The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-21

BILE shaft, engraved WIFI VIC haho an"
virtues of the deceased-that, and Oh
course she must 60 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,"
she said to herself; 'but l wonder
whether ever shat 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 uery
happy-very. Poor Toni"
She shed tear and took from glass
on the mantel bunch of tiny violets,
which she had bought out of pity from
a poor little flower-girl, and put them
in her belt.
Grape has such close SMELL" she
said, by way of excuse, ''and no one will
notice them"
Good heavens, Selina!" cried voice
behind her.
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.
''Oh, Tom.' she sobbed, TON, Tom!
How did you come to life again.
Haven't been dead" said Mr.. Cas-
sidy, land / cabled. Good heavens,
what mass of black Grape you are
"You wouldn't-have-li me-not
to mourn for you. Tom!' sobbed Mrs.
Cassidy. when I-I-thought L was
dying-I managed to say-de-de-deepest
black there is"
But didn't want to be mourned for"
said Mr.. Cassidy.
Il didn't put it on until they found
you!" 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 remains!'
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 affiiction!''
said Mrs. Cassidy.
"You haven't been in affliction!'' said
Mr.. Cassidy.
81 thought l was. It's all the same
thing. Eve been through every thing,
said Mrs. Cassidy.
"And you seem to thrive on it," said
her husband, angrily. "You're very
blooming widow, indeed. And tha
6usybody, Jack, has been putting me
out of the way as speedily as possible
ettling my business-selling my home
indeed! And l cabled to YOU"
81 don't know what you mean by
cabling" said Mrs. Cassidy. 'But
know that to go off that way was ter
rible thing. Without word or hint
Tricking me, frightening me. If you't
been i'll or met with an accident-but t,
60 off and neDer send word all thi
time. can never forgive YOU"
"Oh!' said Mr.. Cassidy. "You neve
got the cablegram?"
IF it's like telegram, never did,
said Mrs. Cassidy. ''Why, Tom, hav
you been to Europe?"
'I've been to England" said Mr.
Cassidy. You see, as / went down tn
street with the oyster can, heard
carriage behind me and it stopped, an,
somebody called me-'Cassidyr
stopped. 1t was Billings-you knoy
Billings? Jump ill., says he; want t
talk to you, and I'm in hurry
$50 in jumped. He told me he wa
going on board a steamship-th,
Spread Eagle-and that as there'd bee,
delay, she'd start about three in tn
morning, and he wanted me to see hir
off. Well, Selma, l couldn't say mo-
Billings is my particular friend-and
went with him. Knew you'd excus
me, and l went on board, and we locke
at his state-room, and we-had a bottl
or two of ale and-well, then I said
. must go, and he went out of tn
. state-room to get a card to write hi
London address on, and I thought T.
try whether his berth was comfortable
J and stretched out on it. 1t had little
blue curtains to it, that drew up an
down. drew them down.
''Well, Selma, that's the last 1 kne,
until it was broad day. l walked up t
find Billings looking at me.
''He had come back, and, as the Gu,
. tains hid me, supposed I'd gone of
Felt angry that l didn't say goodbye
went on deck to see the last of Ian
and was just going to bed himself
There was pretty kettle of fish; L
been carried off. sent for the captain
He was like a rock; inclined to beliey
me sort OF a stowaway at first. raveG
reared, l made a spectacle of mysel
before strangers: but when people I'm
derstOOd that l left wife who expecte,
me home in ten minutes and my bust
ness at SKIES and sevens they com
passionated me. If we'd met the RICH
steamer l could have got home, but W
didn't. went to England. Good Lord
how wretched I've been! I had to boz
row Billings shirts and stockings ha
enough with me to pay my passage back
but hid that l cabled instantly O.
my arrival, and l came back by the frs
steamer. And now / find-well. fin
,, I'm dead-dead and buried. I'll xii
{ Jack first, and then go and drown my
, self"
But Mrs. Cassidy understood now
She had taken off her bonnet and vail
and she was petting him and erwin
over him as if he had been baby; an
begging him to tell her it was not all
dream. And then, ring at the bel
And there was Jack, with crap
around his hat and prayer-book in hi
} hand.
He took his ''blowing-up" quietly
and wrote paragraph for next morn