Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-05-29
A WIDOW Halter
LOriginal

nephew, Mark Punter, with Lucy Wa
terford, the coloneps grandniece. I'm
fortunately Mark had fallen in love
with a widow and could not be induced
to give her up.
"Only permit my mother to ask her
to visit us, uncle" pleaded Mark. I'm
sure you will fall in love with her your
self"
I'm have nothing to do with her."
stormed the colonel. "A widow! They
are designing creatures, every one of
them. She is trying to get you for my
property"
"She is rich in her own right"
"Silence! If you marry her, you
may rest assured that not dollar of
mine will ever reach her through you"
So the matter rested. One morning
it was announced that the Nilliers
place, nearly opposite the Waterfords,
had been let to Mr.. and Mrs. Stryklin.
Mrs. Stryklin took possession. Mr..
Stryklin, it was understood, had been
called to London on important bust
Nobody knew the Stryklins, but as they
were rich and Mrs. Stryklin, a dashing
woman of twenty-four, gave evidence
of superior refinement she was accept
ed in the Edgewater circle
Henrietta Stryklin made much OF
Colonel Waterford, accepting invita-
tions from him to the exclusion of all
others. In the chase they always rode
together, and when the lady chose to
dash ahead the colonel, an cX-Cavalry
officer Of the civil war, was the only
person who could invariably catch her.
Nothing was thought of Mrs Stryklin's
partiality for the old soldier till 1t
leaked out that Mr.. and Mrs. Stryklin
were not living together, and rumOrs
were rife that divorce was pending.
Then all Edgewater saw with the clear
est of visions that Mrs. Stryklin was
aiming to be ready when the divorce
was obtained to possess herself of the
Waterford millions.
Uncle" said Mark Punter one day
ruefully, you have opposed my marry
ing widow. Do you propose yourself
to marry divorced woman"
Marry? Who says l am to marryP
said the colonel, colorlng.
"All Edgewater."
"All Edgewater had better mind its
own business"
The colonel went off in a huff, out did
not in the least cease his attentions to
Mrs. Stryklin. The lady was SO charm
ing, so gracious to the lesser lights of
Edgewater, so independent in her treat
ment of the nabobs except Colonel
Waterford, that, despite natural pref
udice against her designs, she became
more popular every day. The colonel,
more and more infatuated, failed to
contradict the reports that as soon as
u divorce was obtained by Mrs. Stryk-
lin he would marry her. Mrs. Punter
protested, Mark protested, but the colo
mel at last threw off all shame and
averred that Mrs. Stryklin's was one Of
those cases where q woman having
made a matrimonial mistake should
not be rendered miserable In conse-
quence through u whole lifetime.
One day the colonel after an inter
view with his inamorata looked de
CidpdIy pIna sod IT waC inforrod that
the courts had decided fayorably, and
there was now no impediment to a
marriage. Then he sent out invitations
for fete champetre, and every one
understood that the engagement would
be announced during the festivities.
On the evening of the fete the colonel
strolled away into the flower garden
with Mrs. Stryklin. Seating themselves
on rustic bench, they conversed in
low tones.
"Now that there is no impediment l
beg of you to name the day. said the
colonel.
what impeachment"
"a husband"
81 have no husband"
"No husbandr
'No. You got all that from these
stupid reports that have been flying
about. L did not contradict them even
to you. 1 am not divorced. l am
widow"
There was a smothered laugh from
behind ledge near by. Then Mark
Punter stood before them.
"a widow, unclew he said. She's
trying to get your property"
What does all this mean" eXclaim-
ed the colonel, starting up.
"It means, my dear colonel" said the
lady, that have concocted conspir-
acy to take a good natured revenge
upon you for your imputations upon
widows. That is all. | am engaged
to marry your nephew, and were it not
for him l assure you l would be only
too delighted to marry you"
"You have deceived me by permit
ting me to believe false reports"
'I am responsible for the reports, un-
Gle" said Mark.
II shall cut you off with shilling,
sirv'
The colonel fumed, but the widow
held him in check till the first anger
passed, and when he realized how
handsomely he had been taken III he
was quite delighted with the widows
performance. 1t was still some time
before he gave his consent to his neph-
ew's marriage, and when he did he de
clared that there was but one widow
in the world who should enter his fam
lily with his welcome. All the rest were
designing, deceitful creatures.
KENELM Y. SPOTTISWODD.
shad Roc and Cucumber Salad.
To make a salad of shad roes and Gu
cumbers cover q pair of shad roes a
sliced onion and a bay leaf with boil
ing water, to which has been added
lemon juice or vinegar, and cook for
twenty minutes. Drain and dry the
roes, cover them with tablespoonful
of lemon juice, two tablespoonfuls Of
oil and a dash of pepper and salt.
When they are cold, cut them in small
cubes, if they are not too tender. Rub
a salad bowl with the two halves Of n
Glove Of garlic. Cut thoroughly chill
ed cucumber in dice Put bed Of let
tuce into the bowl that has been rub
bed with garlic. Arrange the cucum-
Der or the IettGse and over that the roe,
well drained from the marinade. Gar.