Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-08-16

It was at Lausanne, Lake Geneva,
and at one Of the small and quiet ho-
tells that Judge Fordham, U. s. A. was
told by the landlord:
"You will be glad to learn that I
have compatriot of yours here. She
has been here week. She is widow.
believe she comes from Chicago. Can
ada"
"Sure it isn't Philadelphia, Mon
tanaT" asked the judge
81 will at once find out all particu-
lars your excellency."
"Never mind just now. I'd like a
few hours rest before meeting the
widow, American or otherwise. If you
will be so kind, you needn't mention
to her that / am here. came away
from my home in Boston, California,
to escape widow, and, you see,
don't want to bump up against another
too soon. We Americans always want
to walk around awhile before getting
Y acquainted.
"It is so, your excellency, and your
wishes shall be respected" said the OBJ
sequious host.
"How does the widow happen to be
here alone?" inquired the judge with
out much show of interest.
"Her brother is at Lyons, France.
He is buyer of silks for Americans
He will soon be here"
'Is she good looking and rich?" ask
ed the judge.
"Had known, your excellency, that
Chicago, Canada, had such handsome
women l should have gone there for
my second wife. AS for riches, she
has my best rooms and orders what
she wants. My bill against her will
be very much"
"Think she's on the marry?''
"When 1 saw you, sir, and knew
that you were an American I said to
myself:
"'He comes from the same country
He looks like a widower. He appears
to be rich. Why should not the Wild
over marry the widow and thus make
each other happy?"
Thanks for your interest in the
case, old man, but go slow. An Amer
lean widower and an American widow
will always find each other in good
time if you leave them alone. Just
leave it to us"
They met at the table, but were not
introduced. A sharp eyed person
would have noticed that they were
sizing each other up. Two days later,
as the widow sat on the veranda with
a book in her hand, the landlord and
the judge approached, and the former
indulged in a dozen bows and scrapes
as he said:
II have the utmost felicitation In
presenting Judge Fordham to Mrs.
Chatham"
The judge found the widow to be a
woman not much over thirty. She was
bright and keen and self possessed
She found the judge to be man Of
about forty-eight, hale and hearty and
inclined to be frank spoken. OF course
they became interested at once, and
after few minutes the landlord re-
entered the Office to say to his wife:
'Today, Marie, have done noble
thing. The widower will marry the
widow, and when they return to Amer
lea they will probably live in New
York, Arizona, and be happy all their
days. Did not tell you when we were
married that as landlord I should be
a magnificent success?'
Neither the Widow Chatham nor
Judge Fordham had story to tell. It
came out casually in conversation that
she was the widow of Chicago whole
sale grocer and had taken the trip
abroad at the instance of her brother
Tom, who was silk buyer for New
York house and who would soon be
with them. 1t came out the same way
that the judge had retired from the
bench in New York and was now TAX
Ing it easy abroad while his bonds
went right on piling up interest. They
found themselves agreeing on almost
all subjects, especially on the greatness
of Chicago and the purity of American
politics, and now and then the landlord
looked out to smile and turn to his
wife with:
Marie, compliment me on my mag
nificence. The widower and the widow
>>-S DCSOulluS I1Ore duu luOIe lutcTSSlCu
In each other"
The judge rather took charge of Mrs.
Chatham after the first day They rode
out together, they boated together, they
cnmbed the hills together. The subject
or love wasn't even limited at, but there
were other persons than the landlord
VINO smiled in knowing way.
1here was just bit Of mystery about
tne brother. He was to arrive at such
ume and such time, but he didn't
arrive. 1t was all the fault of the
slik men, he wrote. They were taking
lungs easy and refused to be hustled.
ne would be along in good time, how
ever, and in one of his letters he wrote
tnat 1t would be pleasure for him to
meet the judge, The judge smiled
srlmly when this extract was read to
nim. He seemed to doubt it.
II After their acquaintance had lasted
two weeks and one day just after a
'eiegram had been received by the
a tYr1 r4x, sx,A.~ II. n