The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-22
MY LITTLE BOY.
/ was a widow.

wAs a widow
A young widow, l suppose-for no
one would regard three -and-twenty as
very venerable age. And n pretty widow,
people said. Whether they were right
or wrong, | cannot take upon myself
TO say. OF course knew, whenever
looked in the glass, that | was not an
absolute Highland so, when nv
cousin, Mrs. General Foxley, invited
me to spend n summer with her at the
Oriental hotel, where there were balls
and soirees, lawn tennis and archery
breakfasts going on all the while, /
wasn't at all sorry that Mile. Chatelage
had sent home my lovely new half
mourning dress, all trimmed with pearl
and lavender, sparkling jet and pris-
matte clair de lunes, and that Aunt La
vinia, our family etiquette. bookn had
decided that it was quite proper to
wear my diamonds if l pleased. For l
was decided brunette, and dark wo-
men always look we'll in diamonds.
Not that it had occurred to me that
! should ever marry again. My old
commodore had been very good and
kind TO me, but he was feeble and all
ing, and required great deal of care
and my general impression of matrimony
was that it involved trouble aud solicit
tude, and constant burden OF response
bility.
And now, was free. and l intended
to remain so! felt like a Gagged bird
that had managed to give its golden
wires the slip-a butterfly in the blue
June air meant to go to the Oriental
hotel and have royal time, waltzing
dreaming-even coquetting little in a
harmless sort of way, if it seemed good
to me-but as to marrying again-no,
not / Even Priscilla Bent, my com
panion, who was the most logical of
creatures, declared that l would be the
greatest fool alive to do that!
But we never know just what is go
ing to happen to us. The very night
before we were to start for the Orient,
came into the room where Priscilla
was packing the lace things, which were
too nice and delicate to be intrusted to
Fifine, the maid.
''Prissy," said /, ''look here telc-
gram from San Domingol Ny cousin,
Fanny Black, is dead p'
''Dear me, how sad ~ said Prissy, put
ting on the regulation look of affiiction,
although she had never in her life seen
Mrs. Captain Basil Black, Of ii. M. Hath
Fusillsers, stationed in the West Indies.
''But l suppose that won't interfere with
our trip to the seaside, will itm
"But that isn't all, " said !. ''She has
LEFT son. And with her dying breath
she charged it ON her attendants that
should take him to this country and
make home for him."
''How old is he2" said Pricilla Bent
looking agast. And"
''Let me see, said /, counting upon
my fingers. ''Basil Back-that',
I his name, for .Lember cousin Fanny
writing about him to mamma when
was a mite of thing-must be one anc
twenty at least by this time"
"Bless me !" calculated Priscilla "anC
you are only just turning twenty-thret
yourselfw
"Prissy," cried /, with misehievou
glee, you're as good as book o
datesn
'But it won't be. proper" said Pris
ella.
'.sNot properl" echoed l. Why won
le proper2 Isn't that dear old com
70 hores house big enough for all of us
aren't you here to matronize us
MO ink myself it will be rasher fine t
10 a suite of bachelor apartments
anufa{king room; dressing-room-"
Elsie, " cried Miss Bent, in despair
SS believe you would make fun of any
gl Don't you see how outlandis
Nplan would be2 Write at once t
San Domingo people, and tell ther
n rIout of the question"
Il T tts too late now, Prissy said
ey are on the way here, don't yo
N shouldn't wonder if the steame
7F75T in port now. And you know
per am