Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-09-05
A WIDOWS LOVE.

1t was steamer day" at Sitka, and
amid all the joyous stir and excitement
that the monthly boat brought was one
forlorn, unhappy man. Tom Douglas
watched his friends as they eagerly
opened their letters and listened with
assumed interest to the bits Of news they
We're anxious to share, for at Sitka the
population throngs to the wharf when
the steamer 5 whistle is heard and waits
the coming Of the ship and the distribu-
tion Of the mails. The people crowd in
to the tiny postoffice ON the dock and
watch impatiently for the longed for
home letters.
But Toms home letter was not
comfort to him. ''Well, she is really
coming" he thought, "a month from
today. if the steamer is on time. viii
be married man; worse luck How
can / ever tell Natalia, dear little girl
I wouldn't willingly hurt her tender
feelings for 81, 900, 900, as hard up as
am. And Tom whistled ruefully.
Tom Douglas was 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 young fell
low 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 pref
ty widow of some 26 or ~ years Of age.
Her husband, who had died soon after
their marriage, seemed not to have had
a 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 gos-
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.
will you be there, Tom? Mrs. Deer
ing had such good fellowship way Of
using her friends first names
Eyes, presume so. =
''Wen, 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 indulged Of all her
callers When his orders came for his
immediate removal to Alaska, he put
the document i'll his pocket and went as
usual to the CHEEKY home of Mrs. Deer
ing He told her the news and was real
ly surprised and flattered by her recep-
tion of it. She took both his hands in
hers, and the tears gathered in her bright
eyes.
"Oh, Tom" she said, "Ihate to have
you 60.
Now, it never 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 left soon after arranging to have
Alice join him later in the summer, but
owing to the loss of distant relative,
the heir of whose modest estate she was,
her coming had been greatly delayed. 1t
was now more than 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 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, and
each knew instinctively what was in the
others heart.
81 believe I'll go and tell Nataha
all" Tom continued to muse, fright
now, for Of course as a gentleman and
officer am bound to keep my word,
and my word is given to marry Alice
hang it l wish had never been born.
She, too, poor girl, may discover that my
love has somewhat cooled. If it ever
was love, it never was the same feeling
l have for dear little Natalia, bless her
loving heart. 7
So Tom went to Natalia and told her
that he was engaged, and that another
month woul5 see him married.
Her delicate face whitened, but con
trolling herself she said;
81 congratulate you, Mr.. Douglas. "
Then, bursting into tears, she turned
away The sight of her tears was too
much for Tom. Embracing her tender
ly, he said: II love but You, Natalia,
darling Oh, that / had met you first
My fondness for Alice was but feet
ing thing, and my love for you will
last forever" +"
Pressing warm kisses on her lips,
he held her close.
Leave me, Tom. 1t is right for you
to keep your word, but you should have
told me Of your engagement before. We
had best part now. Goodby =
fBut can't come to see you, Ma
talia as usual?"
"Why, certainly not, Mr.. Douglas