Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-30
The Widow Lester
BY ALICE G. MATTEsON.


'Mat. the widow Lester wants some
of her climbers nailed up this morning.
Are you almost through there?'
mo, mum, it Il take an hour r two
yit."
Mrs. Norris tapped her foot on the
walk reilectively.
II night have that bed and the trees
left until afternoon. | suppose she
said, slowly, but
''What is up?' cried a voice behind
her. why, mother, Won look worried.
Has our fortune Il ssolved in thin ar.
or didn't your dress have the proper
amount of frills and flumadiddlcs when
it came home? Conlide in your baby,
mother
'OhI' laughed Mrs. Norris. turn
ing from her contemplate of the
flower beds and Mat. Nothing seri-
Gus, only the widow Lester wanted Mat
a little while this morning. and | want
my beds lin she'd"
''Who's the widow Lester?:'' queried
Tom Norris, yawning. Anybody 1
ever knew? ANY of my old girls got
married and been b,-w lowed? Don't
tell me suddenly. If It's Mamie Craig,
.or Sarah Prescott, -
Nonsense. Tom. 1t is nobody you
ever saw. that | know of. She's a very
pretty little woman, with a very pretty
little daughter. She came to WlLur-
-. - 10Th ,n-. anl go - III
white cottage across the common. j.
do wish Mat were through"
Look here, mother, said Tom, sud-
denly, why can 90? Here l am,
doNg nothing. What's to hinder mo
from making myself as useful as | am
ornamental? And | am always inter-
ested in widows, You know-or their
daughters which is all the same"
al W sh ,ou would 90, Tom" Mrs.
Norris said. Frightening. Il hate to
have Mat leave the beds, and YOU
couldn't do them, | know; but YOU can
certainly nail mp n few vines. | hate
TO have her wait, too, so YOU better
go"
Tom put on his coat. and run his fin
gers through h curly locks.
al shall tell her I'm the new hired
man, | think" he SAID, rs he took up
his hat. What name would You give
If you were me? Pat sounds well. but
it's too much like Mat. = But / could
say. quite i%mpromptu. You know:
"'Mrs. Norris discharged her man called Mat,
And hired another whose name was Pat"
Tom" said Mrs. Norris. impatient-
". though she was laughing. ''Will
you 90 on? | heard Mrs. Lester
say she wanted to 90 to the city this af-
t%ernoon, and | don't expect YOU will
get there before she goes, you are so
SLOW
You don't appreciate my poetic eff
forts.' grumbled Tom. But he dallied
no longer, and was soon unftstenng
the wicket gate which guarded the en-
trance to a pretty, well-kept little gar
den VIII ch was one mass OF bloom. A
blue-eyed child was PLAYING on the vine
covered porch.
WHO is 'oo?' she asked. as Tom
came leisurely up and patted her on
the head.
I'm the man to nail climbers" re-
turned Tom. ''Who is 'oo?' in play
full mjmicry.
as NJ IS Katie Lester 'Nangeline."
said she. drawing herself up with pride.
.,And dis. exhibiting a doll half as
large as herself. as INV baby. Her
name is NJ IS Delphine Mauda Lester,
an hers free months old"
Large of her size,' laughed Tom.
"Where's anybody ?'
There was "A soft patter OF slippered
feet. r rustling of woman's garments,
and Tom rai sed his ewes to encounter a
pair of yer, blue ones surveying il IN
enquiringly.
He lifted his hat to the owner of the
blue eyes. who was an exceedingly
pretty young lady in a gray and black
wrapper.
Il am Tom Norris" he began.
"Mrs. Lester wanted some vines fixed.
bel eve. and as our man was busy.
volunteered to come. Nv mother said
she thought | could manage them"
with a twinkle in his eyes.
The young lady smiled and came for
ward.
II am glad you came" she said.
simply, 81 couldn't manag them
alone. Wait y minute till | get my
hat, and l will show you where they
are"
She tripped into the hall and seized
n huge garden hat from the rack. Then
she led the way around the house 10
where some cl mbing roses sadly need
ed attention..
Those highest ones" ind cat ne