Iron County register., 1897-09-30
VICTIMIZED.
BY CELAS. B. LEWIS.
copyright, 1871
Copyright, 1ss7.I
THAD been at the Climax hot spring
BY CHAS. B. LEWIS.

HAD been at the Climax hot springs
for three days when the Widow Hen
bricks arrived. / had engaged quarters
for month, in order to boil the rheu
matism out of my system, and there
were hundred other guests booked il
a like manner. The springs were never
a fashionable resort, but you will al.
ways find lot of people there who are
financially solid. 1 was on the veranda
when the widow drove up in the bus
and sized her up as follows:
age about 81, fine figure; second
year of widowhood; handsome face;
intellectual and entertaining; proba-
bly, got at least $4,000 life insurance
when Hendricks shuffied off; she'll do to
cultivate"
was batchelor, you understand,
and at liberty to hirt, make love or
marry. It was said that was good
looking bachelor, and though l was
bothered with rheumatism in my left
knee just then, it didn't interfere ma
terially with the grace of my carriage.
l fattered myself that attracted the
widows attention, and was glad to
note that several other bachelors or
widowers were bit jealous of me. We
got her history, or rather a few de-
tails, from one of the hotel clerks. She
was worth half million dollars, and
lived in Cincinnati. Her sister and
brother-in-law would appear later. She
had twinges of rheumatism in her left
knee, and would take few baths be-
fore sailing for Europe to be gone a
year.
For two days the fair young widow
avoided us; but on the third day, to
nv great satisfaction, she was given a
seat at my table in the dining-room.
Not only that, but next to me; and she
had not given the waiter her order
when I introduced myself and man
aged to add a few honeyed words to
please her self-esteem. She gave me
her name in return, and the fact that
we were both suffering from rheuma-
-tism in the same knee served as a
bond 10 draw us together. 1 admired
her from the start; by the time her
poached egg was brought thought
could love her; before her coffee was
gone I had determined to marry her
or perish in the attempt. For two
days [ had the Widow Hendricks to
myself, and 1 was so selfish that
would not introduce her to any possi-
ble rivals, even though they got in the
yxay a dozen times per day. She gave
me to understand that she was glad
was at the springs. She had inquired
about me, she said, and found that
was a man above reprOach.
was getting along swimmingly
when the widow gave me a sort of
throw-down. That is, she gave four or
Ave Others opportunities to introduce
themselves; and one afternoon found
her promenading the veranda on the
arm of old Jones, the man / despised
above all the other guests. He was a
merchant from some place or other,
and probably a very nice man, but de-
snised him because it was rumored
that he was a widower who wanted to
ret married again. 1 chided the widow
Cor walking with Jones, and for talking
Rome and Venice with young squirt
~ a fellow named Hawkins, and for
I,owinr to a millionaire bachelor with
rbeumatism in the ankles; but she
e1ueezed my hand and laughingly re-
ssDon't be a goose. OF all the men
here I think you the incest; but won-
en- must render herself agreeable to
ali you know. You just be good boy
and don't get jealous" :"
she permitted about dozen men to
o,,ltivate her acquaintance, and while
) yas Jealous of each and every one
a,d ached to bang the heads of the
svhoIe lot, took a grim pleasure
=, the feeling that was boss of all
aad had the joker in my hand. even
introduced to her two or three parties