The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-01-07

Wv WIDOW.
She was the meekest and most docile
little parsonage you ever saw. That, of
course, was before she became nv
widow.
How could she become my widow,
when I'm here alive and fiourishng. to
tell my own story? Just wait until I've
finished, and you will see.
She was very pretty, too, with pink
apple cheeks, and eyes of that peculiar
translucent beryl-green that you see so
seldom, slender little figure, and a step
as noiseless as if she wore the famous
shoes of silence. There was something
cat-like about her-at least, SO Fitz-
Brown said, but Fitz- Brown was always
prejudiced agains. Lucilla.
Depend upon it, old fellow, she's mar
ried you for your money" said Fitz
Brown. cit doesn't stand to reason that
n girl Of eighteen should tie herself TO a
fat old heathen of fifiy-four, unless there
is some motive lurking underneath
Fitz Brown" | broke in irritably,
"you're fool -
" may be fool" answered that gen.
tleman calmly, "but single fool is not
so bad as married fool, in any point of
view you may choose to take it.
There was no use urging with Fitz-
Brown. He was a stubborn, opionated
old fellow at best, and he was determined
not to like Lucilla from the very first.
How he did exult when he came down to
my office and told me that Harry Sykes
was spending the evening with LuciIa-
that same reckless good -for-naught who
had been wont to hang around her be-
fore We were married And Lucilla had
told me she was going to take tea with
her mother.
Nevertheless put on bold face.
Well, let him spend the evening""
said |. Where's the harm %
Yes; but-but the curtains were not
drawn, and-and it isn't necessary for
him to sit on the same sofa, with his arm
round her waist"
went straight home, but Mr.. Sykes
had departed, and Lucila was darning
my stockings by the fire.
"Lucilla," said | sternly, "I must
forbid any more of Henry Sykes's visits
here"
Yes, Josiah" said my wife; "Harry
is rather troublesome"
"And you will please receive no more
young gentlemen visitors in nv alb
sencr.
"No, Josiah"
"The fact is, Luclla, am afraid you
read too many novels"
Perhaps do" said my wife meekly.
81 will bring up set Of Rollins An
cient History to morrow and some SER
mons FOR you to read. All lighter litera-
ture must be banished at once.''
"Certainly, Josiah"
Could Fitz Brown himself have expect-
ed more complete and dutiful acquain-
tance in all my demands :?
Lucilla was preternaturally affection.
ate the next two or three days. She hung
round me in the most bewitching man.
ner, sewed my shirt-buttons on, ran for
my slippers, and would insist on toastiug
the bread herself, until her pretty face
was the color of scarlet tomato. "be.
cause cook il so careless, aud dear Josiah
likes toast Drowned just So"
What shall | order for dinner, dear :?
The butchers man is here. Steaks or a
roasting piece p
81 don't care" answered mechani.
cally. "Suit yourself"
But you know your wishes are nv
pleasure, love-"
"Steaks then.'
And about the pudding, sweet
snail tell cook to make real old Eng
lish plum, or would you prefer baked
snet p
Really 1t was very nice to hear ones
wishes consulted in this sort of manner.
And when | departed from the office.
Lucilla herself stood on tiptoe to tie the
worsted muller round my neck.
For if you should take cold, dearest.
and anything should happen, it would
break your dear little wife's heart"
Under these harmonious circumstances
that sudden voyage to India came like
thunderbolt across the serene horizon of
our matrimonial life.
How shall | live without YOU six
months, my dearest?" sobbed Lucilla.
her lovely beryl eyes swimming in tears.
But we cannot always control neces
sity, and, after a mourntul farewell in
which my wife fairly succumbed and
went into histerics, | departed on necas-
sary business for the firm of Miner &
Mortlake, myself being the aforesaid
Mortlake.
How it happened that my name was
erroneonsly lugged into the details of that
massacre i'll which the barbarous coolies
murdered so many of the foreign popuIa-
tion, when | was actually Ten miles far
ther up the country, / never knew. and
then my long fever, during which found
it impossible to write or obtain an amanu-
ensis, served to complicate matters. When
| recovered, resolved to proceed imm.-
diately back to my native land.
I'll not~write, I mentally decided
I'll surprise Lucilla, bless her dear little
heart ! How delighted she will be.
So took passage in the first English
steamer that sailed, pretty we'll cured Of
all my romantic ideas Of travelling II
foreign climes, and thoroughly convinced
that when man has lived City odd years
in the world his best place Is Il home.
Halfway across, We hailed IN Enrli1i,
crafts outward bound, and there wss ! !
exchange Of newspapers and. other civ,
ilities. Sc -. 81