Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-20

retirement for awhile, and to visit everV
little while the grave over which q
stone-cutter had, at the same activ Q
brother-in-law's command, placed mar
BILE shaft, engraved with the name and
virtues of the deceased-that and Of
course she must go to church.
There came Sunday morning when
the widow stood in her long vail before
her mirror, and decided that "black''
became her greatly.
She sat down and drew on her gloves.
She remembered that, after all, thirty
five years was no great age.
'How wicked of me to think of it, I"
she said to herself; s'but I wonder
whether I ever shall do like other widows
and marry again? 1t will be lonely, and
poor Tom always said that any one who
had been happy in one marriage would
surely make another. I've been cer1
happy-very. Poor Tom!''
She shed tear and took from a glass
on the mantel a bunch of tiny violets,
which she had bought out of pity from
poor little fower-girl, and put them
in her belt
"Crape has such close SMELL" she
said, by way Of excuse, ''and no one will
notice them"
just then
''Good heavens, Selina!" cried q voice
Behind her.
4 She started up.
Mr.. Cassidy-or his ghost-stood in
the doorway. The ghost was but the
thought of an instant, and as we have
said, Mrs Cassidy was very healthy.
She did not faint. Instead, she uttered
a full-lunged, resounding shrek, and
threw herself into his arms.
ooh. Tomw she sobbed. ssTom, Tom!
How did you come to life again?"
Haven't been dead," said Mr.. Cas-
sidy, ''and I cabled. Good heavens,
what a mass of black Grape you are"
"You ldn't-have-liked me-not
to mourn for you. Tom!' sobbed Mrs
Cassidy. ''When EI-thought 1 was
dying-I managed to say-de-de-deepest
black there is"
But didn't want to be mourned for!n
said Mr.. Cassidy.
Tdidn't put it on until they found
you'll" sobbed Mrs. Cassidy. ''You looked
SO dreadful, didn't know you, but you
were identified. Jack identified you,
and there's the handsomest shaft over
your remainsv'
81 haven't any as yeti" said Mr.. Cas-
sidy. "Why are you here? Why are
those strange people in our house?"
'Jack sold it for me, and settled your
business up and brought me here. He
was very, very good in my af1iction!"
said Mrs. Cassidy. ',-
''You haven't been in afiiction!" said
Mr.. Cassidy.
81 thought was. It's all the same
thing. I've been through every thing"
said Mrs. Cassidy.
s'And you seem to thrive on It'll" said
her husband, angrily. You're a very
blooming widow. indeed. And that
busybody, Jack, has been putting me
out of the way as speedily as possible,
Sc ttling my Misunderstanding my home,
indeed! And cabled to you"
81 don't know what you mean by
know that to 60 off that way was a ter
rible thing Without word or hint.
Tricking me, frightening me. If you'd
been i'll or met with an accident-but to
go off and necer send a word all this
time l can never forgive you.''
s'Oh!' said Mr.. Cassidy "You never
got the cablegram?"
'.If it's like telegram. never did"
",
you been to Europe?''
'Tve been to England" said Mr..
Cassidy. ''You see. as I went down the
street with the oyster can, 1 heard
carriage behind me and it stopped, and
somebody called me-'Cassidyv
stopped It was Billings-you know
Billings? Jump in,' says he; want to
talk to you, and I'm in hurry
SO in I jumped. He told me he was
going on board steamship-the
Spread Eagle-and that as there'd been
! delay. she'd start about three in the
and he wanted me to see him
ID. Well, Selma, I couldn't say no
Billings is my particular friend-and I
vent with him. Knew you'd excuse
ne, and went on board, and we looked
It his state-room. and we-had bottle
II two of ale and-well, then 1 said I
must go, and he went out of the
tate-room to get card to write his
1ondon address on, and I thought I'd
~ whether his berth was comfortable,
nd stretched out on it. 1t had little
'lue curtains to it, that drew up and
OWL drew them down.
''Well, Selma, that's the last I knew
ntil it was broad day. L walked up to |
md Billings looking at me.
HE had come back, and, as the cur |
aims hid me, supposed I'd gone of. |
'eis angry that didn't say goodbye, /
rent on deck to see the last of land |
nd was just going to bed himself |
here was q pretty kettle of fish; I'D |
cen carried of. 1 sent for the captzin.
Le was like rock; inclined to believe /
ae . sort Of stowsway at first. Iraved. 1