Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-14
A WIDOW BEWTTCHED.

rieu! you ought 70 get married. ltS 0lnned
into my ears from morning until night, and
now positively If Kitty hasn't taken 1t up-my
favorite sister Kitty; who makes 1t her boast
that she can twist me round her finger.
"Pshaw. charming woman his eyes had
fallen on a sentence in a letter near hiIn-"they
are all charming women. 'Her husband only
lived two years. What of thate Poor Lucy
only lived twelve months, and don't want to
get married again I'VE were schoolfelloses'
and Bob has known her from her childhood
That isn't saying anything; somebody has
known everybody from their childhood, and l
haven't such exalted opinion of Mr.. Doh's
intimates as my meddlesome monkey OF q
sister has,
COL Seymour would not have chafed half so
sorely under the interference OF his family had
he not seen that there was some reason for it.
end about as eompanionable as a wax dofl, had
died in giving birth to a daughter, who had been
len .eft IN the care OF her grandmother. year aso
the grandmother had died, AMI what TO do with
the child was a question every one had answered
except the father.
was Just what he didn't want to do ana he had
accepted his sisters invitation 70 Ashridge
manor because Kitty never bothered him about
this vexed question.
Iraitress. He had not doubt but the upshot
OF her letter was that this Mrs Coventry was to
to but 70 ara ne had mot
go with him. Kitty had asked her down that
ene might get better acquainted with her
was to meet them at the station and take care
OF Bah during the Journey.
"Oh hang the womenf' he exclaimed, irrita-
ply: u don't believe another being on earth is
bothered about them as am.
Hang Mrs. Coventry ne continued; land as
ior Kitty, confound her and her scheme to-
Now, it happened that on that same night,
ana at ABOUT the same hour, In coy little
oouoolf In kensingtOn Gore, Il very good-loOk
Ing woman sat alone, trying to make up her
mind to what seemed to her a desperate action.
a letter, and her name was Mrs. Coventry.
ITS the same thing Observation-Disclosures her
alded by my money-and that's what is max
ing Kitty so anxious for me to meet her brother.
IN sure she knew how much admired him
before he married, or / either. But your face
was your fortune then, my DEAR she said. ad-
'now you're a rich widow, and it's a different
matter don't see why 1t should be, though
Us for him, although he does not know me from
Adam. admire him as much as ever"
again. and she sat gazing into the fire. Then
without removing her eyes, she reached out her
hand for the letter, and held it so that 1t may
be read over her shoulder.
DEAR HELEN; Am l not the most unforta-
nate person in the world? My cousins little
boy is Very unwell with what may be only
cold, or the doctor says may turn out a fever.
or course, dare not risk the children ut Ash
ridge Manor, but If It proves to be nothing at
nervous about having me, SO I intend to write
and say that / am detained by sprained
ank!e-fortunately have turned my foot; and
Seymours, and say from me that IaHn unable
to fulfill my engagement oftE<aisgc Charge OF his
to address him, or would not trouble You" Ny
cousin has,
But at this point Mrs. Coventry's interest
OF the letter she relapsed into her study Of the
hre suddenly she rang the bell. "Send Ellis
to me-" she said, and a few minutes later her
maid appeared. II have changed my mind
about Thursday. Ishall go to Ashridge to-mor.'
row by the 11:s0 train. You can come on by
one later
IL
I'm sure, ma'am, nobody, unless compelled
said Ellis, looking out of the window. at Isn't
weather fit to sand so much as a dog OUT
Then tell John that Rex is to be kept
Two bare feet were On the carpet and Mrs.
coventry decision was announced by Order
s s9ad for 5s9Ts GO and 5ohn fetch
Ellis retired in injured silence She had her
own opinion of this unwarrantable mystery--it
who was going down as governess to Ashridge
Manor and who was always made most ride
clear to punish the two delinquents, but some
how revenge she'd have.
Not that dress, the serge, one" Mrs. Coven-
trys toilet was all but completed"
q shall take bag to put a book and the
newspaper in, the thick rug and wear my black
bonnet and my sealskin cloak"
repenting the step she had taken, and half In
clined TO turn back--.entering the waiting room
She see Colonel Seymour there. No: the room
was empty. Very likely. seeing 1t was such a
bad morning, he had given up all thought of
coming.
4" Has any inquiry been made for Miss
HaInblin ?" she said
Not this morning nobody has been In
Mrs. Coventry turned to 90.
Lady here o the name O. Hamblin9" called
Eyes; this LADY, said the "V waiting-room
have to go rapidly at railway stations, and be-
action Colonel Seymour had shaken her by the
hand, said be was pleased to meet BIER, nuch
oD4fed 1 for her yentarng on such morning
to get their tickets. Flight was impossible. She
An hour later the train was crawling SLOWLY
sat Mr.. cgvsnt:y. opposite her was Bab at tss
The usual civiIities had been exchanged, and
since then the colonel had sat intrenehed be-
shelter OF which he was taxing STOCK Of his fair
ne .ig
head, and sighed compassionately. Ear too
pretty to be a governess. Z they have some OF
be the Ssncs dSWn thsFs 9 STAY thrs
At this moment Bah took possession Of q seat
which Mrs. Coventry had offered next to her
The movement attracted her fathers attention
What a big girl that child was growing She
would be old enough TO have a Soverness her
self soon! Pshaw! What nonsense next? aud q
single man like him, too, That would indeed
set people talking. Col. Seymour laid aside his
paper,moved nearer the lady he was observing
and began:
:. I hope you are not feeling the cold. That's
famously warm cloak you have on"
The cloak was handsome sealskin dolman
Good gracious. His voice seemed rather
pointed. Did he think II too handsome for a
he had any, she said:
1T is Mrs. Coventry's cloak; she was afraid
might feel cold, and lent 1t to me-"
or course he renernbered who Mrs. Coventry
was, her great friend Kitty had told him that
1t was she who had recommended her
Mrs. Coventry rose full fifty feet In the Col
onel's estimation. "Ah," he Thought now
that's q very kind action" and he SMILED an,
Provinglv. as he said:
My sister tells me that Mrs. Coventry is
pecting to hear an emphatic affirmation.
ies-oh-l have known her long that I
am harCly able TO say. She has q great many
friends In what = sad voice she said that
POOR girl! The Colonel felt quite touched and
arew nearer sun, and to explain his reason
for doing SO said he felt draught from the win
dow.
Won't you have your rug ." she said. taking
one rom Bab;and wrapping her In half her own.
fonr iiiile girl and will share this one"
scruples to be overcome. ~
Il don't think you know Mrs. Lambton. my
rs she at al like you ?" asked Mrs. Coventry.
"some people think So" he said. He uss M.
at all displeased at the way she had asked the
question, there was o look In her face wh;ch
gave point to the inquiry. "-SA