The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-11-02
A WIDOWS DEVICE.


ready the papers had interviewed her, and
Miss Wilhelmina Perks, the Female
Franklin-By One Who Knows Her" APP
peared in nearly every paper that you picked
up.
They had 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 Pm going to do it,"
81 know, my girl" said old Mr.. Perks;
81 know. You wouldn't be Perks il you
! was to give way now and go back on your
reputation.
"And I'll just go 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.
! All the time young DR.. Fraser looked
thoughtfully out of the window.
'If you won't say another word about
it," he remarked; ''if you'll just let me say
! this"-
"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 l shall think of you dreadfully."
Mrs Waldershare had scrubbed furtively
a 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 fruits?"
Under the item was her penciled mes
sage:
meet me in half an hour in the reading
room"
"Yes," said Dr. Fraser, 81 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 spiritedly 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.
Ina few minutes Wilhelmina entered the
room. She was tall, striking girl, and
everybody looked up from the evening pa
pers as she came.
"In that corner, think" said the man
carefully II think l saw them go there
| just behind the screen, miss"
Miss Wilhelmina walked across the large
thickly carpeted room to the place indi-
Gated. The two familiar voices came to her
ear, and there was in the voice of the little
widow so unusually earnest ring that
Wilhelmina paused involuntarily.
you don't know, Frank, how much
love YOU" she heard Mrs. Waldershare
say. She was speaking 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 unwoman-
ly-perhaps some might call me shameless,
but can't helpit. May I-may ask you
to give me one promiseW
Tell me what it is" said the voice of
DR.. Fraser hoarsely.
promise that as soon as this American
girl. with whom you think you are in
love"-'
with 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"
II can give you no promise of any kind"
answered DIR. Fraser steadily.
II can quite understand your position"
the little widow went on. Its very hard
on you. But when she comes back, IL 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 End that you
have forgotten her"
II shall never, never forget her." declared
Frank
ATTENDED" said the little widow persist
emily. II repeat that know something of
these matters Well let her go, let her get
right away, and then Well talk over this
matter again. II Pm not mistaken, you'll
be Of different opinion then"
II beg you won't anticipated
"Oh, my dear SIR" replied the little
widow, with a 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. Iam doing
her grieyous wrong by listening toyou."
There was a sob from the little widow,
and DIR. 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.
Dr. Fraser did not come out, and Will
helmina went up the lift to her room, and
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 for
the bus.
"Hullo," said one, "here's a go. That
Yankee girl isn't going to bring home the
north pole after all"
whats up. them" asked the other. The
first youth read it out:
'Acting upon her DOCTORS advice, Miss
Wilhelmina Perks has relinquished her in
tended expedition to the north pole. Her
boat and supplies-which were OF the most
complete character-have been purchased
by telegram by Swedish explorer. 1t is
stated that the marriage OF Miss Perks to
DIR. Fraser, one Of the most successful
young medical men Of the day, will take
m. Il I.ko