The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-09-15

rascal-lust marrledIJourney play
ed her out -trifle better now," etc,
etc.
Old Mr. Rathbone led me across
the hall to a pretty morning room.
The curtains were drawn so as to
shade the light. Reclining in an
easy chair was a lady dressed in
deep mourning, who turned her head
languidly as we entered the room.
AS my eyes rested upon a pale
but beautiful face, they beheld the
one face in all the world to me-that
of the women loved-Helen Nor
ris
Forgetful of the fact that l had
called to sec Mrs. Williams, and
quite unmindful of the runaway
marriage, 1 took the dainty hand
gently in mine, and with much feel
ing, exclaimed: 81 am so glad to
meet you once morew
Suddenly the thought did flash
itself across my dull brain, that this
was the Mrs. Williams whom / was
to attend, and the bitter knowledge
that she was another mans wife
came slowly to me.
An acute possession of misery took
possession of me, while a thousand
and one thoughts of the past ran riot
in my mind. AS for Helen-I mean
Mrs. Williams she appeared to be
considerably astonished, as did the
old gentleman, who exclaimed:
"You have seen my niece before,
then, Doctor ?"
"Yes-no-that isl thought"
l stammered ; then, as fully COM
pretended that for some reason she
wished to ignore all former acquaint-
ance. I tried to say coolly and
politely;
81 beg the lady's pardon it is Il
gross case of mistaken identity on
my part, and am sorry that l made
the blunder."
Quietly she bowed and with her
old grace and sweetness (Which in
this instance, at least, seemed to me
to beg very admirably acting) she
said:
81 wish l could lay claim to for
mer acquaintance it is so pleasant
to meet old friends unexpectedly"
Then, as well as my nerves would
allow, ! treated my patient. As I
felt in no mood for conversation,
soon us l could I took my departure.
My thoughts were none of the
pleasantest as | drove down the vii
lage street, but | thought I might as
well grow used TO my disappoint-
ment, and resolved to stay in Marble
head-Mrs. Williams or no Mrs
Williams.
That afternoon | was honored by
Il call from my old aunt. l was not
exactly in frame of mind to enter
tain her, but she was one Of the sort
who can entertain themselves pretty
well. Even she noticed my glum-
ness and rallied me in her talkativly
way.
"Why, John Bcckwith, you're not
yourself You're lonesome, man
You will never be Il success profess
sionally or socially, my boy, until
you marry. Now, there's fine
chance right under your nose, John
A beautiful young widow whom
many a man would be only too glad
to have the chance of wooing, and
here she is II neighbor of yours in a
country place. Let me take you up
to sec Mrs. Williams"
By this time was getting in
terested in my aunt's gossip.
ga widow, aunt?" Arc you sur
Mrs. Williams is widow ?"
"Sure? Why, of course am
John. All, see you know some
thing of the lady and are already
interested in her. Well, good-by
John; am real glad to find tina
you can appreciate good thing
when you see it,"
fl had felt blue in the morning
my feelings underwent IL violen
change now, as l asked myself wha
was to prevent me from wooing anC
winning Helen? Of course, as sh
was my patient, I had plenty of ex
cuse for calling upon her the yer.
next day, and did SO. She ap
peared distant and strange at first
but after Il while she "thawed,
though she never seemed Just he
old self. I thought it best not to IT
fer to former times, and so our cor
versations then and on subsequen
occasions was confined to rassin
topics. Three or four weeks slippo
, away, and at last I thought wa
bold enough to ask Helen for som