 .tWhat horribly. vulgar places How absurd you are, Podmore ]" exclaimed the widow, looking at him rather curiously. Besides, I want to see Amy when she calls.- shall certainly stay in for her to- morrow" ~-s r. g.s. >-r-<s-
 ''I shouldn't, if I were you," said MT. Tempany, earnestly. Every inconsiderate of her, call it, to swoop down upon you like that"
 ''I don't think so, returned Mrs. Bram- we'll Jay. 'sI want particularly to see the bracelet you sent her. Will you come and |