The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-10-10
WOOlNG A WIDOW.
After Considerable Experience MIR. Peter
kin Found the Right Method.

kin Found the Right Method.
II have often wondered, said Squire
Ben, why it was that some women are
overwhelmed with suitors, so to speak,
while others have not a solitary one.
There is something queer about it, but
perhaps it comes from perfectly natural
conditions, but of which we are I'M
aware. And this reminds me of a
story. Some thirty-odd years ago-I
don't know exactly how many, but it
was some time during the war-I heard
a story which returned soldier was
reading in a newspaper to a little
group around him, to their great en-
Joyment. The story made such an i'm
preston on me that haven't forgotten
it, and will tell it in outline
'Mr. $. c. Peterkin was prosper
GUS young man of business in New
York city, who got ahead in spite of
his constitutional modesty. This was
his way in society more than in trade;
he was afraid of women more than
men. For a long, long time he had
set his heart upon lovely young lady
named Violet He often called upon
her, and resolved again and again to
offer his heart and hand, but as often
that heart failed him. At last he be-
came alarmed by the fact that the
dashing Capt. Latham, of one of the
sound steamers, was often at the house
when he called to see Violet At last
he could not bear the suspense any
longer, and he ventured, with much
hesitancy and awxwardness, but with
do-or-die determination, to ask her to
be his wife. With remarkable GOODNESS
she replied:
You should have spoken long ago,
Mr. Peterkin; | have been engaged to
Capt. Latham for some time past, and
we are to be married very shortly. |
am sorry to disappoint you, but we
will be as good friends as ever, and YOU
must come to see me just the same.
The captain will always be glad to
have your company.
'Peteriin went away sorrowful But
a brighter day soon oawned, for with
in three months after they were mar
ried the captain fell off the steamer in
a fog on the sound and was drowned.
Now Peterkin took heart He would
have the widow. A year of mourning
wore slowly away, He kept his eye on
the widow, but would not insult the
memory of the dead by proposing until
decent interval had passed The
year ended, and be laid his heart again
at the little feet of Violet. She heard
him quietly and gently remarked: My
dear Mr.. Peterkin, | am sorry to dis
appoint You again, but for the last six
months | have been engaged to DR..
Jones. 1t was hard for me to make up
my mind between him and his friend.
the handsome Lawyer Bright, but Dr.
Jones was SO good to me while | was
sick in the winter, after my husbands
death, that promised him 1 would be
his at the end of the year
$50 poor Peterkin retired once more;
the Widow Latham became Mrs. Dr.
Jones, and SO remained, while the dis
conf ted Peterkin wished the doctor
might take enough of his own pills to
make an end of him. Time passed on.
Peterkin was walking down Broadway
one day, while not far ahead of him he
saw two men, one of whom he knew t.
be this hated DIR. Jones. A large fat
stone was being hoisted to the coping Of
new building; the ropes gave way; it
fell and instantly killed the two men,
''Peterkin rose to the emergency of
the moment. For the dead he could be
of no avail. His thoughts were on the
widow. He turned, he ran, he flew, to
her abode. When she entered the
room where he awaited her he began:
My dear Mrs. Jones, l bring you
dreadful news. l was walking on
Broadway, when l saw a stone fall
from house upon your poor husband
and he is dead, but you must let me
comfort you. l beg you, now, to be
mine-my Violet, at last.
Dear Mr.. Peterkin, am so sorry,
but when DR.. Jones and Mr.. Bright
were both begging me to marry, took
the doctor and promised Mr.. Bright if
anything happened TO Jones | would
certainly be his. So you see | am en-
gagged. am sorry, for think great
of you, my dear Peterkin.
"Peterkin was very calm and self
contained. He said: And will YOU
promise to be mine when the lawyer is
no more? Certainly l will, with all
my heart and soul Then come to nv
arms, my Violet, for the same stone
that killed the doctor was the death of
Bright, and you are mine at last!"-
Boston Herald.