Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
"COME TO MY ARMS"
Bashful Mr.. Peterkfn Finally Had the
Widow COrnered.

Widow COrnered.
From the Boston Herald.
Il have often wondered said Squire
Ben. why 1t 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
1T comes from perfectly natural conditions,
but of which we are unaware. And this
reminds me Of story. Some thirty odd
years ago-I don't know exactly how many,
but it was some time during the war of the
rebellion(I heard a story which a returned
soldier was reading in newspaper to
little group around him, to their great en-
joyment. The story made such an impress
sion on me that haven't forgotten it, and
will tell it in outline.
Mr.. S. c. Peterkin was a prosperous
young man of business in New York city,
who got ahead in spite of his constitution
al modesty. This was in his way in soci-
ETY. more than in trade; he was afraid of
women more than men. For a long, long
time he had set his heart upon a lovely
young lady named Violet. He often called
upon her. and resolved again and again to
offer her his heart and hand, but as often
that heart failed him. At last he became
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
pense any longer. and he ventured. with
much hes.tancy and awkwardness, but with
do-or-die determination. to ask her If she
would be his wife. With remarkable cool
ness she replied:
You should have spoken long ago Mr.
Peterkin; 1 have been engaged to Capt.
Latham for some time past, and we are to
be married very shortly. 1 am sorry to dis
appoint 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
Peterktn went away sorrowfnl. But a
brighter day soon dawned, for within three
months after they were married the can
tain fell off the steamer in a fog on the
sound and was drowned. Now Peterkin
took heart. He would have the widow A
year or mourning wore slowly away. He
kept his eye on the widow. but would not
insult the memory Of the dead by propos-
ing until decent interval had passed The
year ended: ard he laid his heart again at
the little feet of Violet. She heard him
quietly and gently remarked: My dear
Mr.. Peterkin, ] am sorry to disappont you
again, but for the last six months 1 have
been engaged to DR.. Jones. It was hard for
me to make up my mind between him and
his friend. the handsome Lawyer Bright,
but DIR. Jones was so good to me while
was sick In the winter. after my husbands
death. that ] promised him would be his
at the end of the year.
SO poor Peterkin retired once more; the
Widow Latham became Mrs. DIR. Jones.
ana so remained, while the discounted
Peterkn wished the doctor might take
enough Of his own pills to make an end of
him. Time passed on. Peterkin was walk
Ing down Broadway one day, while not
very far ahead Of him he saw two men,
one Of whom he knew to be this hated Dr.
Jones. A large fiat stone was being hoisted
to the coping of a 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. bring you dreadful news. I was
walking on Broadway, when I saw a stone
fall from house upon your poor husband,
and he IS dead. but you must let me COM
fort you. I 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 I took the doctor
and promised Mr.. Bright If anything hap
pened to Jones I would certainly be his.
So you see I am engaged. I am sorry. for
think great deal Of you. my dear Peter
kim"
"Peterkin was very calm and self-con-
tanned. He said: And will you promise
to be mine when the lawyer is no more?'
Certainly I will with all my heart and
SOUL Then come to my arms, my Violet,
for the same stone that killed the doctor
was the death of Bright and you are mine
at lastr"