Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-31
A WIDOWS DEVICE.

tHs
They Ind all been to Lords, and Dr. Fra
ser and his cousin, Mrs. Waldershare, had
been brought back to dinner at the hotel.
Well" said Miss Wilhelmina, "'taint
no use talking, you know. My minds set on
this trip. and I'm going TO do it."
II know, my girl, +" said old Mr. Perks;
"I know. You wouldn't be Perks II you
was to give way now and go back on your
reputation
"And IN just 60 and make name for
myself. and then III come right back, and"
she glanced at DR.. Fraser-"and then
we'll be happy"
Young Dr.. Fraser pressed the young lady's
foot affectionately beneath the table, and
little Mrs. waldershare smiled.
An the time young DIR. Fraser looked
thoughtfully out of the window.
"if you won't say another word about
1t, he remarked; ''if you'll Just let me say
thisn-
go on dear" said Miss Perks. She and
Mrs. Waldershare rose as she spoke, and
the men rose too.
"That I'd give everything, everything
that / possess in the world, said Fraser,
still looking hard out Of the window, If it
would only induce you to give it up"
She came to him.
my dear boy" she said ''that can't be,
but you're just the sweetest fellow to say
so, and shall think OF you dreadfully."
Mrs. WaldershAre had scribbled furtively
q note on the menu, which she came back
to show the young fellow.
Before forget It, Frank" said the little
woman, "is this the right way to spell COM
pote aux fruitsl'
Under the item was her penciled mes
sage!
meet me III half an hour in the reading
room"
ayes" said DR.. Fraser, ~ think that's
right"
The two men had their smoke and their
coffee, and at the appointed time Fraser
threw away his cigar, and leaving old Mr..
Perks went into the reading room.
He found Mrs. Waldershare there, and
for five Minutes their heads were very close
together. They talked spirtedly and
seemed to be arguing with much good hui
NOR.
Presently they changed their seats and
sat behind a screen in the corner near the
window. Then Mrs. Waldershare gave a
confidential message to one OF the attend
ants.
Inafew minutes Wilhelmina entered the
room. She was tall, striking girl, and
everybody looked up from the evening pa
pers rs she came.
"In that corner, I think" said the man
carefully, II think l saw them go there
just behind the screen, miss"
Miss Wilhelmiua walked across the large,
thickly carpeted room to the place indi-
Gated. The familiar voices came to her
ear, and there was in the voice Of the little
widow 80 unusually earnest a ring that
Wilhelmlna paused inyoluntarily.
You don't know, Frank, how much
love you" she heard Mrs. Waldershare
say. She was . ,eaking very distinctly,
you don't know, and until now you have
perhaps never guessed that you are every
thing to me You will call me unwomHn-
ly-perhaps some might call me shameless,
but can't help IL, May I-inay ask you
to give me one promiseP
Tell me what it is,' said the voice Of
r. Fraser hoarsely.
Promise that as soon az this American
girl. with whom you think you are in
love-
"'NVith whom am in love"
"Very well, with whom you are in love,
then. Promise me that as soon as she has
gone on her preposterous expedition you
will give me leave TO speak again. am no
child in these matters, Frank"
81 can give you no promise Of any kind, I"
answered DR.. Fraser steadily.
~ can quite understand your position"
the little widow went on. Its very hard
ON you. But when she comes back, II she
ever does come back, after say three or
four years, aged and altered by this ridicu-
lous exploring business she surely would
not be surprised If she should find that you
have forgotten her"
81 shall never, never forget herr declared
Frank
Attended," said the little widow persist
| emily. II repeat that know something OF
these matters. Wen let her go, let her get
right away, and then wen talk over this
matter again. II I'm not mistaken, you'll
/ be Of a different opinion then"
81 beg you won't anticipaten-
"Oh, my dear sir" replied the little
| widow, with catch in her voice, think
| again. She does not love you really, or she
would never leave you like this, risking
| her life and your affection"
Don't speak to me, please prayed DR.,
Fraser; don't speak TO me. am doing
hera grievous wrong by listening toyou."
/ There was a sob from the little widow,
and DR.. Fraser rose and put his chair back.
She seized his hand.
The tall figure went quickly and noise
lessly from the reading room and stood for
few moments in the entrance hall, think.
ing hard
DIR. Fraser did not come out, and vii,
helmina went up the lift to her room, aud
sitting down on low chair had the best
cry she had had for years.
The next afternoon two clerks were read
ing in the evening paper as they waited fol-
the bus
"Hullo,n said one, there's go. That
Yankee girl isn't going to bring home the
north pole after all.
What's up, thenfh asked the other. The
first youth read 1t cat;
Acting upon her DOCTORS advice, Mis-,
Wilhelmina Perks has relinquished her in
tended expedition to the north pole. Hei
boat and supplles-which were Of the most
complete character-haye been purchased
by telegram by Swedish explorer. 1t 1,
stated that the marriage OF Miss Perks tC
DR.. Fraser, one Of the most successful
young medical men OF the day, will tax,
place on an early date at Holy Trinity
Sloane street. n-St. James Gazette.
Legal Punishment
A woman arraigned in a Vienna Law
court recently was asked by the judge 4
she had clear character. The accused