Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-03-08


tims." ] returned.
'Is ID q subject that requires grea
deal of thought" inquired the widow
with q witching little smile playing
around the corners Of those scarlet
lips.
mo. not now
"You will come up this evening
perhapse'' said Mrs. Dunready.
"Yes.'
The ladies bowed and withdrew.
And 30 that evening / spent al
Mrs. Dunready's. But on my way
there I was obliged 10 pass Mr. Bud.
dsrili's and there On the piazza was
Medora and 1isr friends, Mis- pinsnsn
and Miss Clintoe, surrounded by
Brown, Smithers and Black. touch.
ed my hat to the ladies and passed on,
and I thought that Medora must have
experienced a sense of relief that one
of her admirers had withdrawn, for
one evening at least.
l found Dunready and the ladies
assembled on the lawn in front Of the
house engaged in game of croquet.
"Ah, Jonjones." cried Dunready,
"you are just in season to commence
the game with US"
"The widow bluehed as much as it
was possible for a widow to, and look
ed down, knowing perhaps that her
eyelashes were quite long and really
worth showing.
a" 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will
Our coming. and look brighter when We
come"
I Iquoted, jestingly.
81 am glad that you think such
knowledge is sweet. I shall begin to
have hopes of you, Notwithstanding I
have hitherto considered you such an
incorrigible old bachelor" said Mra.
Dunready, driving her ball through
the first wicket.
Old bachelorl How could she be so
cruel to me when handsome widow
stood within the sound of her voice.
/ was certain that I looked much
younger, but that expression would
carry the idea that I was much older
than l really was. I have always
been very reticent upon the subject
of my age, and as I am not native
of Larragons, in fact, had only been
a resident there about ten years at
that time, therefore, 10 one knew how
long had been an inhabitant of this
terrestrial sphere, and / was certainly
not only young looking man, but
rather good looking. too, it I do say
it.
But I had secret, that if known
would have materially affected the
general impression regarding the num-
Der of years that had circled over my
head, and consequently when ever the
slightest allusion was made to my age
l trembled and turned pale. I did
not color my hair-no, there isn't
thread to be found in it. My
hair is my browning glory" All
the ladies pronounce it beautiful |!
l fancy the widow admired it.
by the way. Mr.. Jonjones, I sup
pose you have heard that the ladies
are to hold fair here in about a
fortnight"
Yes, I was called upon to contri-
butte some time ago" croqueting Dun
reaGy's ball.
well, we are to have tableaux and
l wart you to take a part"
Me why, I never appeared before
the public in my life"
What of that i? All you'll have
to do will be to show yourself" said
Mrs. Dunready.
"And who, or what am / to repre-.
sent?'
Captain John Smith. Mr.. White
will represent Powhatan, and Leda
POcahontas. spoke to Mr.. White
about it this afternoon and now Mr.
JonJones, can We depend upon you ?
ITO be sure we can," cried Mrs
Vastings, shooting one Of her irresis
tihle glances at me and with thos,
eyes upon me could not say no. anC
so, with the best grace possible, l con
sented.
We went into the house soon after
where l passed very pleasant even
ing. Mrs. Vastings played and sang
so sweetly and feelingly, that an
positively certain that. if | had no
been already in love with Medora
the widow would have carried m
heart by storm, for although | ha
reached the age of forty unmarried.
an and always have been very su:
cep:ible to female charms. and, a