Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-04-05
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?"
NO, mum. it II take an hour r two
yit"
Mrs Norris tapped her foot on the
walk renectively.
Il might have that bed and the trees
left until afternoon. l suppose" she
said. slowly. But"
"What is up?" cried a voice behind
her. "Why. mother. you look worried.
Has our fortune dissolved in thin air.
or didn't your dress have the proper
amount of lrils and llumadiddes when
it camo homer Conlide in your baby,
mother"
'Oh!' laughed Mrs. Norris, turn
ing from her contemplation of the
flower beds and Mat. Nothing seri-
ous only the widow Lester wanted Mat
little while this morning, and want
my beds fin she'd.
WHO tho widow Lester?" queried
Tom Norris yawning. Anybody 1
ever knew? ANY of my old girls got
married and been bo-wdowed? Don't
tell me suddenly. If it's Mamie Craig,
or Sarah Prescott. Or
Nonsense. Tom. 1t is nobody you
ever saw. that know of. She's very
pretty little woman. with very pretty
little daughter. She came to Wilbur
ton six months ago, and lives in the
white cottage across the common. /
do wish Mat were through"
Look here, mother" said Tom, sud-
denly, why can goP Here l am,
doing nothing. What's to hinder me
from making myself as useful as | am
ornamentalP And | am always inter-
esled in widows, you know-or their
daughters which is all the same"
Il wish YOU would 90. Tom" Mrs.
Norris said. frightening. Il hate to
have Mat leave the beds, and YOU
couldn't do them. / know; butyou can
certainly nail up few vines. | hate
to have her wait too, so you better
GO"
Tom put on his coat, and run his fin
gers through his 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 1 could
say, quite impromptu, you know:
"Airs. Norris discharged her man called Mat,
And hired another whose namc was Pat"
Tom" said Mrs. Norris, impatient
", though she was laughing. "Will
YOU 20 on? | heard Mrs. Lester
say she wanted to 60 to the city this af-
ternoon, and l 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 unfasLening
the wicket gate which guarded the en-
trance to a pretty, well-kept little gar
den which was one mass of bloom. A
blue-eyed child was playing on the vine
covered porch.
..Who is 'oo?" she asked. as Tom
came lesurely up and patted her on
the head.
I'm the man to nail climbers" re-
turned Tom. ''Who is 'ooP" in play
full mimicry.
use M IS Katie Lester 'Vangeline, "
SAID SDc, UEdWlnH H6IScll WIN pi
'And dis" exhibiting doll half as
large as herself. "s nv baby. Her
name is Mss Delphine Mazda Lester,
an hers free months old. "
Large of her size" laughed Tom.
"Where's anybodvP"
= There was soft patter OF slippered
feet, rustling of woman's garments,
and Tom raised his eyes to encounter q
pair of very blue ones surveying him
enquiringly.
He lifted his hat to the owner of the
blue eyes. who was an exceedingly
pretty young lady in gray and black
wrapper.
Il am Tom Norris" he began.
"Mrs. Lester wanted some vines fixed.
believe, and as our man was busy.
volunteered to come. My mother said
she thought l could manage them,
with a twinkle in his eyes.
The young lady smiled and came for
ward.
Il am glad you came" she said,
simply, 81 couldn't manage them
alone. Wait minute till l get my
hat, and / 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 ia
where some climbing roses sadly need.
ed attention..
Those highest Ones" indicating