Morris tribune., 1886-10-06
THE COL0NEL'S WIDOW.
New York Mercury.

Inc colonel S widow had taken the
top fiat and we-Jap and had the
one just underneath. Jap, by the
way, is all the family | have. Jap is
not q very extensive specimen OF Ca
uine loneliness, but Japis the sta unch,
est and most loyal of-humanity,
was about to say. Never mind. Jap
is good deal more human than a
great many two-footed animals oil
my acquaintance. Jap is a Japanese
pug as to nationality, long haired,
black and white and loving. Knows
a pretty woman when he sees her, will
not make friends with a hypocrite
and has never met policeman.
So l took Jap under my arm and
made sure of having my latch-key, for
it isn't very pleasant being tricked by
a spring lock on the door of your own
apartment, as l have been once or
twice, and having to go through some
lower floors kitchen and mount the
tire-escape to your own back window.
Then Jap and l climbed the highest
flight OF stairs and rang the gong bell
of the colonies widows outer door.
We had to wait some little time for
admission, and as we stood there we
could not avoid, honorable o. we al.
ways intend to be. Jar, and I over.
nearing + nasty and fretful converse
tion that was occurring within. Pos
sibly the colonel's widow and her
daughter-for she had a daughter
had forgotten the open transom
above the door.
You'll have to 60, Celia" said the
widow. II can't get my dress but
toned"
81 can't go, mother; my hair is all
up and I don't want to take it
down."
Il never saw the like, Celia. You
never will do anything l ask you. l
don't see who it can be, anyway, I'M
less the hall boy with letters"
cit isn't time for the postman. Ten
to one it's that woman downstairs
with the dog"
"Oh, that horrid little dried-up old
maid?'
Now this wasn't very pleasant, but
We couldn't very we'll retreat, we call
ers, even after hearing such O. verdict
pronounced Jap looked up at me
and winked roguishly, as if to say:
at isn't your fault, is it, dearie, that
you're an old maid?'
Besides, as the colonel's widow had
taken the initiative in the matter OF
our becoming acquainted, did not
feel so bad. Jap and had boiled her
tea kettle for her the day she moved
in and loaned her our best step-lad-
der and taken charge of her music box
and taken her groceries off the dumb
waiter when she couldn't get her own
slide open and rung our messenger call
half a dozen times in her interest
and
Just then the door opened and the
widow stood revealed, smiling and
positively delightful.
why, my dear Miss Dana! Ii I'd
only known it was you you shouldn't
have been kept waitingso. Come right
in. Oh, how is little Jap? The cunning
little creature! Walk right into the
parIor. I was dressing positively
had nothing but bath robe-and &C.
liza, poor girl, has such a headache:
she's just tying up her forehead ina
towel, you know"
Jap gave a low grumble OF dissent,
but he is very mannerly dog, and
when | babe him sit quietly at my side
he obeyed without a murmur; only
once in while he would look up and
wink at me, as if to say: "Pardon the
vernacular, but do request her mildly
to come off,"
think Jap was always a little pre-
JUDGED against the lady ever since the
day / had first read aloud for his con-
sideration from a very neat visiting
card, "Mrs. Colonel Archibald For
tescue."
The widow was very tall and equal
~ plump. She had q massive figure
and good-sized face, surmounted by
a crown of smoke-white hair. But
she carried herself very gracefully,
much more so than Miss Celia, a fiery
blonde, who was thin and stoop-
shouldered.
The widow had a way of sitting
very erect and made a great many
gestures. She talked with her hands
as we'll as her mouth.
"You are just the one l wanted to
see," she said; with glow OF manner
that presaged an axe to grind.
"Wow' said Jap increduously, re-
membering, perhaps, what we had
heard before we were admitted.
1.-THE dear little creature!" said the
widow, chow knowing he is. Yes, Miss
Dana, Was coming down to see you,
had you not come up. ! am very
anxious to interest you in little
charitable project that is quite engros-
sing us at present. Celia has class
in Che Chinese mission, you know. BY
the way, 1 hope you like the Chinese.
They make lovely pupils. Well, Celia
wants to give her class picnic excur-
sion during the coming week and we
thought perhaps you would join us.
The dear girl has quite set her heart
on your doing so-and the dog, too,
of course"
"Wowp' said Jap, INCREASINGLY.
If anything vexes him it is to be call
ed "the dog"
But the coloneps widow smilingly
continued:
''We shall either go up the Hudson
or just to the park There are twelve
in Celia's class and we three win make
fifteen. think perhaps the park will