The Van Buren press., 1894-09-29
A DESPERATE WOMAN.
1aef Way of Winning Back a
Reoreant Spouse,

Reoreant Spouse.
., MIN Warburton started a little at
slen. - OF me, but 1t is only justice to her
~ say that she was not at all flurried
mol 80 much as flush OF her smooth
eheek betrayed that Il was anv snr
prise or annoyance to find me there 7
.., aaa considerable curiosity to see
whether Rex would evince the same
lnpassiveness and quietly resumed NV
oook after the first greeting.
Hex did not come to his appointment
puae'oaiiy, or perhaps he had scented
my espionage ','ss'
Inc widow, after one or two Turns
across the terrace, approached me and
seated herself on one Of the stems at.
my feet. s'p' ~
rs that something very interesting
you are reading, Mr.. Nye?' she asked
presently.
Not absorbingly so," l responded,
partially closing the volume and smil.
ing down at her; felt no malice to-
AsuuoDOlC WIuOWk
yet you keep finger on the place
as much as to say you did not like be.
ing interrupted. l wish l could find
anything worth reading these stupid
days"
You arc welcome to this said,
extending 1t toward her. 1t 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 as she could into the bushes.
| gazed stupidity after the vanished
volume. Mrs. Warburton laughed al
most naturally as she rose from her
scat on the step.
"There is Rex, now," she said,
sweetly, and foated away to meet 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 |, entering his room an
hour after, unannounced, "what is the
meaning Of this9 Did you not promise
me-
Bother the promise, Uncle Nye,"
blurted Rex, "a fellow isn't response
BILE for promises or actions when q
pretty woman is in the question.
"There is but one pretty woman in
the world for youl'
"Amy?-oh, Amy is an angel; love
her to distraction"
1.-THE deuce you do?" said l. II wish
the widow was man. I'd shoot her,
by Georgel
"There wouldn't be any need in that
case
"Ill disinherit you and marry Amy
myself" he said angrily.
"Oh, you will, will your said my
nephew, grinning. "lt is very fortu-
nate that the widow has handsome
income, as in that case l should marry
her."
"You-why, she is old enough to be
your mother"
"Six months younger than your un-
worthy nephew, uncle. We made the
calculat tion not half an hour ago."
"She's q false, maneuvering flirt as
ever lived, and l believe on my soul
there's pair Of you;" screamed ], as
banged out of the room, leaving Rex
in commissions of the most unaccount-
a BILE laughter, and running against
Beatrix--that Is, the widow-in the
passage.
II she had not been one OF those
gliding creatures who seem to move
on air; II she had not gracefully re-
ceded before my onset, there is no con-
jecturing what the consequence would
have been. As it was, she recovered
herself at once, or rather did not
seem to have ost herself at all, and
stood smiling sweetly at me-
II 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" began, tartly.
precisely" she interrupted me;
that was just what I wanted to do
Women are so lamentably ignorant on
all legal matters. Poor me, l have no
idea whether bigamy Is considered
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 courtesies and glided
away.
Could 1t be she was in earnest about
Rex9 / had my fears about him, i
had not been free from anxiety lest
she should so far entangle him in her
meshes as to induce total forgetfulness
Of the claims of the lovely girl to whom
NV nephew was already betrothed;
hut that she could herself mean any
thing beyond defying and provoking
me to the utmost had not dreamed
If she persisted in her course VIVA.
should do? What could do at the last
but the very thing had so often and
solemnly vowed to myself would not
do-acknowledge the truth concern
;np the so-called Mrs, Warburton'
fancied the flash OF Beatrix's mag,
nificent eyes when she saw me forced
70 this extremity. the triumphant
curye of her scarlet lips Mt my discoii-
future. ,a,,,d
A bright thought struck me- would
have Amy up here. 1t was an non
sense her staying at a stupid iarm
when we were at gay watering place
,to d;,ectlv cn odd sort OF an