Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-08-01
THE WIDOWS ESCAPE.


ries the mails and passengers three times
a week to and from the station.
Trenton is like the average country
town. The merchants are not too busy
but what they can sit in front of their
stores and white white pine rs they
discuss politics and religion-two sub
jects upon which discussions are never
brought to Il final close. Another matter
in which Trenton did not differ from
other villages was that everybody was
perfectly familiar with the business of
his neighbor. They knew what went on
the breakfast table next door, and if a
stranger visited the town his business
was known TO the entire community
before the setting Of the sun.
lnevcr knew them to he baffied but
once. When the stage arrived one Friday
evening middle aged stranger of pre-
possessing appearance alighted and en-
tered the hotel, followed by his baggage
which consisted of an ordinary travelling
trunk. The only inscription that ap-
peared upon the register was J. Doster.
No place Of residence to indicate who
Mr.. Doster was or to furnish any clew to
his business.
Tie next day Mr. Dostar appeared
upon the streets and strolled around for
awhile, after which lie visited the office
of The Trenton Budget, and immediate
ly placed himself upon good terms with
the editor by paying for six months sub
scriptiou. Mr.. Doster was 4 polished
gentleman. and il was not long before
he was on quite friendly terms with the
editor of The Budget He had decided
preference for the city dailies. and while
the editor was engaged in his labors Mr..
Doster would spend several hours each
day scanning the columns of the New
York and Boston papers.
Every man, woman and child in Tren-
ton inquired Of the landlord at the hotel
and of the editor who Mr. Dostcr was.
but without gaining any information.
Days passed into weeks and weeks int,
months, and still Mr.. Doster fingered
evidently pleased with his surroundings
He had become quite n favorite with tn,
hotel proprietor, and was so useful il
fashioning odds and ends in the shape OF
brica-hrac for the hotel that he was no
longer regarded as boarder, bnt an
horluied guest.
Every afternoon he took long Atrulls il
the woods. and created some interest
among the good country people. wht
wondered why the stranger could find
so much delight in tapping rocks with
the little Ratchet he always carried with
him. or picking mp such curious looking
stones that struck bis fancy.
At the expiration e a year the people
of Trenton knew no more Of MI Dostel
than they did on the day Of his arrival
in their midst. Some Of the more in
quisitiyc had vcnturcd to ask Mr.. DostcI
where he Vas from, 1T they met with
no success. rs Mr. Dostcr made il point
never to hear Il question that related to
his past life. He alluded occasionally (,
mining in California and digging OH
wells in Pennsylvania, but further than
this no allusion to his former life and
habits ever escaped his lps.
The people Of Trenton We're complete
ly outdoLc and they looked upon Mr.
Doster with suspicious eyes. nearly al o.
them agreeing that any man who wa
ashamed to own his native home or t.
acknowledge his business must bc u bat
man, and they predicted all manner o.
evil to befall the mysterious stranger.
About two years after Mr. Doster's ar
rival i'll Trenton he foxnd. i'll one of hi
evening rambles. traces of gold ON Tho
farm Of Mrs. Jernigan. a most cstimabl,
widow who lived three miles from the
village
Doster kept his own counsel, but made
it convenient in a +, 8 days to call a. the
widows and male her acquaintance
which he found bat little trouble il do
ing, as Doster was handsome and corr
teous. while the widow hal not grown
200 old to lose ali interest III the s,ernel
sex.
Mrs. Jeruigau had valuable farL
outside of the prospect Of developing
gold mine upon it OF course she wa
elated with The idea Of increasing he
worldly POSSESSIONS. and as hr, Doste.
seemed to be the medium through which
she was 10 develop her new found weall
he rapidly grew il her favor.
The widow furnished toe means t.
erect temporary works and agreed to
give Mr.. Doster all the help he required
TO develop the new found mine. He
labored faithfully au1 each day as he
called at the widows house TO report his
progress the friendship between the two
increased, and it soon began to dawn
upon the widows mind that she enter
tanned more than business interest in
the mysterious stranger. while Mr.. Dos
ter, though ever courteous and gallant.
could not conceal his admiration for the
attractive widow.
Mrs. Jernigan's friends cautioned her
and did everything in their powE TO dis
courage the match. but fate seemed to
be against them and gradually but surely
the couple was drawn together, and 80
strong became their affection for each
other that friends decided to let love
take its course and the two who were
most interested take the consequences.
The marriage day had arrived and the
Jernigan household was all astir making
the final preparations for the happy
event. Mr.. Doster had succeeded in
convincing the widow that the gold mine
was valuable and that it would eventu-
ally yield her handsome fortune.
Notwithstanding Doster had been in
the village three years nothing more was
known Of him now than on the day Of
his arrival. and having failed to crafty
tho curiosity Of the citizens Of Trenton
he had not made any friends except the
landlord. the editor Of The Budget and
the Widow Jernigan.
Doster was as sharp as a brier and took
the precaution to make marriage con-
tract with the widow before the consnm-
nation Of the marriage. By this con-
tract Doster was TO have half interest
in the gold mine and all other worldly
goods with which the widow was en-
dOwed.
The guests had nearly all arrived and
the grounds and mansion were ablazs
with light. The widow was a lady Of
exquisite taste and she determined to
make this the most brilliant social event
that the people Of Trenton and vicinity
bad Ave- wisnn--eS