Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-06
THE WIDOW MARIN.
BY the Author of "NataliSs Ordeal, "
"A Vain Sacrifice" Etc.
CHAPTER l.
An Incomer to Cantiehowe.

the East Neuk Fof ife the north bank
OF the Fourth, with stretches of a few
green miles between, is studded with
little towns that lie doing along the
shore; towns whose physiognomy has
changed little if any in the last 200
years.
Should the ghost of some one who
in mortal form had been familiar with
these shores some two centuries ago
revisit them now floating up in one
OF the fogs or easterly HAIRS which.
rising in the North sea, come trailing
up the coast, yelling the sun and dull
ing the day, he would still be able to
recognize the well-known and weu-re-
memhered places.
The chief features remain unchang-
ed, save for an occasional tall chimney
here and there or a fashionable villa
standing out consciously on some To-
cal promotory; warts, mere new warts
grown upon the face of the dear old
landscape. To the east, indeed some
new harbors have been built, but even
there natures original outlines have
been so closely followed as to alter the
appearance but little
The ancient steeples pointing heav-
onward still lend picturesqueness to
the view, as also do the grim and
hoary castle ruins, III sullen silence
mouldering to decay relics of an age
and spirit that die hard
The little -eayed, earthen- foored,
stone novels built as homes for the
humble toilers also linger, inhabited
still; but these too are fast disappear
ing with the barbarous selfshness of
the age they belonged to.
AS yet the little house still curtsied
to the big house at the time when
and in the town where this story be-
gins, though whether that town lay
miles to the east or miles to the west
of Old lnweerie is purposely rot set
down here. 1t will suffice the purpose
to state that its name, in this mar
rative at least, is called Cantiehowe, it
being a Cantie little town lying III a
howe or hollow of the coast and
people with cantie folk-folk, who took
friendly interest in the welfare of
each other; folk who would have fled
from the enforced loneliness of great
city, where such thing as a neighbor
in their sense of the word, was I'M
known.
A new incomer into Cantiehowe was
commented on and discussed with the
liveliest interest, until that interest
grew stale by the party becoming ma
turalized and if goodwill was not
forthcoming it was generally the in
eomers own fault.
1t was on a quiet summer afternoon
long ago that young woman of about
H3 or "A came into Cantiehowe, leading
a baby boy by the hand; bright
eyed, tlaXen- haired child, whom she
had no little trouble to keep in order.
He seemed indeed to be largely imbued
with the nature of quicksilver, unable
to keep still for two seconds in any
one place. He was but two and hall
years old, but so splendidly was he
developed that he might have passed
fol a child of four or five.
Behave yourself, Alec; you must be-
have" whispered the almost exhausted
woman, as, despairing of keeping him
from running among a horses feet,
she took him up in her arms and kiss
ing him carried him to the house
whittier she was going; to the man
who owned a small house and shop
at the east end Of the town.
No sooner had she been admitted
feet and gave chase to cat which had
followed them INTO the room.
The mother, with an exclamation of
dlsmay, ran after him and caught him.
Il want pussy want pussy he
screamed kicking like fury to be free.
He's a terrible boy. He is very
fond of cats" explained the embar-
raised woman, striving hard to contro,
the urchin and proceed with her bust
ness
Il want pussy; | want that pussy
tat" screamed the child, now red in
the face and pounding his mothers
arms with his tiny fists.
Let him doon-let him tak-the cat
he'll no hurt il, interposed the land
lord, practically, but inwardly wishing
he had the young rascal in his power
for good five minutes.
She released the child, who immedt-
ately ran over to catch the cat over
turning chairs and creeping under the
great haircloth sofa in pursuit, while
the agonized woman managed at in
tervals, nervous intervals, TO transact
her business.
Yen be a widow, them" inquired
the owner of the house she wanted.
There was moment OF hesitation
which the landlord failed to observe,
he being neryously watching the rock
ing of small round table with vase
on 1t, through the legs of which the
child was at that moment attempting
TO crawl, then the woman, with flush
dying her pale cheek, said, falteringly
Yes"
The next instant the table heeled