The Dickinson press., 1895-09-07
A WIDOWS LOVE.

lA@SS&
1t was steamer day. at Sitka and
amid all the joyous stir and excite
inent that the monthly boat brought
was one forlorn, unhappy man. Tom
Douglas watched his friends as they
opened their letters and lis
tened with assumed interest to the
bits Of news they were anxious to
share, for at Sitka the population
throngs to the wharf when the steam
er's whistle is heard and waits the
coming Of the ship and distribution
of the mails. The people crowd into
the tiny postoftice 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, ~ month from
to-day. If the steamer is on time. I
will be a married man, worse luck.
How can l ever tell Natalia, dear lit
tie girl! l wouldn't willingly hurt her
tender feelings for $1,OOO,OOO, as hard
up as l am" And Tom Wlistled rue
fully.
Tom Douglas was naval officer,
and before being stationed at Sitka
he had been OH duty q winter in
Washington, where he plunged into
society with that gay abandon that
only a sailor knows, for after three
years at sea q young fellow is quite
fh<N nyc,vN nd nty,0 80 <HaN
gay capital. All houses were open to
the handsome lieutenant, but there
was one where he was especially well
come. The hostess was pretty wid-
ow of some twenty-six or twenty
seven years Of age. Her husband,
who had died soon after their mar
riage, seemed not to have had very
strong hold on her affections, for after
mourning ).::.l uccorously for q year
she had blossomed into the gayest Of
the gay, and her house became q CEN
ter for the young officers who had
been the friends of her husband.
1t was there that Tom spent the
most of his time. He dropped in dur
ing the morning and discussed the
newest gossip or the latest magazines,
and came in for cup Of tea in the
afternoon and reDained till her cozy
parl0r was empty save for himself
and her.
care you going to the assembly to-
night?" he would ask.
Twill you be there, Tom?" Mrs.
Deering had such a good fellowship
way of using her friends first names.
Eyes, 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 as usual to the CHEEKY home of
Mrs. Deering. He told her the news
and was really surprised and > fiat
tered by her reception Of it. She
took both his hands in hers and the
tears gathered in her bright eyes.
"Oh, Tom," she said, II hate to
have you CO."
Now, it never occurred to Lieut..
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 before he knew it he was en-
gagged to Alice Deering.
He left soon after arranging to have
Alice join him later in the summer,
but owing to the loss of distant rel
alive, the heir of whose modest estate
she was, her coming had been greatly
delayed. 1t was now more than q
year since Tom and she had parted In
Washington. In the meantime Tom
whiled away his leisure hours in the
somewhat narrow circle of Sitka So
ciety, but in that narrow bound he
had found a fair Russian flower that
he knew bloomed for him. Though
Tom had not made love to Natalia-
he was too honorable for that-they
had been together constantly, and
each knew instinctively what was in
the others heart.
IL believe I'll go and tell Natalia
ALL" Tom continued to muse, fright
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 1 had never been
born. She, too, poor girl, may discov-
er that my love has somewhat cooled.
II it ever was love, it never was the
same feeling that have for dear little
Natalia. bless her loving hearth
So Tom went to Natalia and told her
that he was engaged, and that anoth-
er month would see him married.
Her delicate face whitened, but, conc
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 ten
derly, he said: II love but you, Ma
talia, darling. oh, that / had met you
first! Ny fondness for Alice was
but feeting 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 be-
fore. We had best part now. Good.
bye"
"But can't 1 come to see you, Nata-
lia, as usual?"
"Why, certainly not, Mr.. Douglas.
1t would only be painful, for we can
never, from this time forward, be any
thing but the most formal of friends -
Tom was touched by the simple dig
nifty Of the young Russian girl whose
quiet life had been spent by the sea-
shore under the shadow of the mount
aims. far from the noise of city or
town, so he bowed to her will. Their
parting was heartbreaking one to
both.
''Natalia, can't bear to leave you.
must have you, dearest"
ish."
well, then. let me kies you for the
last time, darling" pleaded Tom.
Natalia put up her little tear-stained
face and Tom silently kissed her and
went away.
That month posed only too quickly
for poor Tom, who looked with dread
toward the coming Of the steamer.