The Dolores star., 1903-10-16
RIO oRANDE SOUTHERN R. r
TOMS WIDOW.
NJ ANNA SHIELDS.

NJ ANNA SHIELDS.
sYs-es," said Mrs. Craige, as we sat
sewing in her cozy sewing most
folks notice that tidy"
The tidy in question was night
mare vision, a combination OF ga udy col
ors never to be found excepting in those
horrors devised by the economical to
use up "odds and ends 1t was made
of canvas, and bits of zephyr wool, left
from more ambitious pieces OF work,
were sewed in pell-mell, without regard
70 color, in q set black that was
enough to set anybody's teeth on edge.
"Do-do you admire it?" l asked,
fearful of giving offense by plain speak
ing.
The old lady took of her spectacles,
wiped them, put them on again, leaned
her head on one side. and said, slowly
and gently, in a voice mild as new milk:
my dear, 1 think it's the most unut-
terably hideous object l ever beheld
In the whole 10 years of my life. No
body could have made that tidy but
Tom's widow"
'oh!" l said, not knowing exactly
how 70 answer, for Mrs. Craige was al
most q stranger to me. Ny husband,
who was missionary preacher, was
making q lecturing tour and Mrs.
Craige, an influential member of the
Evanstown congregation, had invited
me to stay with her and rest from much
weary travel. was soon made to feel
at home in the dear old lady's motherly
care, but it is easily understood that
could know nothing Of herself or her
neighbors and family excepting what
she chose TO tell me.
"You do not know who Toms widow
was, my dear" she said, presently, as
stitched In respectful silence; "how
should you? Tom was my son; one Of
my sons, should say, for had nine
and four daughters, though you find me
alone Some are dead, some are mar
ried, but all who are living have their
own homes and families. Tom went to
California and started business; he
uarfied there, and when he died it was
natural for me to suppose that his
widow would remain in her own home,
among her own people. Tom was not
80 when he died, and knew she waS
very much younger. But one day when
1waa grieving, as mothers will, my dear.
Tor my son. there walked in a little
mite Of q figure that should have taken
for q child but for the heavy widows
droperies. She came straight to me,
lifted her veil, and, looking out Of q
pair of baby blue eyes straight into my
face, said:
~ am Daisy, dear mother, Toms
widow. I am all alone In the world, but
Tom said he was sure if came to you,
You would be good to me-
Il took her straight into my heart,
the little, winsome darling, and loved
her as my own. So, my dear, If tell
you OF my trials with her, do not think
1t was from want Of love"
was sure it was not, for the dear old
Isdy's voice was full Of tenderness.
1T was lonely for her for one thing"
said Mrs. Craige, "for her mourning,
and 1t was a deep-hearted sorrow, kept
her secluded; and as there was no need
for her to employ herself usefully, she
began to plan delightful surprises for
me. She was possessed by a very de
mon Tor fancy work. While she exsr-
siAed it upon sofa cushions and foot
stoola with distorted dogs and dislo-
Gated cats embroidered in Berlin wool
upon them, endured in patience, al
though my old-fdshioned ideas were
certainly amazed at the sums Daisy
spent on materials. Tom had left her
well provided for, and as she had no ex-
Pense here, her pocketmoney was a
Ne-JJ' handsome income. AS said. 1 did
not object to the poor little lonely
child taking all the pleasure she could
hnd in embroideriug hideoas designs
on canvas. and putting the results in
the most conspicuous places In the
house, but this mild form OF her mania
econ gave place to the desire to ex-
eel IN every species of work that came
up to waste the money and time of
Idle women. This old house, which was
in my husbands family before the rev
olution, is full of treasures endeared to
~ by age and association, and our
aailots and travellers have added mapy
Q relic to the ornaments and furniture,
The first piece of vandalism that was
expected to admire, and secretly
groaued over, was the potichomanie
transformation Of q pair Of Venetian
glass vases that my son Henry brought
from Europe for me. They stood in
the spare room, and never was q serv-
ant allowed to touch them, the ex-
qnisite, fragile beautiesi Imagine INV
horror when Daisy extiitantly led me
70 the room and displayed her handi-
work. ~ lovely tasesl Inside o3 each