The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-12-20
WASHINGTON WIDOWS
[ Written Specially for THE SENTINEL


Washington is the American Paris
in more ways than one. The two
cities, besides being the respective
capitals of the two Republics, are
akin in the magnifcence of their
streets and edifces; but the chief re-
semblance lies in the similarity of
the social lives of class of the popu
lation of each, and it is with the lat
ter that this story has to do.
Washington is like Paris in another
respect, in that when she sins, she
does so on the most approved scienti-
fc principles. With the best-read
population of any city on the contin-
ent, she will not suffer herself to be
caught mapping in her venalities. One
of the prlvates on the police force is
a graduate of Harvard college, law
yer, and he serves under a sergeant
who can read and translate seven diff
ferent European languages.
Washington is prominently the
land of the widow, and the plant
abounds in all the sorts, sizes, styles
and stages of growth and cultivation"
widows a me,ssa ct thora, widows a
vinculo matrinaonii, and widows" who
are not widows at all. They compli-
ment and scold one in French, and
their poodle dogs bark latin at you,
AS rule she keeps clearinghouse,
and fourishes in the bangs and short
dresses of mswkish girlhood. Her one
ambition in life is to capture fresh
husband. Occasionally you find one
who is 'fat and forty" but that stage
is never reached until the subject has
passed her sixtieth birthday, and grey
hairs (and sometimes bald head) can
no longer be hid. Then she courts
death instead of her male boarders.
-
A few short years ago Paul Parton
went to Washington to assume the
duties of clerkship in one of the de-
partments, and recently he told me
the story OF his lite. When he arriv-
ed there from his Southern home he
was happy, handsome young man of
twenty-five; to-day he appears to be
the most thoroughly miserable man in
all Washington, and that is saying a
great deal, for there are some toler-
ably unhappy people in that city.
In consulting the advertising col
umns of the daily papers, he singled
out one of the hundreds of fashion
able boarding houses" where terms
and location seemed both satisfactory
and desirable. He called at the num-
ber indicated in the cad" and was
graciously received by a petite lady
with blonde hair and a winning smile
Details we're arranged and, counting
himself unusually fortunate in secur-
ing such comfortable quarters, he
moved in.
In the course of a week keen eyed
old gentleman engaged the room ad
joining Parton's, and at the suggestion
of the former, who informed Paul
that he was an old friend of Mrs. Sin
clair (the "young widow landlady),
the folding doors were kept open be-
tween the two apartments in order to
to get the benefit of the summer
breeze. This Col. Kelly and Paul be-
came quite intimate, and dnring the
few days that the old gentleman re-
mained in the city they had
made confdants of each other. Panl
had told the Colonel" all about his
past life the state of his finances at
present, and his hopes and prospects
Of the future.
The Colonel" being such an old
and dear friend, in due course of time
related to the widow all that Paul had
told him, and then took his depar-
ture.
I will not insult the intelligence and
perceptive powers of the reader by
stating that this imaginary "old gen
tleman" was none other than a private
detective, employed by Mrs. Sinclair
for the purpose.
From her subsequent demeanor, the
widow must have concluded that
young Parton was ga good catch" +"
and she set her traps accordingly.
She was thereafter the personifcation
of politeness, cordiality and affection
(sisterly affection, mind you) combin-
ed !; and why not? Was he not a
stranger in strange land? And had
she not "taken him III" and fed him ?
Was it not good of her to take an in
terest in, and make the time pass
pleasantly for him7 Did not all this
show beyond dispute the innate good
ness of the dear creature who was SO
lovely in person anu charming in
manners? Paul Parton believed SO
with all his heart.
To be sure it was his money that
paid for the opera tickets and carriage
hire, and the confectioner's bills were
sent TO him. of course; but what did
all this amount to when compared to
her society, her soft glances, her gen
tie pressures of the hand, her-yes her
lingering goodnight kisses!
1t had come to that already.
Thus matters developed from bad
to worse-or from good to better
until at the end of six months Mr..
Parton and Mrs. Sinclair were zen
gagged" and they began to call one
another "Paul" and Mamie
The matrimonial angler had hook
ed her fish and she had no sort OF no.
ton of letting him escape before he
was safely landed.
At this stage of the game, however
Paul began to reflect and to reason
with himself Who was this woman
he was pledged to marry His judg