Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-06
LOWRY'S WIDOW.

least very exasperating. But he wa
de.d beyond doubt and likewise var
ou.ly scattered. the result Of too cles
intimacy with = premature blast
| The miners gathered up his visible n
mains and buried them with due X
le1nnity. Then they waited for the ad
vent Of the widow, but not without muc
misgiving. How would they meet her
And who of their number would assum
the delicate and embarrassing task
| informing her that she was widow!
They talked it all over that night
| front of Pete Simpsons bar.
Fac is. fellers, said One Eyed Jersy
the autocrat Of the camp. as he turne
his solitary optic on the crowd, fac
it's tough job, but it's got to be dons
| an I'll do it il it takes leg. Leave 1t Z
| me, fellers. an I'll let 'er down as soothi
as possible" And with deep feeling Q
relief that found expression in anothe
round of red liquor the miners left 1t I
| Jerry.
In due course Of time letter addresse
| TO James Lowry in a shaky, feminln
hand and postmarked Harrisburg ~
rived in camp and was opened by Low
| RVS self appointed executors 1t wa
from Mrs. Lowry, and from 1t the
learned that she would not arrive 10
| several weeks.
One dav about six weeks after the re
| ception of this letter as the stage rattle
| up to the single SO called hotel OF tn
| little Tuolumne mining camp the loun
| gers on the porch caught the glimpse of
dress inside. AT once all was excite
ment.
shes Gomez they all exclaimed
| Where's jerry"
Jerry. who was seated at table int
harroom. reluctantly laid down pa
hand" and reached the outside in tim
to assist TIE lady from the stage. awh
| wardly lifting his hat as he did so.
Mrs. Lowry. reckon" said Jerry a
| she alighted.
The lady threw back the veil from he
face, smiled and answered:
Yes. Where's my husband?"
The crowd that had gathered inquis
itively, but respectfully, about the stag
fell back astounded, not at the question
| but at the woman who asked it. Lowr,
was 80 years old. if day, at the time h
was so unceremoniously fired out of exist
ence. He had never spoken much abon
his wife. whom he had left in the cas-
fully 10 years before, yet from familiar
ity with .Ji,n's age, his homely face am
| stiu more hoInely ways tho miners ha,
formed the impression that his wife mus
be woman of 40 or 45and equally angu
lar and unimpressivei in appearance. Bu
here she was before them, a woman o
possibly 30. plump and shapely, with ;
| face that was simply bewitching. Sin
| was absolutely handsome, and there wa
an expression in her eye and mouth tina
seemed to indicate that she knew it.
The smile disappeared, and she looke'
at Jerry somewhat anxiously. WHY
isn't Mr. Lowry here to meet me?" sh
asked.
There was painful pause. The min
ers looked at Jerry. and Jerry looked q
/ his boots.
Fac is. ,na'am." he finally said as h.
slowly twirled his greasy hat with on
hand, fac is. Jims-a-ailin. Bin work
b hhe--li1e blaaeS you know, getd'
ready for you. an-aa-eorter down wit
fever or somethin. Fac is, he's-bu
say! You must be tired an hungry
| There's room fer you III this here hotel
an I'll take you over to see Jim later"
With apparent reluctance Mrs. Lowr!
followed the botei proprietor to the room
that had been fitted up for her weeks b.
fore and sacredly kept unoccupied eve
| since, while the crowd. with exclama
tions OF establishment and delight
| pressed forward to the bar.
"Feliers," said Jerry, with the air o
one who had just discovered a rici
| pocket Of the yellow metal, "fellers
here's to the widder!''
| An hour later Mrs. Lowry accompa
MED Jerry to Jim'a cabin, and on the wa,
up the trail he broke to her the sad new,
Of her husbands death. But in VIDA
way he impaired the melancholy infor
snation his companions never coul'
| learn.
Fac is, fellers," he had said in repl,
10 their questions. 1T makes me creep,
" think about it. she took on that terri
| bic. but let 'er down easy as poser
BILE. Thought she faint sure, 'speciai
when l showed her where Jim wa.
chucked. Her carryin on was might
depressin, l',n telltn you. Let's liquor.
The next morning the widow. who ha
sat down at the supper table theevenin
| Of her arrival in a gown of soft toned
gray that at once took all the boarder'
captive, surprised every one by appear
ing arrayed in somber robe Of mourn
ing. Her face was pale and sorrowful
and there was q sadness in her voice tina
excited the deep sympathy Of all VIII
| saw her.
All but one-Bradford, the gentle
man gambler" whose dark eyes ar
| long black mustache had dawned upo
the camp few months before, wore :;
scowl as he got up from the late break
fast table. He had eaten slowly, if in
deed he had eaten anything at all. TIL
miners had breakfasted long before
Only few business men, gamblers am
oilers were ut the table, and one by on
they finished their meal and departed
| rntil only he and the widow remained.
As he passed her chair on his way on
be stopped and hurriedly whispered
Fool, what are You doing with tina
dress on? Were you supposed to know
that you were widow when you start
Ell? And if not, how the devil do yoI
expect to account for that dress betweel
last night and this morning." Their
with suppressed oath, he strobe angril..
out from the room.
The widow looked frightened. Sh
hastily arose and went to her room.
The landlord out on the porch wa
talking to Jerry and obviously shakin.
his bead. Now, where in blixen diL
che git them duds?' he said In manner
that impressed Jerry most painfully.
The latter slowly worked his jaws, ex
pectorating in gloomy silence. At last
Fac is" he replied. these here womel
is 'stonishin. Me an you don't know N
more bout 'em than they do Of tun'ls
drifts and wines. l reckon that big
trunk Of bern was full Of clo'es. an she
come pervided fer ever contingency. OF
course, she couldn't a. knowed as how
Lowry had flunked till told 'er, an she
did carry on amazin. tell you"
That mourning costume was tho seed
from which sprang curiosity. doubt and
finally suspicion. Mrs. Lowry took poo-
session Of the little cabin in which her
husband had lived, and there she slept
and did her own cooking. She seldom
showed herself except TO attend to bust
nosa ~, <rsr,roc%;rv, vvy;%b <to ~ain ~ %t,t