Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-07-02
THE WIDOWS SECRET.

tiiili iibtlc
Mrs. FIFTEEN held her head a trifle to
one side as her tears began to fall.
"You must be expert ma'am, seeing
this is the fourth time you've tried 'em.
Hollow in your back, as is natural to
you-sets like ducks foot in the mud.
The lady gave short laugh as she an
swered in a manner to hide the sting un
der what she said:
Men are good creatures when women
know how to manage them. They seem
to incline to some women more than to
Others"
You never had a drinking husband,
ma'am, suppose"
BLESS you, no, never! couldn't abide
the breath"
Going to be married fourth time,
not yet 40, and as plump and pretty as
ever. don't see how you manage"
"Oh, that's secret"
Mrs. FIFTEEN opened her eyes wide and
slowly repeated:
"a secret!"
Yes; | found it worked admirably
with three husbands, and doubt not it
will work just as we'll with the fourth.
BLESS my hearth" exclaimed the
dressmaker, with ill disguised horror on
her face.
"Oh, l didn't kill my three husbands.
They were dotingly fond of me to tho
last. and left Inc well provided for"
DO tell me your secret, ma am, she
Gaid.
ut isn't much, Mrs. Fittem, and yet
it is secret, and its application has been,
as it We're, disastrous in my case. am
sure never expected it."
Dear me! Did they all die suddenly,
poor critters?"
Quite the contrary; they lived along
rs if 10th to 60"
Poor critters! should have thought
you'd have felt bad"
Il did indeed" she said.
DO tell me about it, persisted tho
other, with a look not sympathetic
Your tears don't dim your handsome
eyes.
Il don't know about that never
thought much about it-but, Mrs. Fit
tenn, first and last, I've cried a good
deal"
Perhaps you had reason unknown
to the world, ma'am. But 1 want dread
fully to know how you managed it.
Ours was a sort of Widow Wadman,
easily beguiled to tears or smiles, as she
began to perceive that the astute dress
maker had some latent design in thus
questioning her which she did not object
10 gratfy. Accordingly she assumed the
narrative form while her auditor contin-
Ued her work.
My first husband was we'll to do, but
rot rich. He was what is called model
man. We went to chnrch every Sunday,
an'! dropped 25 cents each into tho con-
trilution box. l knit his stockings and
'aaie his shirts; he liked to see wom' n
Industrious. We went to lectures, and
HOW and then to a party-always at
home and in bed at 10 o'clock. He was
slow and automatic in movement. He
had a way of looking into kettles and
jars as if he expected to find them out
of order; and he did 80 find them
sometimes-it was a comfort to him.
lie poked over my bureau drawers and
saw all my gloves and laces in mess
This was comfort to him also. He had
not vice, a fault an inordinate desire.
l used to wish he had"
You wicked woman! You didn't
know when you were we'll off" ex.
claimed the dressmaker sharply.
Il know it-I didn't somehow grow
good with such man as ought to have
done, but when he was gone I saw it all,
and almost cried my eyes out. You see
man is good thing to have around the
house, to lock doors and look after things.
When woman is once used to having
one around she is sure to feel lonesome
when he is gone. I learned to think a
dull husband by no means undesirable
rs husband. Now the second husband.
l wore my weeds the conventional pc.
riod, though several nice men were at
tentive to me, but shut my eyes.
managed to keep them from proposing,
for l rather liked my freedom, and
comehow three fine men who had known
my good husband were not to my mind.
l am afraid hated good men, wicked
rs it may seem to you.
The dressmaker groaned.
"How could you? 1 am sure such
husband must be beautiful.
THAT is true, Mrs. FIFTEEN, and he
thought me beautiful. You see he was
model man, and he did his best to
make me a model woman, but it was
not in me. We women are naturally
pcrverse and apt to think our way as
good as any mans way"
$50 it is, only good deal better, NUT.
tered the other.
Il don't know about that. am apt to
think man is wiser about many things
than we are; but, anyway, married peo.
pie will quarrel as a rule, being SO bent
upon their own way. Now never dis.
puted a husband-never opposed him.
But, as l was going to say, one Of my ad.
mrers was Of different kind. He was
bright, dashing, high spirited, and witty.
He was not model man, by any means,
but he was intelligent, loved books, and
had a fine taste for music. He had
was sometimes furious with himself for
loving me. He declared he would bs
rascr in spite of me, which was quite
unnecessary for rather liked to have q
master as saving trouble and responsible.
+ ity. hate disputes and fuss of any kind,
| aud was thankful to let matters slide in
lie easiest manner possible.
II should think you might be little
laZy," returned her auditor.
is that the name for it? Well, per-
~, am. He would get into fury