Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-24
THE LITTLE WIDOW.


not more than twenty SIX at the out
side, and In spite Of her widOwhood,
a. fresh ard winning ns any belle In
her first season.
"What has become Of your friend,
Mr. Temple, latcly:" asked the little
widows friend and confdante, Eva
cray. "Wo all thought you and he
were going to make match Of IL,
ana now he suddenly disappears from
the social horizon and VIC hear no
more about him. Have you quar-.
relied, or have you refused him or
what?"
"He hasn't given mo the chance
TO refuse him." Then, US an after.
thought, she added: "Do you know
the reasonp"
"No what Is it?" cried her com.
paniOn, all the wOman's love Of o 90.
cret reused within her.
"rhere are two reasons" said the
widow, still with smile on her face,
'and there they are" As she spoke
she pointed to corner Of the room,
where two pretty little children were
1t play.
"My membranes 10 you know
when ! made Mr.. Temples acquaint.
ancc at Brighton tho children were
away at their vrandmOther's, and no
never know till q fortnight ago that
there we're any such young people In
the world.
HE heard of them tho day before
they came home, and since that day
he's never been near the place, while,
90 you know, before that he was here
pretty nearly every day.
1T seems they used to chat Ted
about me ut tho club-the bright.
eyed little widow they used to call
ine-and when Mr.. BarrOwclOugh
said something Of tho kind the day
after he'd been told about the chill.
dren he said:
"Oh, be hanged! She's o lovely
little woman, but do you know
there's Q family tackled on-two
sQualiing little brats"
'sThe h0rrid wretchl" exclaimed
Eva Grey, Ito 20 regarding those two
little darlings 40 40 membranes"
The Two friends continued talking,
ana On interested we're they that they
did not notice the two children leav Q
the corner In which they were play.
ing and take up position close be.
side them, listening intently W all
that was being said.
Now It 50 happened that the chill.
dren, unknown to their mother, had
seen Mr.. Temple and seen him often.
Since no had given up visiting her
he had taken to strolling aimlcssly
about In one Of the public parks not
far away.
Mr.. Temple had noticed the pretty
children, who seemed TO 10 con-
stantly falling across his path, and
moro than once had spoken with them
and with their r0sy.faced little nurse,
tho latter never for moment doubt.
ing that no knew all the time whose
children thcy were.
It. was owing to this that tho chill.
dren were able to grasp tho meaning
OF their mothers conversation from
the point where their sharp ears first
caught Mr. Temples naWe.
He was their friend Of the public
park, the toll, handsome gentleman
whom nurse had told them was one
day to be their father From that
point they were oil ears till nj
length one OF them startled the
ladies BY breaking into conversation
with the words:
wont Mr.. Tempoo marwy you,
muvver. betause you've dot US "a
look after? I'm sure we wouldn't be
naughty, and we's bofe vOve him II
he'd be our iaver."
IL dare say you would, but you
won't have the chance" said theil
mother.
That afternoon the two children
still full OF the idea that MI. Temple
was not going to marry their mother
because he declined to take the re,
sp0nsibility Ut two naughty children
upon bis hands, conceived the scheme
Of calling upon him aud assuring him
that they would give him absolutely
NO trouble and would DO indeed the
best children In the world II only he
would give them the opportunity
When Mr. Temples old housekeepel
opened the door she was addressed b,
q little girl deliberately dressed In Q
Yhjte embroidered frock with o blus
Cash. Her little ankles were encircled
by diminutive silken socks and hel
feet encascd In tiny bucKled shoes.
'Qh, Mrs Whitaker" she said
VIII You please cgHre and open the
GATE Tor Phebe? 1t won't come un
fastened and she can't get in."
'Then how did you get IMP" asked
the housekeepeE knowing that thu
gate had been left fastened from tn,
inside
+ "Oh, l came over the WALL" sh,
answered, as though 1t was the mos
natural thing In the world for lit
tie tot standing three feet nothing Il
her stocking feet to Chamber over ,
six.t0ot wall II " DISTRACTED her way
"Well. young ladies, how DO yo'
do? This IL an unexpected pleasure.
1--WE are very we'll thank you, Mr.
Temple, and hope you are the same,
said Floss, speaking for the two o
them.
"Y0u seem to know my name, blu
you have the advantage OF me
Please tell me whose little girl yOl
arc. DO ] know your father o
mother"
"Why, Of course you do; weir
Mrs. TelfOrd's little girls, and "
haven't got any father"
"What! tho little widows chill
dren!' he exclaimed under his breath
t,Vaa " cnth Dhnho .o;cin1 IN N