The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-24

sided one at either end. and a double row
of admiring aspirants for their favor sat
between.
The young BOstOnian seemed TO be
favOrite with the hostess from the very
first, which fact may have been attriDu-
table to his birthplace, or to his apparent
indifference to her charms. Whatever
the reason. the other boarders. Cubans as
we'll as Americans. could not but notice
it, and INDUCED in many a growl among
themselves. They had to confess, howev
er. that he did not go out of his way IN
the least to win the widows good will.
but rather that he was somewhat gruff in
his manner toward her-even domineer-
ing. They did not know. or if they knew.
seemed to have forgotten-that the most
direct way to a widows heart is the mas
terfuI way: but il is as true now as 1t ev-
er was, and that is the course the young
man took when he trampled over the
field of her affection.
Such was the condition of affairs at
the end of the first month in the board
ing house. the widow most evidently look
ed up to him. and the daughter appeared
to adore him. He took it all very beauti-
fully in quite a lOrdy way, seeming 10 as
sumo that it was his by right; but without
in the least compromising himself by any
sort of a declaration. Indeed, he was to
all intents, more taken with the Senorita
DelmOnte than with the hostess or her
daughter. Not that there was any chance
of his becoming deeply interested in her.
for that was not his nature, he thought
Still, he liked her way very much, en-
Joyed her dainty little mannerisms, her
quaint speech, and thrilled whenever she
perforated him with one of those killing
slances. She came quite often 10 the
house, being dear friend of the daugh-
ter; but this does not explain how It was
Mr.. Foster so often found opportun-
ity for conversing with her alone.
IN brief, then, she had a brother, who
was in love with Miss Johnson, and whom.
as ne could not very well call on her
alone. she accompanied, at his earnest
request, whenever he came. That was
pretty often, and at first, as the lovers
quite ignored her presence Gt should per
hlrs be stated that Miss johnson WAS
also in love with Mr.. peImonte) the son.
oTita found the occasions not altogether
enjoyable. Then the brother with Il,
brothers obtUseness and disregard OF ap-
IearanCesl had bethOught himself Of the.
American, and with the cooperation OF
his fianCee, created diversion That r..
the American entertained the Senorita
without, In the balcony, while the broth
CT paid court TO Miss Johnson within the
parlor, from which the balcony opened.
Perhaps the brother should not have done
this, knowing as he did the cOnYeniences
in Havana, and also knowing that his
sister had been pledged TO her cousin,
even since they were children. But that
was his business and Is not ours And
the Widow YonsOn, all this time? Well,
she was cOgnizanf. doubtless, Of what
was taking place. but she said nothing.
II. however. any one had been In her pri-
vate apartment, while these interviews
were taking place. there might have been
noticed slrmbering fire In her eyes, and
a compression Of her lips that BODIED some
thing fer somebody.
But. was there ever a widow yet who
did not have her own way eventually IN
her own love affair? There may have
been. but Mrs. Johnson did not belong to
that category. II was shortly after the
young Bostorlan had lest his head, and
while the SenOrita was rolling u about a.
a pIaythlnZ. that the WlcOw. one day
came upon the EcCne. She was sweetness
peTs0nihed, and also sraclousness- she