The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-31
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.
The ELDERLY LADY.

ran up to where the palms and the mu-
sic were and presented my card for |
Mrs. Webster, the Elderly Lady.
Accustomed TO see them in tourists |
garb, was somewhat surprised at |
their elegance. the ladies beautifully |
dressed and the men in Tuxedos.
| was glad that I, too. had worn my
best.
Ny surprise was pleasurably aug
mented by their reception of me. With
true Scotch hospitality they ordered
refreshments-their guest must break
their bread-and. seated cozily about n
small table. they chatted gayly to the
accompaniment of stringed instru-
ments tuned TO the key of conversa-
ton.
Have you been to Milan yetT' asked
my Laird. He was Interested in
where I had been and what l had
seen, as IL he had known me always.
lost the feeling of loneliness as he
talked.
Not yet" replied. I'm going
home that way"
Its not much worth seeing" he in
| formed me. Like Rome. with its
Coliseum propped up by modern
bricks, 1t is practically ruined. a great
| modern town with street cars. There's
| the cathedral. the Last Supper and
the crematory. Above all things. you
must see the crematory."
| I knew some funny crematory sto-
| ries told them. One went we'll
Chauncey Depew's story of the widow
who had cremated three husbands,
and her friend the old maid. who de
plored the fact that while she had
husband that widow had had hus-
bands to burn
| They laughed at that, but the sec
ond-of another widow who made the
slight mistake of usiEg her husbands
ashes in a small vase the mantel
for tooth powder-produced an effect
little short of disastrous.
The Elderly Lady gasped- She
turned pale. 1t was painful to see
her. I looked on In CONSERVATION.
What was she. then-a recent widow !
1t was a long time since story of
mine had missed fire In so hapless q
way.
Changing the subject suddenly.
told the widest cyclone story ! knew.
one In which a horse. blown 800 miles
was found standing perfectly still neal
tree seemingly unhurt. but skinned
Taking advantage of the laugh thai
followed I rose to go.
The Scotchman rose also.
"Tll go with you" he volunteered.
Turning to the boy. "Come with me.
he added in an undertone.
The Elderly Lady said good night
As she and her friend started upstairl
the Laird patted her on the shoulder.
an, the laIi boy meanwhile walking
grimly by his side like gendarme oil
guard.
At length we reached the pension
We said good night. and 1. standing
watched them away, the tall bo.
looming protectingly above the shorte
and stouter man, both moonlit. with
touch Of uncomfortable sadness,
heartache impossible to soothe, crush
ing with difficulty the impulse to rul
after him and cry:
Come back and tell me goodb
again. I'm afraid I shall never NEE
you. I know / shall never meet yo
at Venice or at Milan"
At the head of the marble steps lead
ing up to my pension was a marbl
Adonis grasping Venus by the hair.
Slowly ascending, I stood close
them, rejecting, deep in thought.
Presently. taking a seat at the foe
Of the pedestal, fell to laughing.
laughed immoderately, convulsivel,
so convulsively that the sleepy porte
who sat, as usual. at the door to tn
room Of the concierge. came to th
; first step and looked up at me. inquil
ing mutely the cause-too immodel
ately, too convulsively, for the laugl
{ | ter ended in a sob.
The situation had at last dawne
upon me.
The tall boy was the Elderly Lady
son.
Well. I knew that. 1 had known
all along.
pI But the Laird, my bonny Laird, VIII
I having outlived the age of self col
sciousness. had grown to be so lovab
why. he was the Elderly Lady's hu
band. fresh. new husband, wit
whom she was out on her weddin
tour.
And that was why the tall boy ha