Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-12-11
THE WIDOWS WAGER.

dow OF her little parlOr one morning
busy with some kind of fancy work
which showed off her plump, well shaped
hands, with the wedding ling sparkling
on her left one, to the best advantage.
She was a very pretty widow, and no
one was better aware of the fact than
she was. Her snug fitting dress set off
as plump and trim figure as any in
Downsborough, and nowhere in the
neighborhood could you find a brighter
pair of brown eyes or a more lissable,
charming face.
Iwonder why young widows are al
ways pretty and charming? No matter
how plain they may be before their hus-
bands ssgo the way Of all f1esh,' straight
way after that event takes place and
they come out in black dresses and the
other etceteras of a mourning toilet
they are voted bewitching and SO prettyl
1t is strange that such should be the
case, but it seems to be the effect which
widowhood has ON them.
Widow Deane heard steps coming
down the road and leaned out to see who
was going by just as man came oppo-
site at her gate.
SIS that you, Mr.. Fieldsg' she called
out cheerily. Good morning; pleasant
weather, isn't it, after the shower last
night"
.sBeautiful," stammered Mr. Fields,
blushing as delightfully."- as a woman
could have done and appearing as awk-
ward as an overgrown schoolboy ON his
first morning at school.
''Won't you come in?' asked the wild
ow, smiling very sweetly, as she brushed
back her curls, which would persist in
falling about her rosy face in the most
charming confusion, as she leaned out
Of the window.
Ell can't this morning. stammered
Mr.. Fields. I'D like to- with look
full Of bashful admiration into the wild
ow's pretty face; "but I'm rather in a
hurry, you see."
"Come in this evening, then, urged
the widow, "can't you? It's very lone
some. wish you would, now, really,
Mr.. Fields"
'1-I willi' answered Mr.. Fields. ''I'll
bring my chess board and men along, if
you've no objections, Mrs. Deane."
81 should be delighted to see you,' an
swered the widow smilingly. II am
sure l can beat you, Mr.. Fields"
II shouldn't wonder answered Mr.
Fields. ''I-Pm no match for women, .
he added, with a very rosy face, and
wondering how he was ever bold enough
to say it.
"Oh, you naughty manr' cried the
widow. II shall beat you just to pay
you for that See if don'tw
81 dare say" responded Mr.. Fields as
he bowed good morning. "What a
charming creature she isl' he thought as
he passed on. ssTd be perfectly happy
if she was Mrs. Fields Here he had to
blush at the idea Of any woman's being
Mrs. Fields. II do believe she likes me,
but I wouldn't dare to ask her for any
thing. Every time / think Of such a
thing my heart thumps just like ham,
mer against my ribs. II wish the
women had their rights. Then they'd
have to do their share of popping the
question, and the like. What if Martha
Jane or Miss Spooner or some of those
old maids should take it into their heads
to ask fellow to have theml And of
course they would Good graciousl I'd
never dare to tell them no, and I'd sooner
be in the bottom of the sea than to have
any of them"
Mr.. Fields broke out in cold perspi-
ration all over at the bare idea.
"What funny mani" said the pretty
widow to herself, with soft little
laugh, as Mr.. Fields went on down the
road. "Tm sure he'd like to ask me to
be Mrs. Fields, if he dared to, but he
hasn't pluck enough. How he does
blush when look at himl I was very
near laughing in his face, he looked SO
confused. like him ever SO much, and
| don't think I'd answer him No, if he
asked me certain question; but | don't
believe he could muster up courage
enough to ask it. 1 don't see why he
need be so bashful. I'm sure I'm not at
all dignifed or distant"
The widow looked more charming
than ever when she sat in the parlor
waiting for Mr.. Fields that evening.
She had on neat brown dress of just
the precise shade to show off her clear
complexion; and the little knot of blue
ribbon at her throat was the next pretty
color, and the white rosebud, which she
fastened over her pink ear, made her
look as youthful as she did the day she
married Archie Deane, six years before.
She sighed softly when she looked at the
plain wedding ring upon her finger.
Archie had been dead three years and
over
A step on the path announced that
some one was coming. Pretty soon some
one knocked. She went to the door and
admitted Mr.. Fields.
II thought it was you." she said, tax
ing his hat. "Take that easy chair, Mr..
Fields. I'm SO glad you came over.
get SO lonesome" !" and little sigh gave
emphasis to the words
Mr.. Fields sighed too. He got lone
some sometimes in his bachelor quar-
tiers, but he wouldn't have dared to say
so for the world, with the widows
bright eyes looking full into his face.
The widow sat down and chatted
away in her lively fashion. Mr.. Fields
kept watching her when he could do 50
without her seeing him. Once she look
ed up suddenly and caught his eye fixed
ON her face, and then he turned as red
as the roses in the window, and just the
faintest Gnge of carnation came into
her cheeks. 1t made her look ever Sc
much prettier, Mr.. Fields thought He
almost wished she'd look up again and
catch him watching her. if she'd blush
in that way. Innocent man; he nevel
dreamed that the widow was as wei
aware of his admiring glances as he was
'sOh, our game of chessw cried thu
widow suddenly. ~ was very near for
getting all about it. Did You bring thu
board, Mr.. Fields?"
II put them ON the side table" an
swered Mr. Fields.
The widow futtered about and got tn
chessboard and men, and drew her chai
up opposite Mr.. Fields.
''I promised to beat YOU she said, az
ranging the board on little stand be
tween them. "Pm going to do so if
possibly can, Mr.. Fields, with an arcl
glance into his face.
Mr. Fields happened to be admirinl
! her brown curls as she looked up, an,
the fact that she detected him in the ac
| ca diaeoncertpd him that he knocke,