The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-15
LOWRY'S WIDOW.

Lowry that he should have died at that
particular time. Had the unwelcome
event occurred month before it would
not havo mattered SO much, but now,
just as no had struck it rich and had
written cast for his wife to come Oh and
share his good fortune, it was to say the
least very exasperating. But he was
dead beyond doubt and likewise vari-
ously scattered, the result of too close
intimacy with a premature blast.
The miners gathered up his visible re-
mains and buried them with due So
lemnity. Then they waited for tho adj
vent of tho widow, but not without much
misgiving. How would they meet her?
And who of their number would assume
the delicate and embarrassing task of
informing her that she was a widow?
They talked it all over that night in
front of Peto Simpsons bar.
Fac is, fellers," said One Eyed jerry,
the autocrat of the camp, as he turned
his solitary optic on the crowd, "fac' is
it's tough job, but it's got to be done,
an I'll do it if it takes leg. Leave it to
me, fellers, an I'll let 'er down as soothin
as possible" And with Il deep feeling of
relief that found expression in another
round of red liquor the miners left it to
Jerry.
In duo course of time letter addressed
to James Lowry in a shally, feminine
hand and postmarked Harrisburg ar
rived i'll camp and was opened by Low
rvs self appointed executors. 1t was
from Mrs. Lowry, and from it they
learned that she would not arrive for
several weeks.
One day about six weeks after the re-
ception of this letter as the stage ratified
up to the single so called hotel of the
little Tuolumne mining camp the loun-
gers on the porch caught the glimpse of a
dress inside. Az once all was excite
ment.
She's come" they all exclaimed.
where's jerry"
Jerry, who was seated at table in the
barroom, reluctantly laid down a pat
hand and reached tho outside in time
to assist the lady from the stage. awk-
wardly lifting his hat IA he did SO.
Mrs. Lowry, | reckon" said Jerry as
she alightcd
The lady threw back tho veil from her
face. smiled and answered:
Yes. Where's my husband?"
The crowd that had gathered inquis-
itivcly, but respectfully, about tho stage
fell back astounded, not mt the question,
but al the woman who asked it, Lowry
was 90 years old, if IL day, mt the time he
was SO unceremoniously fired ont of exist
encc. He had never spoken much about
his wife, whom he had left in the east
fully 10 years before, yet from familiar
ity with Jims age, his homcly face and
still more homely ways tho miners had
formed the impression that his wife must
be n woman of 40 or 10 and equally angu-
lar and uninpressive i'll appearance. But
here she was before them, n woman of
possibly 80, plump and slapcly with
face that was simply bcwitching She
was absolutely handsome, and there was
an expression in her eye and mouth that
seemed to Indicate that she knew it.
Tie smile disappeared, and sho looked
at Jerry somewhat anxiously "Why
isn't Mr.. Lowry here to meet mc?" she
asked.
There was painful pause. Tho min
ers looked at Jerry, and Jerry looked at
his boots.
Fac is, maam" he finally said as he
slowly twirlcd his greasy hat with one
hand, fac is. ms-a-ailin. Bin work
in like--like blaZes. you know, gettin
ready for you, an-an-sorter down with
q fever or sOmethin. Fac is, he's-but
say. You must be tired an hungry.
There's room fer You in this hero hotel,
an I'll take you over to see jim later"
With apparent reluctance Mrs Lowry
followed the hotel proprietor to tho room
that had been fitted up for her weeks be
fore and sacredly kept unoccupied ever
since, while the crowd, with exclama-
tons of establishment and delight,
pressed forward to the bar.
"Fellers," said Jerry, with the air of
one who had just discovered rich
pocket" Of TIE yellow metal, "fcllers,
here's to the widdery'
An hour later Mrs. Lowry accolnpa-
MED jerry to Jim's cabin, and OH the way
up the trail he broke to her tho sad news
of her husbands death But in what
way he impaired tho melancholy infor-
NATION his companions never could
learn.
Fac is, fellers," he had said in reply
to their questions, sit makes mo creepy
to think about it, she took on that terri
BILE, but | let 'er down easy as poser
BILE. Thought she faint sure, special
when l showed her where jim was
chucked. Her carryin on was mighty
depressin, I'm tellin you. Lets liquor
The next morning the widow, who had
sat down at the supper table thcevenins
of her arrival in n royyn IF soft toncJ