The free press., 1894-03-01
WAS IT A RUSE?
BY S. A. WEISS.

uoman--a WIDOW VI uhiloy VI ohoi
,houts-with soft, appealing brown
.vas and dimple i'll each cheek, and
~ more Mr.. Bowers looked at her
.,ross the boarding-house table the
better he liked her.
He was himself widower of forty,
and had been paying some attention
tn maiden lady with auburn hair and
sharp black eyes, who, he considered,
uonld be q good manager for his
bo,,sehold; but from the moment
when pretty Mrs. Wren seated herself
opposite him at Mrs: Brooks table,
and said, in her sweet, low voice, "Tea,
if YOU please, with sugar and cream" !"
be felt an intuitive conviction that this
Was the woman whom kind fate had
especially designed for him.
From his landlady he gained some
Information concerning her; that she
had been recommended to the summer
boarding house by Mrs. Brooks own
pastor, whose relative she was; that
she had lost her husband nearly two
years since, and was very well off as
regarded money; and finally that she
resided with o sister in Mr.. Bowers
own city-all of which was very satis-
factory to Mr.. Bowers.
So, forthwith, he commenced an
asiduous courtship of the widow, and
Ufavorably were her attentions re-
eiyed that one old bachelor-Mr.
bggs- wagered silver dollar with
mother old gentleman-Mr. Wingo-
hat the couple would be engaged be-
bre the end of the second week.
Asit happened, it was on the very
evening of this wager that Mr.. Bowers
and the fair widow were seated in
little rustic summer-house on the lawn
as the sun set slowly beneath the dis
tant mountain tops. She was looking
at the evening star and he at her.
81 think" she said, ,pensively, 'that
that must be the star of my destiny,
else Iwould not love it So"
"And I believe you are mine," he
answered, tenderly, "else-may I say
it. Alice?"
Say what?" she answered, inno-
Gently.
You know-that L love you so! !"
her long lashes dropped.
I'VE have known each other for so
snorta time, +" she murmured.
For whole week, dearest, and in
mat time have become better ac-
9ualnted with each other than would
nave been possible in months of or
unafy intercourse. Oh, Alice, say
@at you will be mine |"
and when, an hour thereafter, the
"upie returned to the house, and en-
'7red the supper-room in the full glare
VI the gaslight, Mr.. Wingo quietly
aipped silver dollar from his pocket,
'au with, sigh, laid it upon Mr..
D0esS knee, under cover of the table
cloth.
vi course Mr.. Bowers called upon
~ ~oetrothed as soon as she returned
"sthe city, and between them ar
"aeements were made for a speedy
marriage.
ous IN all this time he was pur-
S'eiy nursing in his breast guilty
'cret which the widow little sus-
t7''ed' For not once had he limited
"ner That in the home to which he
HOposed to take her he had three
NSsh and unruly boys to whom she
''' expected to be tender mother,
twill never do to let her know it
''.ore we are engaged" Mr.. Bowers
Aac at first said to himself.
ana when he found himself en-
s'ssa' he was still haunted by the
syuOs whether she might not, forget
4,oi her plighted word, be tempted
nrow him over" when she found
'.ssoout those terrible children.
:. az last matters had progressed
s'af-all but the date of the mar
se being fxed-that he felt that
.could not longer, with propriety,
NAnhold from her matter which SO
4'srly concerned her.
!, Alice, darling" he said, one eve
lug r with a sickly smile, 81 have a
'-s surprise for you. 1 have been