Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-05-11
AWILLFUL
WIDOW
BY KATE Nj. CLEARY
Copyright, 1901, by Kate VI. Cledry
Copyright, 1907, By Kate VI. CIeary

He sprang to his feet. looking for all
thc world like a big, perturbed boy as
he paced restlessly across the library
floor. He was so well formed, with
his straight shoulders and the fine,
flexible lines Of his body, that he ap-
| peared to be ten years younger than
the thirty-flye allotted him by the fam
ily Bible Then his brown hair would
curl even at thirty-fve.
81 understand" said Claridge In
truth he did not understand at all. He
had no children of his own. Indeed,
| he found the caprices of his fashiona-
| BILE wife quite sufficient to absorb his
attention. But he liked Max Carruth-
ers, and it did seem to him
I They're such adorable little things,
! Max! And you're so absurdly wealthy.
II il were not for our house being closed
| for the summer and Clotilde doing Eu-
rope for the steenth time I'd ask you
to let us take the tots. One fancies
that a man with your money would
have no difficulty in finding person.
A rather desperate laugh interrupted
him.
"Ah, the persons who are willing to
take care of my little people, Claridge,
are the bane of my existence. I've acI-
vertised; I've met and talked with
them; harpies all. Some would un-
doubtedly give the children proper care
as far as physical requirements go, but
that isn't enough. l want to find some
woman who would really love them for
| their own sake"
THAT ought to be dead easy" growl-
ed Claridge.
"Of course / think so; but then,
| they're my BARNS. l want some one
who Will give them a bit of mothering
kiss the place to make it we'll and
that sort of thing"
Il have it" exclaimed Claridge. He
brought his fist down on the arm Of
! his chair with a bang. "The most idyl-
lie old home in the country that your
eyes ever rested upon. It's a big, ram
bling house, almost covereI with Nir-
ginia Creeper There's an immense,
well kept lawn and clematis across the
porch, and the house itself Is just filled
bedrooms are perfumy with lavender.
| And as for the food-why, it's some
| thing to set an anchorite sighing.'
But what makes you think the pos
SCISSOR OF this ideal home would wei
come into it two rather lively chill
dren? II it's only a question Of mon
ey''-
! Claridge shook his head
go slow. That's the dificulty-it
isn't : question of money at all. And
my powers of persuasion may be less
effective than think with Mrs. Va
rine, but I'll try"
Your friend is a widow, l presumeE'
Claridge smiled-a dry, slow, curious
smile-his legal smile, Carruthers call
ed 1t.
Yes; she happens to be client of
mine. Oh, yes" he repeated, as though
convincing himself of the fact. shes
a widow
When Carruthers called a few days
later to ask if Claridge had heard from
Mrs. Varine, the latter jumped up
| briskly.
tie the question Of payment with me.
Mrs. Varine says she'd rather take
| nothing She's very lonely, Is awfully
fond of children, and is delighted at
| the thought of having the youngsters
with her during their vacation. You'd
| better take thelL down next Thursday.
| Oh, by the way, there's a condition.
Mrs. Varine does not wish TO meet you
| personality
Whats thatT" cried Carruthers,
aghast.
well, she doesn'tv' reiterated Clar-
idge doggedly. Maybe she has no rea
son but q woman's reason. Anyhow
she's entitled to her caprice. Her aunt
Miss Howard, will meet you on your
arrival and show you over the place"
"Queer," muttered Carruthers. He
looked up sharply. You say you know
the lady-that everything is all rightF'
II say she's one Of the sweetest wo-
men God ever made ana that you may
bless your stars she is taking your
| children into her home-which means
her heart
he had spoken with warmth. Car
ruthers held out his hand.
Thanks, dear boy! You're a mighty
good friend"
1t was at the close OF perfect June
day when little party reached Cedar
Vile A surrey drawn by two fat white
ponies met them. About two miles out
side Of town the driver turned of into
wide carriage road that wound up an
avenue of elms and oaks till a turn
brought in view a great sweep Of EN-
erald lawn, beds Of scarlet gerapiums,
fountain flashing In the golden light
and a sleepy, old vine covered house
that looked hospitable and picturesque.
Let US out, papaw implOred Eus
tace.
rs it fairylandy queried Dorothy in
! a timid, entranced whisper.
The gentle, faded woman who re
ceived the travellers had a face like a
cameo and appeared to harmonic ad-
mirably with her old fashioned sur
roundlngs She showed Carruthers the
| rooms the children were to occupy
airy, immaculate rooms, with blossoms
nodding In at the windows. She offered
him luncheon, which he declinCA, apol-
ogized for the invisibility OF her niece
and appointed day each week he was
to come to visit the children. Already
charmed by their surroundings, they
let him go without a protest
When he came down the next week
II was TO find the two rosy, radiant
and ecststic over their environment.
He took them into town, bought them
some small treasures and listened to
their raptures about Florence" She
had made a null dress for Dorothy
she had gone fishing with Eustace; she
played the piano for them while they
were having a game of hide and seek.
low or loud as they were hot" or
"cold" And they were going to have
party one OF these days, with luncheon
served under the biggest oak
But who is this lady who is SO kind