Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-02-15
A WTL.LFUL
WIDOW
BY KATE NJ. CLEARY
Copyright, l9os, by Kate II. acary

the world Ike DIG, peTturbed boy : :
he paced restIessly across the librar..
floor. He was SO well formed. with
his straight shoulders and the fine.
flexible lines of his boiy. that he ap-
Feared to be ten years younger than
the thirty-dve allotted him by the fam
ny Bible. Then his brown hair would
curl even 1T tEiJty-fve.
Il understand" said Claridee In
truth. lie did not understand at all. He
had no children of his own. Indeed.
he found the cap2.ces Of his fashiona-
bic wife quite sufficient to absorb his
attention. But he liked Max Carruth-
ers. aud it did seem to him
They're such adorable little things
Max. And you're SO absurdly wealthy.
II it were not for our house being closed
for tie summer and Clotilde doing Ed
rope for the stecnth time Id ask yo"
to let US take the tots. One fancic
that a man with your money would
haven 10 difficulty in finding a person
4 rather desperate laugh interrupted
him.
"Ah, the persons who are willing to
tnke care of my little people. Claridge,
are the bane of my existence. I've ai-
vertised; I've net and talked with
them; harpies all Some would IN
doubtedly give the children proper care
as far as physical requirements so, bat
that isn't enough. 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, want some one
who win give them bit of motherin:
kiss the place to make it well and
that sort Of thing"
Il have it, exclaimed Claridge. He
brought his fist down on the arm OF
his chair with bang. The most ilyl-
lie cid home in the country that your
eyes ever rested upon. Its a big. ram
bling house. almost covered with Viz
giIia cTeeper. There's an immense.
well kept lawn and cleuatis across the
porch, and the house Itself is just tilleI
with the most delicious scents. The
bedrooms are perjury with lavender.
AMI Is for the fooJ-why. its some
thing ID set an snchorite sighiagr'
But what makes you think the pos
SCISSOR of this ideal horne would vel
come into it two rather lively chill
eren? If it's only question of mon
ey''-
Claridge shook his head
- i%
isn't a question Of money at all. And
my powers of persuasion may be less
effective than l think with Mrs. Va
rine. but I'll try"
Your friend is q widow, presume?"
Claridge smiled-a dry. slow. curious
gui,e-his legal smile. CarrutLers call
Cd it.
yes; she happens to he client of
mine. Oh, yesr' he repeated, as though
convincing himself of the fact Shes
awidowr'
When Carrutners called q few days
later to ask if Claridge had heard from
Nrs. Yarine. tie latter jumped Up
briskly.
Its all right, Max. You are TO set
tie the question Of payment with ne.
Mrs. variHe 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 them down next Thursday.
Oh, by the way. there's a condition.
Mrs. Yarine does not wish TO meet you
personally
whats thatT" cried Carruthers,
eghast.
well. she doesn'tr' reiterated Clar-
idge doggedly. Maybe she has no rea-
son but a woEan'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 CarrutEers He
Booked up sharply. You say you know
tie lady-that everything is all right?"
81 say she's one of the sweetest wo-
men God ever made and that you may
bless your stars she is taking your
children into her home-which means
her hearth
He had spoken with warmth. Car
ruthers held out his hand.
"Thanks. dear boy! Yc--'re M ity
good friend"
1t was at the close of perfect June
day vixen 4 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 c I
avenue of eims and oaks till q turn
brought in view great sweep of e.
eralJ lawn, beds of scarlet geraniums.
fountsin flashing in the golden light
and 4 Sleep. old vine covered house
khat looked hospitable and picturesque.
Let US out. papaw implored Eus-
kace.
SIS 1t fairyland:" queried Dorothy in
q ti;nid. entranced whisper.
The gentle. faded woman who re-
eeired the travellers had face like q
cameo and appeared TO harmonic adj
mirably With her old fashioned sur