The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-13

1t is my duty to take care or
papa and my brothers and try
to take the place Of my poor mother"
II felt from the first" said Harry.
sorrowfully. that 1t was hopeless to
think of you. lou are too good for
me-"
Don't say that, please, for like you
much more thany any one l know. If
/ ever did lo--marry, 1t would be just
such man as you-good, clever and
generous. But you see that is impos-
sble, don't you?"
He looked into her appealing eyes,
but could not answer. Nothins Is so
sublimely tragic as the beautiful girl
sacrificing herself to a mistaken sense
of duty, and she appeared so sublime
to him that he couldn't help thinking
| her in the right.
| In affairs of the heart a man. espe-
cially u young man. needs disinter-
| ested worNn to guide, to encourage,
or to check, as the case may require.
! Now Harry Watson was so fortunate
! as to have a charming widow as his
! confidante and friend. She was sew
| eral years his senior, and he was much
in love with her-or thought he was.
| She had pooh -poohed his proposal and
/ tOlQ MN tndl. dltHouSu Sit iHouShe
him a fine, clever young fellow, she
had no desire to take a boy to raise,
and that ne mustn't talk nonsense. or
course. he was tragic and went out
west to hunt for grizzlies, hoping to
be masticated by one, but he presently
came to his senses and returned to the
city. He was naturally rather shame
faced when ne met the widow. but she
| ip1I hot hn
previous absurdity and they becam, ,
fast friends.
you poor boy!" said the widow in
humorous sympathy. What would
become of YOU if it were not for me?
But if you obey my orders I will guar
antee that you will win her"
After talking the matter over Harry
felt comforted, and he felt that the
clever widow was going to do all in
her power to help him. But he did not
imagine that while they were discuss
ing the subject the peerless, self-sacri-
ficing Esther was weeping bitterly and
almost rebellng against her fate. 1t
was only by maEnifying her duty to
an appalling grimness that she finally
recovered her composure and soothed
the pain at her heart to an aching
numbness.
AS soon as the widow felt that Harry
had recovered from the first bitter
ness of his disaproin tment, she or
dered him to go and call on Esther
He obeyed and g. few such calls re-
stored to some extent their old rela-
tionship, and they could talk more like
brother and sister. And ore evenina
she talked to him in n most sisteriy
fashion, warning him wistfully to be-
ware of the widow.
You know ! look upon YOU as a
brother and would not like to gee one
of NV brothers rs mu"h in her COM
pany as YOU are. OF course, sh. Is
nice. but people say she is so design
ing"
"The little minX' said the widow
when she heard of it. II know i an
designing, but she will fnd tl.at ii
is for her happiness I am doing il
now--and incidentally for my own-Ol
Just the reverse"
| She, of course. diagnosed the case
as one of jealousy. and was pleased
Harry didn't understand the last part
of her remark, but he did not ques
tion.
Are you going TO the Madison mu-
sicale?" the widow asked.
Yes. Esther and her father will be
there" Harry replied.
well. | shall be there. too, and
may want you to DO me favor. viii
you do it?"
"Certainly."
on the night of tho musicals III
widow was triumphantly beautiful
There was the light of battle in nc!
eyes. and that with good reason. 70,
she had brought her own affairs ant
those of several other people 20 {
crisis But no one could look ut hcl
perfect figure ard animated face with
out feeling that she could conquer th'
most obdurate by her charms arc
have her will.
Harry had never seen her so be
witchng, for lie had never seen her 81
thoroughly alert and aroused. Had
Esther not been present to allure ant
yet repel him with her li'y-like sweet
ness and nobility Of soul. it is possible
that old thoughts mignt have beer
aroused But his eyes were dwelling
constantly on her pure. calm face
and she seemed to him more than eve
unattainahle. When tie evening wa:
well advanced, the widow tapped hin
on the shoulder with her fan.
II have come to ask you fer tha
favor" she said.
II am ready to do your bidding"
Take Esther into the conservator,
and DrODOSe to her"