The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
TIE EVENING Story
An American Widow.

tells, that Judge Fordham. u. S. A.,
was told by the landlord.
You viii be glad to learn that I
nave compatriot Of yours here. She
mas been here a week She is a widow.
/ believe she comes from Chicago,
Canada
Sure it isn't Philadelphia, Mon
tana p asked the Judge.
VIII at once find out all particu-
lars your excellency.''
Never mind just now. I'd like a
rev hours rest before meeting the
widow, American or otherwise. If you
VIII be so kind. you needn't mention
70 her that am here came away
from my home in Boston, California,
IN order to escape a widow, and you
see L don't want to bump up against
another too soon. We Americans al
ways want to walk around awhile be-
tore getting acquainted
1T 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 a buyer of silks for Americans.
He viii soon be here
Is she good looking and rich p
asked the judge.
Had known, your excellency, that
chicago, Canada, had such handsome
women, I 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 p
When saw you, sir. and knew that
you were an American, said to my
self:
g" He comes from the same country.
he looks like widower. He appears
to be rich Why should not the Wild
over "a
make each other happy?''
Ihanks for your interest in the
case, aid man, but go slow. An Amer
lean Widower and an American widow
will always find each other in good
time II you leave them alone. Just
leave it to u.s.
They met at the table but we're 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
INDUCED in dozen bows and scrapes
as ne said:
Il have the utmost felicitation in
presenting Judge Fordham to Mrs.
Chatham
The judge found the widow to be
woman not much over thirty She was.
Dright and keen and possessed.
She found the judge to be, a man of
about forty eight, hale and hearty and
inclined to be frank spoken. OF
course, they became interested at
once. and after a few minutes the
to his wife:
Today, Marie, [ have done a noble
thing The widower will marry the
WldoW, and when they return to
America they will probably live in
New New york, Arizona, and be happy all
their days Did I not tell you when
we were married that as a landlord I
should be magnificent success ~
Neither the widow Chatham nor
JuoBe Fordham had story to tell It
came out casually in conversation that
she was the widow of a Chicago whole.
sale grocer. and had taken the trip
abroad at the instance OF her brother
Tom, who was a silk buyer for a New
ork. house, and who would soon be
with them. It 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 The1
found themselves agreeing on almost
all subjects. especially on the great
ness 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 nv mag
nlhcence. The widower and the widow
are becoming more and more interested
in each other"
The judge rather took charge of Mrs.
Chatham after the first cav They rode
out together; they boated together.
they climbed the hills together. The
subject of love wasn't even limited at
but there were other persons than the
VINO smiled in knowing way.
There was just bit Of mystery about
the brother. He was to arrive at such
a time and such a time, but he didn't
arrive. 1t was all the fault of the
silk men, he wrote They were taking
things easy and refused to be hustled
He would be along in good time. how
ever, and IN one of his letters he wrote
that 1t would be a pleasure for him to
meet the judge The judge smiled
grimly when this extract was read to
MN. He seemed to doubt it.
After their acquaintance had lasted
two weeks, and one day Just after a
telegram had been received by the
widow, the judge strolled into the rail-
road depot and found her about to
take train. That is, he thought she
was. She had no baggage and appeared
to avoid observation.
When she saw that she was discover
ed she made some excuse and left the
depot in his company. She was bit
glum for awhile, but soon rallied and
was very gay that evening. Two days
later q telegram announced that brother
Tommy was Ill at Lyons. The widow
SAID LnHL she WOulQ run over there for |
a day or two, and the judge said he /
would accompany her. He had a Curl |
osi6y about the silk mills, and this |
would be good time to crafty It. The |
widow suddenly decided that Tommy |
might get over his illness without any
of her help. She had her fair share Of |
sisterly affection, but Tommy was one
of these fellows that always played |
baby even with a cold in the head.
Two mornings later the judge took /
an early morning walk. It was an hour |
before breakfast. He walked down to /
the depot to see the 500 train go out. |
He was on time and he saw the widow /
Chatham there. She lodged him and /
to the hotel instead Of taking /
the train. when they met at breakfast
neither one said anything about their |
walk, but the landlord rubbed his hands 1
and smiled and said to his wife: