The Press., 1890-05-29
A WIDOW BEWITCHED.

A WIDOW BEWITCHED. Almost twelve months had passed since 7 he death of Oliver Beauchamp. Why Mary Vane had married him nobody could sver make out. He was such thorough ly uncomfortable parsonage that even his money could scarcely have been suff- cient inducement to the most mercenary girl in England to consent to pass her life with him. MT. Beauchamp had been in the habit of spending the greater part of his time in the pleasing occupation of CO., quetting with one fashionable physician after another, for, truth to tell, he was a malade imaginaire.
 The doctors found MT. Beauchamp to be anything but satisfactory patient, for so fond was he of fresh woods and pas lures new that he had the playing habit | of deserting his medical advisers just as ! they had begun to fatter themselves that l a really full-feathered fool had come into their professional net. Then Beauchamp would try quackery, and doctor himself with one well-adyised nostrum after an other, so that the only wonder is that he lived as long as he did.
 Now, it was owing to the advice of Sir Celsius Gorget that MT. Beauchamp came to marry Mary Vane. When she came out at the country ball at Loamshire he took her down to supper, and half an hour afterward proposed to her and was accept ed. Young ladies of IS years of age have a habit of accepting their first offer. A good many explanations, more or less pos sible, have been given for it but the real reason, no doubt, is that the charming creatures honestly believe that they never will be lucky enough to have second of- fer, and that, therefore, they will do well to make hay while the sun shines. Now, Sir Celsius had said to Beauchamp, as he pocketed that gentleman's two guineas and bowed himself out of the consulting room: "Why don't you try marriage? You seem to have tried every thing else. Mind, don't say altogether recommend it. Still, I throw out the sug- gestion. Think it over."
 Beauchamp did think it over. Indeed, during the following week he pondered on the great mans advice day and night 1; just as he would have accepted any other panacea, so he swallowed Sir Celsius nos- trum and marrled Mary Vane. The nos- trum can scarcely be said to have been singularly efficacious for in less than twelve months from the date of his mar riage he died, leaving Mary Beauchamp G3,0 ,000 year. She was a good and kind wife to the unhappy man, and I think that, after all, what killed him was too liberal allowance of somebody's electric pills and somebody's African elixir.
 
 Captain Graham was hero of romance He had not penny in the world, but he had black curly hair, his teeth were per feet and his features admirable. More over, Captain Graham went to good tail or, and his boots were undeni,ble. For various reasons the captain had arrived at stage of existence when it struck him as singularly advisable that he should marry money. He went down to Brighton and he put up at the Bedford. He used to walk up and down the Kings road and stare out of the windows of his club like a young lion seeking whom he might de- vour. Of cocrse he came across great many pretty faces, but to his mind he saw nothing half so delicious as that charming young widow, Mrs. Beauchamp; and as within week of his arrival the young lady thought fit to cast aside her weeds and blossom forth in gentle violets and delicate mauves, he became more than ever con- firmed ill his opinion.
 | It is scarcely worth while going into de- tails as to the captains machinations in obtaining an introduction to young Mrs. Beauchamp. Suffice it to say that they were triumphantly successful. He was to her as revelation. He came, he saw, he conquered. He proposed to her one moon- light night upon the west pier. Miss Jenkins, Mrs. Beauchamp's sheep dog. was sitting within yard of them but then Miss Jenkins was listening to the soft strains of selection from Dorothy" !" which was being played by the band, and "Queen of My Heart Tonight" as a cor net solo, distracted her attention from the subtler rendering of the same theme which was being poured into the young widows ear by the enamored captain. Mrs. Beau champ listened with pleasure to his tale.
 "l am poor man, you know, Mary, he said. ''I have little else but my good name and my sword to offer you, and l hardly know if we should have enough to live upon." He almost winked as he said the words, but they conveyed noble idea of his own disinterestedness, as he intend ed they should "We may have to wait, Mary he continued, ''and 1 may even have to ask you to go to India with me, for my regiment is one of the next for foreign service"
 | Poor fellow, he evidently had not the slightest idea of the three thousand year. | \ oAouAO AoI Au1uO UOluS Gudb IOT Iue man I loved" said the widow, softly.
 And then he squeezed her hand, and then she squeezed his, and then it was all settled in the most di9nifed manner, and Mrs. Beauchamp became engaged to Cap. tain Graham.
 Two days after Captain Graham went into one of the fashionable photographers and sat for his likeness, and ordered it to be finished on porcelain in colors, regard. less of expense. He did not in the least Idemur at the five guineas which MT. Half tones assistant said it would cost. He only stipulated that it should be ready in forty eight hours. At the end of that pc. riod Mir. Halftone was in the best of tenn. per as he inspected the gallant captains portrait. ''You have been very success ful, Mrs. Smith, he said, patronizingly, to the young person who had done the miniature Git is a speaking likeness. And now would you mind doing me lit tie favor? My customer is very haw- haw sort of a fellow, and insists upon the portrait being delivered by hand. There is the address, Mrs. Beauchamp, No. PA Regency Square. You have honestly earned your five shillings, Mrs. Smith, 5 he continued, as he handed her couple of half crowns, land turn in the air will do you good"