The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-09

Il may say " d4sJs do lis l5DE-
traits we're every now and then
published in the papers In con-
necuon with that fact which
chiefly distinguished him In the eyes Of
he vor.d-;hst he was the husband OF
one o. the richest women In America.
vta vas likewise some thirty years his
ssrl5r. o. her, not his wife, but the
charming little woman In weeds with
Uhsm be scraDed acquaintance and TO
whom he devoted himself with the ardor
O, 4 lad undergoing the extremes Of calf
love on me Eomeward-bound voyage Of
that steamer by which my wife and had
also engaged passage, we knew nothing
bfyond such inferential facts as We
cleaned from her appearance. actions. and
tlose scraps OF dialogue afforded US by
the close proximity OF our steamer chairs
90 those occupied by herself and Hemen-
way.
She was a Charmer-there was no doubt
about that One OF those women who
not only attract. but riyet. attention. and
her mourning garments. not severe
enough 10 surround her with an atmos-
phere ef melancholy, added touch Of
tender interest 10 her appearance. IL was
apparent that the first stages OF her be-
reayemeut were past and that she had
reached the taking notice" period OF
that condition which OF itself makes APP
peal 70 the sensibilities; her lightened
suits OF woe" gave piQuancy to the con-
sianty demonstrated fact.
had looked her UP on the list and dis
covered her to be Mrs. Alleyn. She was
accompanied by a superior sort Of maid
and seemed luxurious little person gen.
orally, with a capacity for being waited
on and an ability to secure service from
al with whom she came In contact which
! have never seen equaled. IL was
through the rendering of some slight at
tenJlOn that Beach Hemenway had made
her acquaintance, but IL was through
some especial attractiveness of his own
which gave him an advantage over the
rest Of US that he was enabled TO make
her acceptance of this casual courtesy the
steppiug-stone TO a closer acquaintance.
We others never received any larger re-
ward for our acts OF gallantry toward her
than q momentary lingering upon ours
OF the soft. lustrOus brown eyes, smile
that set our hearts aching for another
revelation Of the pearly teeth, the adora-
bly, curved lips and the Cupid's cups In
her dusky cheeks, and a little dip Of the
chestnut-tressed head that made our
pulses CULVER with delight In our own
performance. Even the women made no
more Roadway with her than this, and
such curiosity as they felt regarding the
woman with whom so distinguished
social light as Hemenway had fallen
head over ears In love was Obliged TO
content Itself with deductions and con-
cluslons arrived at from outward scrut-
my.
My wife has a fertile imagination, a
lively interest I'm her species and ears
that a North American Indian might
covet Besides, she possesses a non-com-
initial countenance and an air OF detach-
ment from her surroundings which are or
value to one interested in the tnvesuga-
ton Of the concerns Of Others. While ap-
parently engrossed with the distant union
Of sea and sky. ensconced in her steamer
chair on deck, she culled many frag-
ment or discourse not intended for her
ears, which were faithfully rehearsed to
me with running commentaries Of her
own devslng as we turned in at night.
Before We were halfway across l had all
/ could do 10 restrain her indignation
against Hemenway from showing itself
openly.
1T is perfectly outrageous" she de-
clared Vehemently, her accents increasing
IN vigor and intensity as the days went
by, 1.-THE way that man is trifiing with
her She hasn't the least idea he is mar
Tied. / know she hasn't from the way she
talks TO him. Some one ought 10 tell her
about it,"
Ten years of marital experience have
taught me that my wife has a courage Of
conviction bordering On audacity. l
trembled apprehensively concerning a
conception of duty that might force me
into the necessity Of defending her from
HemenWays natural resentment.
For heavens sake. Mabel" l expos
tulated, whose business is it but theirs?
She is probably thoroughly capable OF
taking care of herself. She wasn't born
yesterday. Remember she's a widow"
That's nothing 10 do with it," she
would reply irately. she may be dozen
widows, but she's the dearest and most
Ingenious little creature / ever saw. II
you could only hear her talk TO him about
herself and her dead husband. It's the
most naive thing l ever heard. She asks
that brute such questions and he answer
Cd them 10 suit his own ends. The scoun-
Grel!
such as?'-I would inquire. for 1 was
not free from curiosity in the matter
myself.
oh, as 10 whether q woman married 10
an old man should feel herself 10 blame
II she became aware that she was growing
interested in another man within a year
o. her husbands death2"
And what does Hemenway say to
that?"
He looks as If he could eat her I'D and
I..v4 lot T.
~ natural and justifiable. And then she
asks II ne considers il unbecoming for a
widow to think of marrying again before
The conventional term OF her mourning
has expired"
And he says"
He says (see where his horrid guile
comes I'M, certainly; that a widow. al
though she may not be blamed for fall
Ing In love within her period of mourning.
should not dream OF changing her condi-
lion until she has paid the customary
tribute 10 her husbands memory. You
See he can't marry her himself, and so he
wants 10 keep her from the thought Of
marriage, but no: from the thought OF
love. Oh, ] call II atrocious in him"
l must confess that likewise thought
HE fellows conduct inexcusable from the
Aeart / could not blame any man Cor
pressing 10 the furthest extent such op-
'ofluniues as might be accorded him by
woman Ike that l wouldn't have guar
a".eea my own ten years allegiance TO
'Ae incest little woman under the sun un-
''s similar conditions OF temptation. Ma
o'l !s all right but she isn't a Gree AID
Poor Hemenway, for all his money, wasn't
~ Dc envied in his relations. He had had
'' Pay a price for his enormous wealth,
- every one knew. Mrs. Beach Hemen-
way had a reputation for being "as crust
'"l ahrewd as Socrates XanJppe," and
90 Jealous as & female othello. Still,
A4Ite mat Hemenway ought TO have
s--iled fair with the sweet little woman,
ana mat he WAS playing her a ratAsr
mean trick in not telling her that he was
s.Ieady the property OF another.
me days went on and the AFFAIR uavea