Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-07-13
The Widows Arrival.
The Love Story of an American
Naval Officer.


and amid al the joyous stir and ex-
citement that the monthly boat brought
was one iorlorn, unhappy man. Tom
Douglas watched his friends rs they
eagerly opened their letters and listen
ed with assumed interest to the bits OF
news they were anxious to share, for at
Sitka the population throngs to the
wharf when the steamers whistle il
heard and wait the coming OF the ship
and the distribution Of the mails The
people crowd into the tiny Postofiice
on the dock and watch impatiently for
the longed-for home letters.
But Toms home letter was not a
comfort to him. "Well, she is really
coming" he thought, "a month from
toalay, if the steamer is on time. !
will be a married man; worse luck.
How can ever tell Natalia, dear little
girl | wouldn't willingly hurt her
tender feelings for Il million dollars,
as hard up as am" and Tom whstlcd,
ruefully.
Tom Douglas was a naval officer and
before being stationed ut Sitka he had
been on duty winter in Washington,
where he plunged into society with that
gay abandon that only sailor knows,
for after three years at sea a young
fellow is quite ready for the rush and
whirl of the gay capital. All houses
were open to the handsome Lieutenant
but there was one where he was espe-
cially welcome. The hostess was a
pretty widow of some 26 or q years
of aye. Her husband, who had died
soon after their marriage, seemed not
to have laid very strong hold on her
affections, for after mourning him dec
orously for year she blossomed into
the gayest of the gay and her house
became centre for the young officers
who had been the friends of her hus-
band.
1t was there that Tom spent most of
his time. He dropped in during the
morning and discussed the newest
gossip or the latest magazines and came
in for a cup Of tea in the afternoon
and remained till her cozy parlor was
empty save for himself and her.
"Are YOU going to the assembly to-
night ?" he would ask.
"Will you be there, Tom ?" Mrs.
Deering had such good-fellowship
way of using her friends first names.
"les, presume So"
"Well, then, 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 rs usual to the CHEEKY home of
Mrs. Deering' lie told her the news,
and was really surprised and hattered
by her reception of it. She took both
his hands in hers and the tears gather
ed in her bright eyes.
"Oh, Tom" she said, Il hate to
have you 90"
Now, il never occurred to Lieuten-
ant Douglas before, but at this mo-
ment the idea did come TO him that he
was in love with the widow. Hebrew
her to him and kissed away her tears,
and before he knew it he was engaged
to Alice Deering.
lie left soon after arranging To have
Alice Join him later in the summer
but, owing to the loss Of a distant rela-
tive, the heir o. whose modest estate
she was, her coming had been greatly
DELAYED. 1t was now more than Il
year since Tom and she had parted in
Washington. In the meantime Tom
had whlled away his l.isure hours in
the somewhat narrow circle OF Sitka
society, but in that narrow bound he
had found fair Russian flower that
he knew bloomed for him. Though
Tom had not made love to Natalia-
he was too honorable fer that-thev
had been together constantly and each
knew instinctively what was in the
others heart
"t believe I'll go and tell Natalia
all, Tom continued to muse, "righ;
now, for of course. as gentleman and
officer | am bound to keep my word
and my word is given to marry Alice
hang it wish had never been horn
She, too, poor girl, may discover that
my love has somewhat cooled. II il
was love it never was the same feeling
| have for dear, little Natalia, bles-
her loving heart"
i So Tom went to Natalia and told
her that he was engaged and that
another month would see him married
Her delicate face whitened, but, con-
trolling herself. she said