The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-12
THE WIDOWS WAGER.
A Hint TO Bachelors who are
Troubled with Excessive
Modesty.

MOuestl.
Widow Deane eatfat the front win
dow Of her little parlcr one morning
busy with some kind of fancy work
which showed OF her plu1np. well shaped
hands, with the wedding ling sparkling
OH her left one, to the best advantage.
She was a very pretty widow. and no
one wa better aware Of the fact than
she was. Fer snug fitting dress set of
as plump and trim q figure as any in
Downsborough, and nowhere in the
neighborhood could you find a brighter
pair of brown eyes or a more kissable,
charming face.
wonder why young widows are al
ways pretty and charming? No matter
how plain they may be before their hus-
bands "go the way Of all flesh, (" straight-
way after that event takes place and
they come out IN black dresses and the
other etceteras of u mourning toilet
they are voted bewitching and SO prettyi
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 seewho
was going by just as a man came oppo-
site at her gate.
'.Is that you, Mr.. Fields?s she called
out cheerily. Good morning; pleasant
weather, isn't it, after the shower last
night
beautiful" 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.
IL can't this morning" stammered
Mr.. Fields. .Td like to- with a look
full of bashful admiration into the Wild
owls pretty face; "but I'm rather in a
hurry, you see."
"Come in this evening, then" urged
the widow, cant you? It's very lone
some. wish you would, now, really,
Mr.. Fields
III win!' answered Mr.. Fields. "T1l
bring my chess board and men along, If
you've no objections. Mrs. Deane."
II should be delighted to see you" an
swered the widow smilingly. 81 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 be was ever bold enough
to say it.
"Oh, you naughty mani" cried the
widow. Il shall beat you just to pay
you for that! See if / don'tl'
81 dare say" responded Mr.. Fields as
he bowed good morning. "What a
charming creature she Isl" he thought as
he passed on. I'D be perfectly happy
if she was Mrs. Fields" Here he had to
blush at the idea Of any woman's being
Mrs. Fields. Il do believe she likes me,
but / wouldn't dare to ask her for any
thing. Every time / think of such a
thing my heart thumps just like a ham,
mer against my hb~ II wish the
women had their rights. Then they
have to do their share of popping tn
question, and the like. What if Marth
Jane or Miss Spooner or some of thos
old maids should take it into their head
to ask a fellow to have theml And O
course they would! Good graciousl I,
never dare to tell them no, and I'd soone
be in the bottom Of the sea than to hav
any of theml"
Mr.. Fields broke out in a cold perspi
ration all over at the bare idea
What o funny mani" said the prett,
widow to herself. with a soft ittl
laugh, as Mr.. Fields went on down tn
road. "Im snre he'd like to ask me Z
be Mrs. Fields, if he dared to, but b
hasn't pluck enough. How he doe
blush when / look at himl Twas yer,
near laughing in his face, he looked s.
confused. like him eve SO much, ant
/ don't think I'd answer him No. if h
asked me a certain question; but / dom
believe he could muster up courag,
enough to ask it. / don't see why h
need be SO bashful. I'm sure I'm not a
all dignifed or distant"
The widow looked more charming
tudu tNcI Will hue Bat III tue pdrlOl
waiting for iIr. Fields that evening
She hadon q neat brown dress of jus
the precise shade to show off her cleal
complexion; and the little knot of blus
ribbon at her throat was the next pretty
color, and the white rosebud, which sht
fastened over her pink ear, made her
look as youthful as she did the day sht
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 me was coming. Pretty soon some
one knocked She went to the door and
admitted Mr.. Fields.
Il thought it was you," she said, tax
ing his hat. Take that easy chair, Mr..
Fields I'm SO glad You came oyer. ]
get SO lonesome" and q 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