The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-01-13
THE WICKED WIDOW,

ing to Liverpool en- route to New York,
at which latter place l had important
business to transact on behalf OF my
employers, large and Influential firm
of solicitors in London. just before
was handed into the compartment by
the obliging guard, who doubtless saw
q tip at the end OF the journey. No
body else got in and we started.
Being only human 1 couldn't help
stealing glance at my companion. and
the first glance only made me anxious
to take another. She was a widow, or
ut any rate she was dressed as one ac-
cording to our modern fashion, and al
though she had her veil down il struck
me that her features were prepossessing.
and 1 felt inclined to attempt CONVEX
sation, so with my hand on the window
strap said
Would you like the window up,
madam Sitting as you are you catch
the draught."
'Oh, thank you, sir, would" and
thought her voice angelic and felt that
1 should make fool of myself, when
she put up her veil, and 1 caught sight
OF her eyes, which were large and OF
beautiful dark brown shade. was Al
ways very partial to nice eyes, espeo.
tally brown ones. concluded to say
something more if got snubbsd for
my trouble. But l must say / didn't
much fear this, as thought she didn't
seem at all averse to conversation so,
feeling like a man does just before
plunging into cold water, 1 said
Il trust, madam, you will not think
me ill-mannered if L venture to ask if
you are going the whole journey 1
know most ladies have great aversion
to speaking to man without formal
introduction, but think myself that is
barbarous custom and quite unneces-
sary."
Il agree with you, sir 1 see no
harm at all in our speaking In fact,
think it much more sensible than sitting
like mutes all the way to Liverpool.
You ask if am going the whole Jour-
ney. Yes, l am, and hope to 60 on to
New York by to-morrows boat if can
manage it.
If you can manage it" repeated
MAY l ask what is likely to prevent
you?"
well, sir. she replied " it seems
strange to tell perfect stranger of my
affairs, but feel ! must talk to some
body of my troubles, so if you would
care to listen will give you an account
of my unfortunate position"
Being a man of the world ought to
have been put on my guard by this,
but those eyes quite blinded my sense
of perception, and said l should feel
honored by her confidence, and should
be happy to render any assistance in
my power.
"Well, sir, / have only been married
six months, and lost my dear husband
three days ago. In our case the old
adage that 'the course of true love
never runs smooth was quite true, as
> by our marriage he offended his father
and L became estranged from my
mother. We met at New York, where
he was spending few weeks holiday
He came to our house several times,
and when it was time for him to 90
back to England he asked me to go
with him as his wife and as | knew he
loved me and l loved him, consented.
My mother was very angry, and said
she never wanted to see me again.
Harold telegraphed to his father to say
he was just starting for home and was
bringing back wife with him, and to
make matters worse for us his father
telegraphed in reply that he wouldn't
receive any wife, and made an allusion
to 'penniless American girl and we
might both go to the dogs for all he
cared.
''On arriving at Liverpool we took
apartments there, and my husband went
on to London to see his father and pre-
pare the way for my coming. He soon
returned. and said his father was de-
termined not to receive us, and he had
also stopped my husbands allowance,
SO we had nothing to live on beyond
the money we had with US, and that
wasn't much. For some weeks Harold
tried to obtain employment, but was
unsuccessful, as he had NO practical
knowledge of commercial matters and
then, to crown all our troubles, he
caught chill and was laid up with
rheumatic fever. nursed him for four
months, and then he was taken from
me. Before he died he made me prom
ise to bury him in the churchyard of
the church we were married at in Amer
ica, and of course 1 promised to fulfil
his wish, although hadn't the slight
est idea how was going to do it, see-
ing l had but G3O left and several debts
outstanding After his death thought
the matter over and decided that the
only thing could do was to go and see
his father. had written several times
and acquainted him with his sons con-
dition, but my letters had not been an
swered. Yesterday went to London
and saw him. He was very cold and
reserved, and when I told him of his
sons death he merely said he was sorry
to hear it, but that we had only our
selves to blame. i kept my temper as
we'll nossihle told Linn uasall,s