St. Paul daily globe., 1895-10-27
THE CONSUL,.S STORY.
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The New Budget.
Mrs. Helen Burns was quite un-
known to me; but 1 was not sorry
to see her come in. She was one
of the radiant brunettes whose
cheeks get a lovely red when the
Thermometer runs near zero, and
who can light the gas with her fin
gers when frost is about She was in
widows garb of the most aggres-
SiVe sort, and She looked as happy
as a prisoner just escaped from a
jailer. She tldpped me a sliding
courtesy and swan into a chair.
There was positively not an angle
about her.
I haf come on a said business, "
she said. The hardening of the final
'f' showed the French woman, but
there was no other evidence of it.
1 bowed and looked up with SYM
pathy and inquiry.
MY dear husbant he is det.''
l mutely expressed my commisera-
tion.
He has died very suddainly, and
haf decided that 1 cannot leave
his body in this cold Englant where
Is noting Sympatica. 1 will take
him back to New York on the steam
er."
Her long lashes fell like velvet
pail as she said this, and then slow
dy came upward. Beneath them I
could see a pair of dark brown ewes
shining through q film of tears. 1t
was like a rainbow in the mist.
My dear husbant, he was so goot
10 me. He lies in a leaden coffin at
the cemetery house, and we must
take him away tomorrow. 1t will
De Tor you to do something for me.
You shall say that he is inside. If
not this, dey open him at the cus-
tom house,
But cannot give you the usual GER
tlTcate without actually seeing him in
the coffin"
Dey will not let me open de coffin
no more. 1 did not know Yesterday or
would have sent for you. You must
do this
one leaned over in pleading entreatv.
ana murmured: My poor hushant
ne is not here to protect me and helm
me like he used to do. If my consul
does not help me, who can help me. and
where shall l So?''
felt as though it was positively
criminal to torture this poor lady any
longer with suggestions of strict com
pHdIlce with the law. l said l would
40 all could to smooth the hard path
vi WldoWhood, and asked for the death
ceruhcate 1t was duly handed me, and
In, IN
splash of ink covered the place of
demlse, but that was obviously an ac-
cldent. Then 1 intimated that I was
quite satisfied the husband was in tbe
coffin, but that 1 felt 1 must at least 90
and sse the outside of the receptacle.
You shall come with me-" she said
and together We drove over to the ceme-
terry. 1t was a pleasant afternoon. and
enjoyed the drive immensely. Mrs.
Burns also seemed to find the air ex-
hillarating, and laughed several times in
so hearty a way that [ was moved to
express my satisfaction at the way she
was bearing up under her great be-
Teavement
All, yes" she said, with a sigh,
sometimes do forget that L shall not
See my husbant any more"
Was he long ill?"
His healt was what you call pre-
Sre-carious. Is dat how you call it?"
That is right"
lie was man who loved de mystery
and de romance. We hat had MANY
romances." -
An, tell me one, for instance"
No; dose tings are sacred in his
tomb He was a very large man, long,
but not what you call fat. His coffin
seems very large"
And have all your romances been
with your husband?"
do not tell you dat, Mr.. Consulr'
and she smiled as though she could