The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-01
JONES, WID0WER.

Jones was a luxurious fellow; he low
ed the good things of life and had thus
far been quite successful in obtaining
them. Still, it was not the good for
tune that comes by luck that was his,
but it was the fruit of energy and in-
dustry. Left with considerable pat
rimony, he had carefully improved his
circumstances, until now, at the age of
-, he was classed as one of the solid
men of the towu in which he had built
up his fortune.
For the last two years Jones had been
devoted club man-for Jones was a
widower, and for two years home had
been doleful place, full of the bitter
ness of bitter sweet memuries-every
corner echoing voice that was gone,
every room full of vanished presence
Tonight he had not gone to the club
but loafed in his own library and ru-
minated. For, though Jones was a
widower, it was his intention to re-
main such very little longer. The
echoes of the voice that was gone were
growing fainter, and he no longer felt
so sharply the influence os lie vanish
ed presence.
Just now he was engaged in that
venerable occupation, reviewing the
past.
He began with the wedding. He felt
again the hush of his heart as he had
| felt when he had realized that Eliza
beth had given herself into his keep
ing. "To have and to hold" he whis-
pered and his pulse beat strong. Eliza
beth looked from the shadows with the
old, sweet look of confidence and inyi-
| tation.
The face faded and Jones settled him.
self to his neglected cigar, and, in the
smoke curls that drifted into the cor
ners, he saw visions.
Children had come TO them. He liv-
ed again his hours of agony while
Elizabeth, his Elizabeth entered the
valley of pain; and his being throbbed
once more with exultant joy when she
had passed the valley and emerged on
the bright hilltops beyond, bearing
precious life in her hand-her pledge
of her love to him. "My brave Eliza
bethr'
Children had come to them-one,
two and then a third, and Elizabeth
had found that the valley opened into
the deeper, darker valley Of the Shad-
ow of Death; and Jones, baffied and
despairing had found that the brightest
hilltops beyond that valley were veiled
in a mist he could not penetrate.
He lived again in the freight here,
the dark, cold days that followed
the days that were months, the weeks
that were years, the years that were
centuries. lie turned restlessly as il
flashed to him that of these centuries
there had been but two.
A tiny coffin stood in the corner there
and Elizabeth's baby had gone TO her
waiting arms. Two little, helpless
clinging girls remained to him.
Housekeepers. His soul shuddered.
There was the fearful one, whose vocal
organs were paralyzed in his presence,
so that no conversation could he main-
tanned. She died, poor thing and
when she was gone he realized that she
had mitigated the toughness little.
Still, he always thought of her, not as
a person, but poor thing"
y jolly, rosy face thrust itself before
him. "Well," said a cordial voice,
"wiIl il be "A permanent position"'
Suffering Jones had been compelled
to state that lac could give no assurance
of permanency.
Next came the widow of the terrible
headgear, and he had suffered in ST.
lence.
But since he had known Sue-oh,
Sue was a jewel, She looked so haugh-
ty and cold-stiff, people called her.
But he knew how she could warm and
glow, how her eyes could brighten,
how her cheeks could burn, and her
lips curve distractingly. 1t made his
blood chase just to think, here in the
smoke, of Sue. And in week Sue
would be his. He swelled with pride.
He thought of his plans of the future.
How well it was all arranged! He
dwelt with complacency on the fact
that his friends were in the dark rs TO
his purpose. How discreet he and Sue
had been TO be sure, and it had been
delicious, he having his sweet secret
with Sue.
"a widower is Sd remarked upon if he
chooses to marry; il is annoying Jones
had not confessed TO himself that he
dreaded his friends, just now.
Jones loved to see things done de-
Gently and in order. He felt that this
season of reflection was delicate little
attention due his past, and that he had
properly chosen book he meant to lay
aside aud look at no more. He threw
his cigar into the CRATE, stretched HIM
self luxuriously and took himself to
bed.
The business day was nearly over,
when the boy announced name and
Jones rose promptly and advanced to
meet trim little lady, with clear,
fresh complexion and gray-blue, earn
est eyes, whose color was matched by
the elegant gown she wore.
They proceeded at once to matter
of business he had in hand for her, and
when that was attended to she sat
chatting for a few moments.
Jones liked Mrs. Mason. Aside from
his respect for her good sense and his
friendship for her husband, she held
other claims upon his regard. He had
known her long and well, and she had