The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-16
A DREAM OF WIDOWS.


tive refers.
Ny godfather was eaten by bears. The
misfortune befell him while spending his
honeymoon with his beautiful bride at
Horsefiy mountain. Now, up to the time
Of which / write had simply heard this
much Of his eventful history. I had not
verified the story, because my clothes were
never good enough to go to the mountains
and enter society there. Having lately
held four aces, however, / now found my.
self on the ground, with Farmer Smiths
house as the pivot of my operations.
When supper overlook me that first
night, / found myself alone at the table
with six ladies past meridian and scv
enth In the morning time of her career.
then made my first mistakes; / stated tht
purpose of my visit to them. In the un
certain light of the setting sun was con.
scious that my narrative had aroused
them. But little did suspect the truth
After supper / was thirsty and ventured
to the pump in the garden and was in the
act of raising the handle, when some one
threw her arms violently round my neck.
"Oh sir! Oh, sir' pleaded feminine
voice. Il am the widow of him that was
devoured by bears"
'Indeed!" / exclaimed, for the news was
most agreeable to me. "Then we shall be
the very best of friends
"Ah. knew itl l knew you would one
day come and marry Inc" she went on,
throwing her head violently against my
bosom.
Excuse me, madam" said, turning
coldly from her and walking toward the
house. was quite indignant at her gush
ing manners and feared moreover that
she might be insane. But as / passed
along the walk felt some one tugging at
my sleeve. Turning about, a second OF
the coterie exclaimed:
"Will you pardon me, sir, but am the
widow Of the poor man whose dust you
seek"
1.-THE deuce you areW said.
eyes, " she went on between her sobs
she was devoured by bears, and oh, OH
"What kind of bears." asked.
81 think they were polar bears" shs
stammered. And then hurried on.
'Oh, sir, won't You love me for my hus
bands sakes' groaned u third voice mo
ment later. And then found my wa,
blocked again.
"What kind Of bears?" asked.
81 think they were ant bears" she NUT
lunging for my neck But flung her of
and gained the porch.
"At last, at lastv' heard some one
murmur, and then a tall female form
veptured from out a shadow.
"What kind of bears?" demanded vio
lently.
performing bears, they say"
She intended saying and doing more,
but another voice attracted my attention.
AS climbed over the speaker, who was
endeavoring to block the stairway, l asked
what species Of bears had made her wild.
ow. She was ready and answered that
they were bugbears.
"Avaunt, you miserable effigy of la
dyH' / said in tones which were the
quintessence Of ungentlemanliness
my prayers are answered at last just
then walled sixth voice. The possessor OF
it, person weighing much more than any
of the Others, had essayed to detain me at
the threshold of my own room by secret
ing my key in her pocket. AS kicked my
door in she went on:
81 have the proof! have the proof"
"What proof have your" asked.
"Why, buried him."
"How did you bury him II he was eaten
by bears:" l meant to convict her. She
answered, with smile:
81 never thought of that"
was now safe from them, but to make
doubly sure l barricaded my door and
nailed down all the windows. But during
the black and silent hours of the night
could dream of nothing but widows. They
passed to and fro i'm plctoons across my
bed, or, pointing their skinny fingers at
me, shriekcd the words Bears and
"Widow!' in my ears.
1t was not until l awoke the following
morning that the truth dawned upon mt
that l had yet the seventh one to deal
with, bc she widow or what she would. ]
came upon her as she presumably lay in
wait for me near tho pump, where she
knew 1 would be Obliged to come fol
drink.
She was much younger and fairer than
/ thought her when ut supper. But foI
all that was enragcd by her presence and
demanded to know If she was IA widow too
She smiled with some coyness and an
swered that she was, but that she differed
from the others had fallen in with.
I'm what wise do you differ from thems"
asked, for to me widows had up to this
time of my life been very much 0ne1ikt
another.
Il am grass widow" she said, with
chuckle.
For u time neither Of us spoke. Then
asked her why she had come there Lifting
up her eyes from the ground, she replied:
II am seeking proof Of the death of my
father, whom tradition says was devourcd
by bears on the mountain. have no other
parent to give me the truth, my mother
having died when was still In my roller
skates Seven years ago my uncle, the
only relative 1 had In the world, left me
k1,000,OO0, but i must establish beyond
doubt that am my fathers daughter be-
fore can come by the estate
But tell me more about your widow
hood, " said, for was growing nervous.
why, sent my husband here upon my
uncle's death to get the required proof,
and he never returned
What became of him. asked eagerly.
l was conscious Of wish that he, too,
might have been eaten by the bears But
was to Ice more agreeably entertained by
her answer.
"Oh, he cloped with one of that band OF
...tl a.