The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-04
A DREAM OF WIDOWS.

misfortune bcfcll him while spending his
honeymoon with his beautiful bride at
Horseily mountain. Now, up to the time
of which write | had simply heard this
much of his cvcntful history. | had not
verified the story, because my clothes were
never good enough to go - the mountains
and enter society there. Having lately
held four aces, however, l 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 sew
enth in the morning time of her career
then made my first mistake; l stated the
purpose of my visit to them. In the I'M
certain light of the setting sun l was CON
scious that my narrative had aroused
them. But little did l 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. II am the widow of him that was
devoured by bears
"Indeedp' l exclaimed, for the news was
most agreeable to me. "Then we shall be
the very best of friends. -
"Ah, l knew It'll knew you would one
day come and marry me-" she went on,
throwing her head violently against my
bosom.
Excuse me. madam, said, turning
coldly from her and walking toward the
house. l was quite indignant at her gush-
ing manners and feared moreover that
she might he insane But as l passed
along the walk l felt some one Juggling at
my sleeve. Turning about, a second of
the cotcrie exclaimed:
''Will you pardon me, sir, but l am the
widow of the poor man whose dust you
seek"
1.-The deuce you arer' l said.
Yes, she went on between her sobs,
che was devoured by bears, and oh, OH
what Kind of bears?'' asked
81 think they were polar bears" she
stammered. And then hurried on.
'Oh sir, won't you love me for my hus-
bands sake?" groancd third voice mo-
mcnt later And then l found my way
blocked again.
what kind of bears?" l asked.
Il think they were ant bears" she NUT
tered i'll faltering tones, at the same time
lunging for my neck. But l flung her off
and gained the porch.
''At last, at lastv l heard some one
ventured from out Il shadow.
"What kind of bears?" l demanded VIC
lently.
Performing bears, they say"
She intended saying and doing more,
but another voice attracted my attention
AS l climbed over the speaker, who was
endcavoring to block the stairway, / asked
what species of bears had made her Il wild
ow. She was ready and answered that
they were bugbCars
"AVaunt, you miserable effigy of a Ia
dy!' L said in tones which were the
quintessencc of ungentlcmanliness
50 My prayers are answered at last Just
then walled II sixth voice. The possessor of
it, a 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:
II have the proof! have the proofl'
''What proof have your" l asked.
'Why, buried him -
Glow did you bury him if he was eaten
by bearsY" 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 barricadcd 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 in platoons across my
bed, or, pointing their skinny fingers at
me, shrieked the words "Bearsu and
"Widow!' in my ears.
1t was not until / awoke the following
morning that the truth dawned upon me
that | had yet the seventh one to deal
with, be she widow or what she would.
came upon her as she presumably lay in
wait for me near the pump, where she
knew l would be obliged to come for
drink.
She was much younger and fairer than
l thought her when at supper. But for
all that was enraged by her presence and
demanded to know if she was II widow too
She smiled with some coyness and an
swered that she was, but that she differed
from the others had fallen in with.
In what wise do you differ from them?"
asked, for to me widows had up to this
time of my life been very much one like
another.
~ am n grass widow" she said, with n
chucllle.
For time neither of us spoke. Then
asked her why she had come there. Lifting
up her eyes from the ground, she replied
81 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 J had in the world, left me
FL 900, 000 but | must establish beyond
doubt that l am my fathers daughter be-
fore L can come by the estate"
But tell me more about your widow
hood, | said, for l 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. |
was conscious of wish that he, too,
might have been eaten by the bears But |
was to Re more agreeably entertained by |
her answer
"Oh, he elSled with one of that band of |
spurious widows up at the house She |
convinced him that she was my fathers |
genuine widow, and they have been work |
ing to establish IA claim to my uncles es- |
tate -