River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-09-20
A DESPERATE WOMAN.
Her Way of Winning Back a
Recreant Spouse.

Mrs. Warburton started a little at
sight Of me. but it is only justice TO her
20 say that She was not at all fiurried.
Not SO much as flush of her smooth
cheek betrayed that il was any sur
prise OF annoyance To find me there.
had considerable curiosity To see
whether Rex would evince the same
impassiveuess, and quietly resumed my
book after the first greeting.
Rex did not come 10 his appointment
punetually, or perhaps he had scented
my espionage
The widow, after one or two turns
across the terrace, approached me and
seated herself ON one Of the steps at
my feet.
is that something very interesting
You Ste reading, Mr.. Nye?" she asked
presently.
Not absorbingly So" I responded,
partially chasing the volume and smil-
ing down al her: | felt no malice to-
ward the handsome widow.
Yet yuJ. keep a finger ON the place
as much as to say you aid not like be-
ing interrupted. / wish I could find
anything worth reading these stupid
days"
You are welcome to this" | said,
extending it toward her. II was a
copy of the revised statutes.
She glanced at the title and back
at me.
The next instant she snatched the
book from my knees and threw it as
far a. she could into the bushes
/ gazed stupidity after the vanished
volume. Mrs Warburton laughed al
most naturally as she rose from her
seat ON the step
There IS Rex, now" She said.
swcetly. and fioated away tomeet him,
superb in sang froid and efFrontery.
She whispered him something as she
took his arm and he looked over his
shoulder at me and laughed immoder-
ately. He had not felt in the least
like laughing when he first saw me.
His face flushed uncomfortably and he
frowned. but he was merry enough
under Mrs Warburton's beguiling.
Rex. said I. entering his room an
hour after. unannounced, what is the
meaning Of this? Did you not promise
me
Bother the promise. Uncle Nye,"
blurted Rex. "a fellow isn't response
BILE for promises or actions when a
pretty woman j. in the question"
There Is hut one pretty woman in
the world for YOU"
Amy oh, Amy Is an angel; love
her To distraction"
The deuce you do?'' said 7. Il wish
the widow was man. I'D shoot her,
by George.''
There wouldn't be any need in that
case"
"I'll disinherit you and marry Amy
myself he said angrily.
.'Oh. You will. will you?" said my
nephew. grinuing. 1t i very fortu-
nate that the widow mas a handsome
Income. as i'm that ease / should mary
her
''You-why, she is old enough TO be
your mother
six months younger than your un-
worthy nephew, uncle We made the
calculation not half an hour ago"
shes a false, maneuverIng flirt as
ever lived. and l believe on my soul
there's a pair Of you.- screamed /. "a
in commissions OF the most account
BILE laughter. and running against
Iieatrix that j., the Widow-in the
passage
II she had not been one of those
glid 'ng creatures who seem To move
ON air, If she had not gracefully re-
ceOed before my onset. there Is no con
occurring what the consequence would
have been. As il was. she recovered
herself at once, or rather did not
seem To have lost herself at all, and
stood smiling sweetiy At me
Il was just coming To ask you TO
lend me the charming volume you
were peruSing this morning" she said.
in the most matter-of fact manner pos
sible.
.'Ah, doubtless you wish To examine
that portion which treats of the legal
ity of marriages contracted under
false -' bean, tartly.
''Precissi,." she interrupted me;
''ti.at was just what I wanted To do.
Women are 80 Iamentahly ignorant on
all legal matters. Poor me. have no
idea whether hjgamy Is considered a
crime or not"
She smiled again with an air of be-
ing the simplest of creatures instead
of the most artful. tripped me the
most charming Of courte>ieS and glided
away.
Could it be she was in earnest about
Rex? I had nv fears about him |
had not been Tree from anxiety lest
she should - far entangle him in her
meshes a. To induce total fOrgetfulness
of the claims of the lovely girl to whom
my nephew was already betrOthed;
but that she sould herself mean any
thing beyond defying and provoking
me To the utmost had not dreamed
II she persisted in her course what
should do What could do al the last
but the very thing I had SO often and
solemuiy vowed To myself would not
acknowledge the truth concern
ing the so-called Mrs Warburton. /
faucied the flash of BeatriN's mag
nificent eyes when she saw me forced
10 this extremity. the triumphant
curve Of her scarlet lips At my discom-
future.
Heavens, how artful. how persever-
inr. how determined the woman was
How many women Of my acquaintance
would have had the address or the
courage 10 DO as she had? Yet she WAS
as proud as the best of them. beautiful
beyond any. accomplished, witty,
clever. popular. ! had mathematical
myself often enough for suffering her
tO fool me at first Was ! going 10 be
such an old simpleton a. 10 let her
snare me after all. play me neater
trick than the other great deale II
only knew what the woman was at,
Could Rex be in league with her?
A bright Thought struck me. would
have Amy mp here. II was all non
sense her staying al a stupid farm
when we were al a gay watering place.
wrote directly an odd sort Of an
epistle. and one that showed had not
80 much sense as lex. II I were his
senior by almost twenty wears Any
body but Amy would Law refused 10
obey such a peremptory and unreaSon-
able summons from a merely prospect
i've uncle-in-law. but she. good child.
came at once. Ny worst antieipations
were confirmed when Rex and Amy
met
had purPoSely concealed from my
nephew the fact that his betrothed
was 50 near. I had confidently caicu-