Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A Widow Halter.

Colonel Danyers Waterford, a wild
over. with no children. lived in one of
the handsomest places on EdGewater
point with his sister. Mrs. Punter, and
her son Mark. the latter being heir ex
pectant to the Waterford estates.
There was but one point of disagree
ment in the Waterford family. The
colonel had set his heart on uniting his
estates with Il former part Of it which
| had gone of into another branch of
the family by the marriage of his
nephew, Mark Punter, with Lucy Wa
terford, the coloneFs grandniece. I'm
fortunately Mark had fallen in love
with Il 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"
III 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"
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
ness, but would return in few weeks.
Nobody knew the Stryklins. but as they
We're rich and Mrs. Strylllin, Il dashinS
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-
lions 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 eX-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 il
leaked out that Mr.. and Mrs. Stryklin
were not living together, and rumors
were rife that divorce was pending.
Then all EdEewater 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 a widow. Do You propose yourself
to marry Il divorced woman
Marry? Who says 1 am to marryE
said the colonel, coloring.
All EdgewatCr.''
'All Edgewater had better mind its
own business
The colonel went off in huff, but 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. 50 independent in her treat
mcnt of the nabobs except Colonel
Waterford, that, despite a 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
divorce was obtained by Mrs. Stryk-
lin he would marry her. Mrs. Punter
protested, Mark protested. but the colo
mel at last threw of all shame and
averred that Mrs. Stryklin's was one of
lllO>t tdStS NItIc Al Noillail NlllS
made Il matrimonial mistake should
not be rendered miserable in conse |
quence through Il whole lifetime.
One day the colonel after an inter |
view with his inamOrata looked de |
cidedly pleased. 1t was inferred that |
the courts had decided favorably, and |
there was now no impeachment to a |
marriage. Then he sent out invitations |
for a 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 a rustic bench, they cOnversed in
low tones.
''Now that there is no impeachment 1 |
beg of you to name the day." said the
colonel.
what impeachment"
"a husband"
81 have no husband"
"NO husband"
mo. You got all that from these
stupid reports that have been flying
about. l did not contradict them even
to you. l am not divorced. l am
widow"
There was n smothered laugh from
behind a ledge near by. Then Mark
Punter stood before them.