The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-30
A WIDOWS LOVE.

opened their letters and listened with
assumed interest to the bits of news they
were anxious to share, for at Sitka the
population throngs to the wharf when
the steamer whistle is heard and waits
the coming of the ship and the distribu-
ton of the mails. The people crowd in
to the tiny p~ostoffice on the dock and
watch impatiently for the longed for
home letters.
But Toms home letter was not a
comfort to him. We'll. she is really
coming he thought. "a month from
today, if the steamer is on time. l will
be d married man; worse luck. How
can I ever tell Natalia, dear little girl!
l wouldn't willingly hurt her tender
feelings for 81, 600, 600, as hard up as I
am" And Tom whistled ruefully.
Tom Douglas was a naval officer and
before being stationed at Sitka he had
been on duty a winter in Washington,
where he plunged into society with that
gay abandon that only a sailor knows,
for after three years at sea a young fell
low is quite ready for the rush and
whirl of the gay capital. All houses
We're open to the handsome lieutenant,
but there was one where he was espe-
cially welcome. The hostess was a pref
ty widow Of some 26 or p years of aga
Her husband, who had died soon after
their marriage, seemed o t o have had
q very strong hold on her affections, for
after mourning him decorously for a
year she blossomed into the gayest of
the gay, and her house became a center
for the young officers who had been the
friends of her husband.
1t was there that Tom spent most of
his time. He dropped in during the
morning and discussed the newest Cos
sip or the latest magazines and came in
for a cup of tea in the afternoon and re-
manned till her cozy parlor was empty
save for himself and her.
Are you going to the assembly to-
night?" he would ask.
Twill you be there, TOM" Mrs. Deer
ing had such a good fellowship way Of
using her friends first names.
eyes, I presume So"
well, then, l am going the little
widow would reply.
And that was the way the winter
passed, Tom running in at all hours,
privileged to smoke or read, to talk or
listen, the most INDUCED of all her
callers. When his orders came for his
immediate removal to Alaska, he put
the document in his pocket and went as
usual to the CHEEKY home of Mrs. Deer
ing. He told her the news and wa real
~ surprised and flattered by her recep
ton of it. She took both his hands in
hers, and the tears gathered in her bright
eyes.
3 "Oh, Tom she said, II hate to have
you 60"
Now, it occurred to Lieutenant
Douglas before, but at this moment the
idea did come to him that he was in
love with the widow. He drew her to
him and kissed away her tears, and be-
fore he knew it he was engaged to Alice
Deering.
he lett soon after arranging to have
Alice join him later in the summer but
owing to the loss of a distant relative.
the heir Of whose modest estate she was.
her coming had been greatly delayed. II
was now more than a year since Tom
and she had parted in Washington. In
the meantime Tom had whiled away his
leisure hours in the somewhat narrow
circle OF Sitka society, but in that mar.
row bound he had found a fair Russian
flower that he knew blOomed for him.
Though Tom had not made love to Ma,
talia-he was too honorable for that
they had been together constantly, ant
each knew instinctively what was in thu
Others heart.
Il believe III go and tell Natal;
ALL" Tom continued to muse, "righ'
now, for Of course as a gentleman ant
officer / 4 am bound to keep my word
n my word Is given to marry Alice
hang 1t! l wish l had never been born
She, too, poor girl, may discover that m,
love has somewhat cooled. If it eve
was love, it never was the same feelin,
l have for dear little Natalia, bless he
loving heart"
So Tom went to Natalia and told he
that he was engaged, and that anothe
month would see him married.
Her delicate face whitened, but con
trolling herself she said:
II congratulate you, Mr., Douglas.
Then, bursting into tears, she turne'
away. The sight Of her tears was to
much for Tom. Embracing her tender
ly, he said: II love bat you, Natalia
darling. Oh, that I had met you first
My foadness for Alice was but a fee,
ing thing, and my love for you wi,
Last forever"
Pressing warm kisses on, her lip
he held her close.
Leave me, Tom. 1t is right for yo
to keep your word, but you should ha,
told me Of your engagement before. "
had best part now -Goodby."
"But can't / come to see you, N;
Italia, . usual?"
why. certainly not, Mr.. Dpugla