The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-06
The Widows Secret.

right" said the rosy little widow tC
the dressmaker who was fitting hel
trim figure to silk gown of the
color of "moon upon the lake." and
at the same time holding her head
back, and trife to one side, lest
her tears should drop thereon. 81
don't think women know how tc
treat their husbands"
''You must be expert in the mat
ter" responded Mrs. FIFTEEN, "seeing
this is the fourth time you have tried
'em. Hollow in your back "a trifle
as is natural to you-there-sets
like a ducks foot in the mud-can't
be bettcred," she exclaimed profes.
sionally.
The widow eyed herself, turn nl
from side to side, and smiling con
sciously at her own prettiness.
ayes, that will do, Mrs. FIFTEEN
but l am sure you don't treat YOU
husband right"
shouldn't wonder; ma'am, see
ing my patience has clean gone out
Of me. This will be your fourth
husband. Well, well, you most, neg
ging your pardon, like men better'r
I do. Moon upon the lake. is
mighty becoming to you, and very
suitable for widow"
The lady redeemed, but she CAV,
a short laugh, also, as she answered
in way and manner to hide the
sting under what she said,-
"Men are good creatures wher
women know how to manage them
They do seem to incline more tC
some women more than Others"
"You never had a drinking hus
band, ma'am, | suppose?"
"Bless you'll no, neverl l could
not abide the breath. A woman
ought to be on her guard"
at seems SO strange. Widowhood
seems natural to some women-they
thrive and grow pretty upon it."
The widow laughed, saying
81 never gave it a thought-but
it may be So"
"Going to be married the fourth
time Not a chick nor child MOI
forty yet, and plump and pretty as
everl Upon my word, ma'am
don't see how you manage"
"Oh, that's a secret"
Mrs FIFTEEN opened her eyes wide
and slowly repeated
"a secretI'
eyes, indeed l have found it tC
work admirably with three hus
bands, and doubt not it will work
just as well with the fourth"
"Bless my heart" exclaimed tn,
dressmaker, dropping the cord sh,
was covering to put the hounce OF
with, with an ill-disguised horror OF
her face.
"Oh, | didn't kill my three hus
bands. They were dotingly fond o
me to the last, and left me well pro
vided for"
"Do tell me your secret, ma'am,
and an expectant, not to say pain
full hope, frightened her wan face.
at isn't much, Mrs. Fittem, anc
yet, it is a secret, and its application
has been, as it were, disastrous il
my case. l am sure l never expect
ed it."
'Dear mel you seem to own W
to something. Did they die sud
denly, poor critters ?"
"Quite the contrary, they lingcr-
ed along as if loath to 60"
"Poor critters 1 should have
thought you would have felt bad"
Il did, indeed )" and the pretty
woman preparing to wed her fourth
husband wept at the memory of the
three.
"Do tell me all about it," persist
ed the other with a look not sympa
thetic. "Your tears haven't seemed
to dim your handsome eyes"
81 don't know about that
never thought about it.-but, Mrs
FIFTEEN, first and last l have cried a
great deal"
"Perhaps you had a reason un-
known to the world, ma'am. But
want dreadfully to know how you
managed it."
Our widow was a sort of widow
Wadley-easily beguiled to tears oI
smiles--and she began to perceive
that the astute dressmaker had
some latent design in thus question
ing her, which she did not object to
crafty. Accordingly she assumed
the narrative form, and began
while the needle of her auditor
clicked against her thimble in con.
cert.
"My first husband, you mus
know, was well-to-do, but not rich
He was what is called a model man
We went to church every Sunday