San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-29

heI-prIgnJ DIacReyes as she begged them to
excuse the state in which they found things,
on the plea that she wasn't used to house
keeping" All their endeavors to discover
her name and business proved, however, to
be vain, but from several accidental remarks
dropped by her they concluded she was a
widow. As it was impossible for her to be
spoken of without a name they resolved to
give her one themselves-and admiring her
bright, black eyes and jetted locks they con-
cluded to give her that of Black. Accord
ingly, tho name by which the handsome
stranger was known in the village was the
widow Black"-a name which, after a
laugh at first, she profeSsed her willingness to
be known by.
And weeks passed away, and the Widow
Black remained the sole dweller on Bleak
Point. During this time she became the
reigning belle and prime favorite of the
good people of NJ, in spite of the mystery
in which she was enveloped. She accepted
every invitation to parties, and picnics, and
quilting frolics, and candy sprees," always
without exception in the tumbled dress and
everlasting silk handkerchief. Such songs as
she could sing in such a voice, such a splendid
dancer as she was such stories as she could tell,
now keeping the audience convulsed with
laughter, and now bringing tears into eyes
all unused to the melting mood No party
Of pleasure was complete without the Widow
Black; no wonder, then, every unmarried
man in the village had his heart pierced by
the black eyes of the lively widow, and every
woman under 40 was wild with jealousy and
envy.
But the handsome widow moved on her
way as if totally unconscious and Indifferent
as to what people thought of her. In fact,
different from all other widows that ever
were heard of, she showed at all times a de-
cided preference for the society of the young
ladies and rather laughed at all the tender
devotion of her rustic SWANS.
One night old Miles Judson, being out I'm
usually late casting his nets, was surprised tc
see the same low, black suspicious looking
schooner that had left among them the
Widow Black enter the bay. Wondering
whether she had come to carry off the widow
again he secreted himself to watch her
Presently boat was lowered, several bales
were hoisted over the vessels side, and the
boat rowed to the land and disappeared in
one of the numerous islets surrounding
Black Point More and more mystifed the
old man determined to watcA their motions
and three hours after he behel;i the Loaf re-
turn to the schooner, which instantly
weighed anchor and made off.
The following day old Miles Judson sat
taking to a stranger from st. John, who had
arrived that day. Seated within was the
handsome Widow Black, chatting away with
Miles daughter Ruth, "Bluenose" maiden,
with as bright an eye as ever flashed back
sunlight
Have you heard anything lately about
that celebrated smuggler Capt. R-F said
the man, mentioning the name of noted
smuggler.
mo, we hear nothing here" grumbled
old Miles, while Ruth looked up with surprise
at the widows sudden start
'Well people are talking of nothing else in
Eastport and st. John" said his companion;
hes a regular daredevil and cheats the
revenue so boldly that one cannot help feel
ing sympathy for him. Somehow the custom
house discovered that he was lowering around
Eastport, and dozen or two revenue cutters
were sent out to watch him, but lo the
schooner ran the gauntlet of them all, de
Gvered her cargo somewhere, in spite of their
teeth, and where the beaks cannot discover
1t was a valuable one, too; she was loaded
with rum and sugar.
The Widow Black had suddenly ceased her
conversation, and sat listening with a look of
interest to this recital AS he ceased she bit
her lip, and stopped down to conceal the
smile that in spite of all her efforts, broke
over her COuntenance. The motion was
observed by Miles; the incident of the pre-
ceding night flashed across his mind, and in
moment he felt convinced he had seen the
smugglers, and that the "widder" was con-
nected in some way with them
Miles Judson was a prudent man, and he
determined to keep the discovery to himself,
and to set out for St. John the next day and
inform the authorities. Acting on this reso-
luton he adroitly changed the conversation.
Keeping his eye fixed on the widow, who, all
unconscious of his gaze, was now flirting
most desperately with Master Bill, the old
mans son and heir
Don't you find it kinder lonesome up there
by yoursefp said Bill, with tender glance
toward the "widder."
''Oh! I'm used to it now, and like it well
enough" she replied carelessly.
There was a pause after this Bill sat
gnawing his finger nails, and evidently try
ing to say something that stuck in his throat
The widow sat tapping the floor impatiently
with one foot, and waiting for the return of
Ruth who had left them.
"Widder! | want to get married." said
Bill, at length, with startling suddenness.
do you!" said the widow, lifting her be-
wildering black eyes to his face, astonished
at the abruptness of the avowal.
"Widder," continued Bill, picking up cour-
age by desperate effort, wouldn't you like
to get married again?"
Married again!" replied the lady; show
do you know | ever was married."
"Why, every one calls you a wilder, and