The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-08-12

Weeks passed away, and the Widow
Black remained the sole dweller on Bleak
Point During this time she became the
reigning belle and prime favorite of the
good people of NJ, in spite of the
mystery in which she was enveloped.
She accepted every invitation to parties,
picncs, and quilting frolics, and candy
sprees, always without exception in the
tumbled dress and everlasting silk hand
kerchief. Such songs as she could sing
in such voice, such splendid dancer
as she was, such stories as she could tell,
now keeping the audience convulsed with
laughter, and now bringing tears into
eyes all unused to the melting mood! No
party of pleasure was complete without
Widow Black. No wonder, then, every
unmarried man in the village had his
heart pierced by the black eyes of the
lively widow. and every woman under
20 was wild with Jealousy and envy.
! But the handsome widow moved on
her way as if totally unconscious and
Indifferent as to what people thought of
her. In fact, different from all other
widows that ever were heard of, she
ehowed at all times decided preference
for the society of the young ladies, and
rather laughed at all the tender devotion
of her rustic swains.
One night old Miles Judson, being out
unusually late casting his nets, was sur
prised to see the same low black, raklsh
looking schooner that had left among
them the Widow Black enter the bay.
Wondering whether she had come to
carry off the widow again he secreted
himself towatch her.
| Presently a boat was lowered, several
bales were hoisted over the vessels side,
and the boat rowed to the land and dis
appeared in one of the numerous islets
surrounding Bleak Point. More and
more mystified, the old man determined
to watch their motions, and three hours
after he beheld the boat return to the
schooner, which instantly weighed an
chor and made off.
| The following day old Miles Judson
sat talking to a stranger from st. John,
who had arrived that day. Seated with
in was the handsome Widow Black,
chatting away with Miless daughter
Ruth,a "Bluenose" maiden, with as
an bright eye asever flashed back sunlight.
"Haveyou heard any thing lately about
that celebrated smuggler, Captain R-??"
said the man, mentioning the name of q
noted smuggler.
No, we hear nothing here" grumbled
old Miles, while Ruth looked up with
surprise at the widows sudden start.
"WelI, people are talking Of nothing
else in Eastport and st. John, said his
companion; she is a regular daredevil,
and cheats the revenue so boldly that one
can not help feeling sympathy for him.
| Somehow the custom house discovered
that he was lowering around Eastport,
and a dozen or two revenue cutters were
sent out TO watch him, but 10! the
schooner ran the gauntlet of them all,
| delivered her cargo somewhere, in spite
of their teeth, and where the beaks can
not discover. 1t was valuable one, too !;
she was loaded with rum and sugar"
The Widow Black had suddenly ceased
her conversation, and sat listening with
q look of interest to this recital. AS he
ceased she bit her lip, and stopped down
to conceal smile that, in spite of all her
| efforts, broke over her countenance The
motion was observed by Miles; the Incl
dent of the preceding night flashed across
his mind, and in a moment he felt con-
vinced he had seen the smugglers, and
that the "widder" was connected in some
way with Them"
Miles Judson was prudent man, and
he determined to keep the discovery to
| himself, and to set out for st. John the
next day and inform the authorities
Acting on this resolution, he adroitly
changed the conversation, keeping his
eye fixed on the widow who, all uncon-
scious of his gaze, was now flirting most
desperately with Master Bill, the old
mans son and heir.
"Don't you find it kind of lonesome up
there by yourself?" said Bill, with a ten
der glance toward the "widder.
"Oh. I'm used to it now, and like it
well enough, she replied, carelessly.
There was a pause after this. Bill sat
gnawing his finger nails, and evidently
trying to say something that stuck in
his throat The widow sat tapping the
floor impatiently with one foot, and wait.
| ing for the return of Ruth, who had left
| them.
"Widder! want to get married, :"
said Bill, at length, with startling sud.
denness.
do you?" said the widow, lifting
her bewildering black eyes to his face,
astonished at the abruptness of the
avowal.
"Widder, " continued Bill, picking up
courage by desperate effort, would
you like to get married again?"
married again!" replied the lady
show do you know ever was married?"
"Why, every one calls you wilder,
and never heard tell of any one being a
widder without first bein' married., t." re-
piled Bill.
"Yes, said the widow, with difficulty
repressing laugh, "every one calls me
a widow, but whether l am or not is q
different thing
"Well, said Bill, who, as he afterward
expressed it, was determined to "go the
whole hog, ""Tm chap as is pretty well
off. I'm goin' to build a new shanty,
and get new boat some of these times,
and I'm a pretty good lookin' feler-
hem! so-hem! Widder, you'll have
me, you and NELL get splioed!"
Amazement for moment kept the
widow silent, and she stared in the face
of her sheepish admirer, who, blushing,
startled, sat crossing one leg uneasily