The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-06-10
BEWARE OF WIDOWS.

1t was typical winter day. A fine,
powdery snow was falling. and fringe
of icicles adorned the steep gables Of
barns and farmhouses. The big trees
along the roadside ratified and shook
dismally.
But in spite of the cheerless prospect,
Malvern Travers whistled cheerily to
himself as he breasted the driving wind
and made his way through the dry,
fast-falling snow towards his home.
..I'll put it under her door tonight" !"
he was saying to himself, with a smile
in his hazel-grey eyes.
Here his meditations were interrupted
by the sudden opening of the door as he
reached the threshold, and by a sharp
voice exclaiming:
Hurry up. for PHYS sake, Malvern,
and don't be a-letting the snow into the
house"
And Malvern obediently hurried in
as he answered with a smile:
"No danger of that. Priscilla. There's
not a snow mountain"
There's mighty nigh it, then" I"
growled his sister-in-law. but you
don't seem to mind a-tramping over to
the post-office in such storm, and all
for nothin' I'll be bound. Git any let
ters?'
NO" returned Malvern meekly.
81 told you so," retorted Mrs. Pris-
ella in a tone of triumph.
She was worthy woman, and WELD
ed the domestic sceptre in her bachelor
brother-in-law's establishment with wis
dom and moderation.
But rs there is no rose without a
thorn, Mrs. Priscilla's really excellent
qualities were rather dimmed by the
possession of sharp tongue.
Il told the truth" smiled Malvern to
himself as he sought the privacy of his
got a birthday card. so of course
wasn't obliged to tell"
And carefully taking large, square
envelope from his overcoat pocket, he
drew out the card and examined it
carefully.
1t was very pretty card, with fan
cy border surrounding a wreath of for
get-me-nots and orange-blosoms, which
encircled pair of doves with silver
wings, represented us billing and COO
ing affectionately.
On the reverse side was a simple
cOupleI III PRINT.
"As TO the oak tree clings the vine,
So my true heart will cling to thine"
The sin1ile was not 4 very appropri.
ate one: but in Malvern's eyes it was the
pink of excellence.
full. in fact, that he passed his thir-
tieth birthday, and was still bachelor.
This fact was a thorn in the side of
his sister-in-law, and many and sharp
were the lectures she had delivered to
him on the subject; but alas! with no
avail
He could have shouldered his musket
and gone into battle without tremor;
but when it came to making love to a
pretty girl, his heart and nerves both
failed him. And yet Malvern-poor
fellow-was in love.
He had of late mustered up sufficient
courage to escort Electra Feversham
and her stepmother Ga widow to
church, and to a picnic or skating par
ty or other merrymaking on several oc'
casions.
But to his misfortune be it told he
found it easier to pay attention to the
| elder lady than to the daughter; and
as a consequence, the gossips of the
town had begun to connect his name
with that of Mrs. Ignatia Feversham
much to their own amusement.
Now Electra was the prettiest girl II
the village, with her sloe-black eyes
and cheeks that matched the scarie
| chrysanthemums she wore in her nut
brown hair, while her stepmother wa:
a snowy and not uncomely woman
with sharp eye to the main chance
and no decided objections to adopting
some other name in the place of Fever
sham.
Malvern Travers, though bashful
was not wanting in decision, and h
had recently determined that if h'
could only be reasonably well assures
that Electra would not refuse him, b,
would manage to make her an offer
in some fashion.
1t was the morning before Electra
birthday, and Electra was baking har'
in the kitchen.
Her stepmother believed in earl
breakfasts, and Electra was up befor
daylight on the short winter mornings
The savory odor of broiled har
greeted Mrs. Feyersham as she cam
briskly clicking down stairs, plai'
breakfast shawl hugged tightly aroun
her shoulders.
"Ahem! is that snow sifted under tn
door?" she asked herself, as she reachc
the bottom step.
A closer inspection assured her it wa
not
..Why, it's-it's birthday card"
And hastily seizing the missive sh
stepped into the parlor to examine
For Electra! Well, declare! Who
it from l wonder? There's no harm
opening birthday card, SO I'll just Sc
what it is"
And carefully prying open the en-
velope, Mrs Feversham beheld a tast'
fully-decorated sheet of rice-paper. o
the inner side of which were som
written words, which she proceeded
read:
miss ELECTRA.-l shall pass your hon
at sunrise tomorrow morning; 1t is yol
birthday. Ii see your face at the WI
dow, l shall take it as sign that you q
willing to accept my card.
Yours sincerely, =,
MALVERN TRAvERs." !"
'Oh, indeedr' Mrs. Ignatia grew re
in the face as she comprehended Il
purport of the words. 80 it is her he
been coming to see. heyP I'll have
, finger in that pie, Mr.. Malvern Traver
I'll take charge of this document m
self And it won't be Electra's fa'
You'll see at sunrisem
And carefully secreting the paper, 81
hurried out to the warm dining-roo
and the waiting breakfast