Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-10-03

under the name of FlosSie, has just
died and left her fortune estimated
ut 100000. She has our heartiest con-
gratulations."
OF course the public read the Item,
and of course the widow read 1t. There
wasn't word of truth In 1t, but when
people came and showered their CON
gratuations she couldn't bring her
self to deny the story. She was even
thankful to the Clarion for publishing
the canard The issue of the follow
ing week pursued the matter further.
I'VE understand" 1t said, that the
fortune left to the Widow Bidwell by
her deceased brother in the west will
go $4,000 better than at first reported.
There are reports afloat that she Will
remove to New York city as soon as
she comes Into possession and buy q
residence on Fifth avenue. Her poem
this week Is the best thing In the pa
per-"
There were more congratulations,
and the widow got deeper into tho
tolls. 1t wns so nice to be patted ON
the back and soft soaped that she
couldn't bring herself to deny the re-
ports.
Between the second and third issues
of the Clarion the editor had caller.
His ostensible occupation was selling
Bohemian oats to farmers at $5 a
bushel and sailing mighty close to
prison us n swindler, but he had the
1 hair and face and eyes of poet. Even
the fat and healthy editor had to ad-
/ NIT that The caller wanted to insert
small ad. and ask about the Widow
Bidwell. He had seen the notices In
the Clarion about her legacy, and he
wanted Il few pointers.
Editor Flint praised the woman who
had jumped on his bleeding heart.
Aye, he spoke In highest terms Of her,
and even told Mr.. Harold De Lisle how
he could get an Introduction to her.
Then the third issue said:
1--WE had pleasant call the other
day from Mr.. Harold De Lisle. who
has Just made million dollars out of
Pennsylvania oil. We understand that
he may remain In our village for some
days Indeed, Dame Rumor is con-
Meeting his name with that of a rich
and prominent widow ON Chestnut
street"
Mr.. De Lisle was duly introduced to
the Widow Bidwell. She had no sooner
set eyes on him than her heart began
to palpitate. The poet had come. He
looked and dressed the part. He also
acted It, Nothing was said Of her
dressmaking on the one hand nor Of
his oat business on the other. They
talked of sonnets and poems and ldyls,
and the widow was not In the hotel
dining room to note the quantity OF
corned beef ana cabbage he got away
with at dinner.
There was a fourth notice In The
Clarion. The spurned editor hadn't
nuch to do with auction bills just
.hen, and he had time to keep track
pf affairs on Chestnut street. He had
been told that Mr. Harold De Lisle
was only a travelling agent for a gang
of eastern swindlers, but he wasn't
going to say so. On the contrary, what
he said was:
"The wealthy and distinguished Mr..
De Isle is still with us, and If he has
not won the heart of a Reed City lady
then rumor has gone far astray. The
wedding will probably be quiet af-
fair, and bride and groom may make
honeymoon trip to Europe"
The Bohemian oats man who looked
like a poet and the widow dressmaker
who really wrote rhymes were not ex-
actly frank with each other. He never
asked the name of her brother or what
disease he died of. He never asked If
that fortune had come or when 1t might
be expected.
On her part, she didn't ask in what
part Of the keystone State his oil we'll
was situated or what national bank he
/ honored with his deposits. They read
the Clarion and trusted In each other.
There were more farmers waiting to
buy Bohemian oats and find a crop of
weeds, but still Harold De Lisle lin
oared. There were dresses that Gus