Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-08-11
VICTIMIZED.

had been at the Climax Hot
Springs for three days when the
Widow Hendricks arrived. had
engaged quarters for a month. in order
to boil the rheumatism out OF my syS-
TEN, and there were hundred other
guests booked In like manner. The
Springs We're never q fashionable re-
sort, but you Will always find lot OF
people there who are financially solid.
/ was ON the veranda when the widow
drove up In the bus, and I sized her
up as follows:
Age. about -: fine figure; second
year Of widowhOOd; handsome face: in
tellectual and entertaining; probably
got at least $4,000 life insurance when
Hendricks shufiied off, she'll do to Gull
tivate."
was a bachelor. sou understand. and
at Liberty to tiirt. make love or marry.
It was said that was good-looling
bachelor, and though was bothered
with rheumatism In my left knee just
then 1t didn't interfere materially with
the grace OF my carriage. l tattcred
myself that attracted the widows at
tention, and was glad to note that sew
eral other bachelors or widowers Were
O bit Jealous Of Inc. We got her hts
tory. or rather a few details, from one
Of the hotel clerks. She was worth half
a million dollars, and lived In Cincin-
nau. Her sister and brothcr-in-law
would appear later. She had twinses
of rheumatism In her left knee, and
would take a few baths before sailing
for Europe to be gone year.
For two days the fair young widow
avoided us; but on the third day, TO my
great satisfaction, she was given n seat
at my table in the dinlng-room. Not
only that, but next to NE; and she had
not given the waiter her order when
introduced myself and managed to add
@ few honeyed words to please her self
esteem. She gave me her name in re-
turn, and the fact that We were both
suffering from rheumatism In the same
knee served as a bond to draw us to-
Eether. l admired her from the start;
by the time her polched egg was
brought l thought could love her: be-
fore her coffee was gone | had deter
mined to marry her or perish in the at.
tempt. For two days had the widow
Hendricks to myself. and was so self
ish that l would not introduce her 70
any possible rivals. even though they
got In the way dozen times pct 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 man above reproach.
was getting along swimningly
when the widow gave me a sort of a
throw-down. That Is. she gave four or
Eve others opportunities of introducing
themselves; and one afternoon found
her promenading the veranda on the
arm Of old Jones, the man l despiSed
above all the other guests. He was q
merchant from some place or other
and probably q very nice man, but
despised him because 1t was rumored
that he was widower who wanted tc
get married again. I chided the widow
for walking with Jones and for talking
Rome and Venice with a young squirt
OF a fellow named Hawkins. and fol
bowling to a millionaire bachelor with
rheumatism IN the ankles; but sh,
squeezed my hand, and laughinGly re
piled:
Don't be q goose. OF all the mer
here ! think you the incest; but a WON
an must render herself agreeable 10 all
YOU know. You Just be a good boy, ant
don't get jealous"
She permitted about q dozen men *
cultivate her acquaintance. and while
I was Jealous of each and every one
and ached to bang the heads Of tn.
whole yet took a grim lot of pleasur,
in the feeling that was boss of all. ant
had the joker In my hand. ] even intro
duced to her two or three parties, In or
der to have the satisfaction OF plying
them afterwards,
The women did not take kindly TO tn,
widow Hendricks, nor did she cultivat,
them. While woman Is womans wors
enemy. II takes woman TO correct,
size up one Of her own sex. The WON
en- called Mrs. Hendricks superficial
fiirtatious, conceited. and al that. The.
also said she was tricky, and but 70
fear Of the law would have called he
an adventures. Perhaps some Of then
did, to their husbands, but If so the hus
bands answered:
Now, my dear, stop right there, Yo'
are Jealous Of her good looks and fin,
figure, but don't carry the thing too far
She has right to amuse herself, an,
that's all she's doing"
The widow Hendricks had no rea
SOD to be dissatisfied with the atten
tons she received. She was 4 SUI