The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-07-25
THE WIDOWS MYSTERY.

.H
Mrs. Nelly Archer was one Of the
prettiest little widows that ever looked
fascinating in the flutter of black rib
bons and transparent Grape; yet, some
how, no one was ever jealous of the
affectionate, warm-hearted, beautiful
young widow. For was she not always
ready to help the helpless, care for the
careless and think for the thoughtless ?
You couldn't help wondering what peo-
pie did in the benighted times before
Mrs. Archer came on the stage of life,
so indispensable did she seem to human
! comfort.
So, of course, the very evening of the
day that Mildred Wilton became en-
gagged to Henry Forest she came up
through the evening twilight, with in
cense of flowers scattered on her path
and tiny freely lamps hung in the bush
es to illuminate her way, to tell Nelly
about it. 1t was just as natural as
thinking aloud.
"In love, you dear, foolish thing!"
said Mrs. Archer, laughingly, impris-
oning Mildred's fluttering hands, and
looking archly under the down-sweep-
ing fringes of her timid eyes. "Well,
every woman must come, sooner or lat
er, to the time when some great six
footer becomes glorified in her sight,
and whose words are Like the law and
the prophets. May you never awake
from the blissful dream, loyel"
"He is SO changed, somehow" said
Mildred.
The moon, which had been a narrow
slit of pearl when Henry Forrest first
whispered his love into Mildred's willing
ear, was now on the wane, and poor
Mildred was crying on Mrs. Archer's
shoulder.
"How, dearest?" said Nelly, stroking
the dark, disheveled locks, while she
pressed her cool cheek against Mildred's
burning forehead.
"He is so grave and self-absorbed, y
replied Mildred; "and when he looks
at me it is with q pitying glance, and
two or three times some unbroken
sentence has quiyered on his lips
Nelly, do you suppose-can it be pos
sible that he has ceased to love me agd
wishes to be released from our engage
ment22"
"Not a bit of it, love-" said Nelly;
"don't distress your dear little head it
will all come right. / am sure. You
know that financial affairs are in q very
critical state just now, and all business
men are necessarily anxious?n
"Do you think that is all ?" murmured
Mildred gradually hushing her sobs,
and drawing closer to her comforter, as
a child distressed by sorrowful dreams
clings to its soothing nurse.
"Of course it is,D said Nellie. "And
now, love, it is growing late, and Unjust
send You home. Go by the upper path
Mildred it is less damp than the road
along the river side"
What possessed her to set out by the
river side, in spite Of Mrs. Archer's
warnings Perhaps because that way
was nearest-bscauise the finger of Fate
was In the thing; for as she approached
q dense mass of silver birch woods that
skirted the road the sound Of low voices
made her start behind the trees with an
uneasy consciousness that she was not
alone. The tones came nearer, and as
Al -. Anr @x<@ns<-1 rr4~ Az 4<xo4~
tain moonlight from the Swallowed place
where the road wound through q deep
glen, her heart stood still with horror.
She knew the promenaders well. Was
this the reason that Nelly had desired
her to 60 the willow path? Oh, false
friend and recreant ioveri No need to
ask why Harry was changed.
Nelly, you are an ANGEL What
should ! do without you?" she heard
him say, as they paused at the path
that led to Mrs. Archer's home. Nelly
shook her head, laughingIy.
mind" she said, mot q word Of this
to Mildred-poor Mildredin
There are times when q minute seems
70 compress into its seconds all the bit.
terDess Of y~ears-and our readers may
Judge, If they can, how long this night
was to Mildred Wilton's breaking
heart.
BY mornings faint dawn, however,
Mildred'e resolves were all taken.
She would release Henry Forrest
from his troth. though her own heart
strings parted, but she would nevel
see Mrs. Archer more. Ahi why had
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