The Somerset reporter., 1906-08-09

told by the landlord.
You will be glad to learn that
have Il compatriot of yours here. She
has been here Il week She is widow.
believe she comes from Chicago. Can
ada
Sure it Isn't Philadelphia, Mon
tana?' asked the judge.
Il will ut once find out all particu-
lars, your excellency.'
Never mind just now. I'd like Il
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 a widow, and, you see.
don't want to bump up against another
too soon. We Americans always want
to walk around awhile before getting
acquainted"
1T is so. your excellency, and your
wishes shall he respected said the OBJ
sequious host.
How does the widow happen to be
here alone2" inquired the judge with
out much show of interest.
Her brother is at Lyons, France.
He is a buyer of silks for Americans.
He will soon be here
rs she good looking and rich" ask
ed the judge.
Had | known. your exeelency. that
Chicago, Canada, had such handsome
women | should have gone there for
my second wife. As for riches, she
has my best rooms and orders what
she wants Ny bill against her will
be very much
Think she's on the marryT'
when | saw you, sir, and knew
that you were an American | said to
myself:
He comes from the same country
lie looks like Il widower He appears
to be rich Why should not the wild
over marry the widow and thus make
each other happyY"
Thanks for your interest in the
case, old man, but 90 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 \ sharp eyed pers i
would have noticed that they WEI :
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 he said:
az have the utmost fellcitation 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 a man OF
about forty eight hnlc and hearty and
inclined to be frank spoken. OF cour.
they became interested at once, and
after few minutes the landlord re-
entered the office to say to his wife:
To-day. Marie, l have done a 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 a landlord | should he
magnificent success"
Neither the Widow Chatham nor
Judge Fordham had a story to tell. 1t
came out casually in conversation that
she was the widow of Il Chicago whole
sale grocer and had taken the trip
abroad at the instance Of her brother
Tom. who WAS a 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 aud then the landlord
looked out to smile and turn to his
wife with
Marie. compliment me on my mng-
nifcence. 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 day 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 landlord
who smiled in Il knowing way.
There WAS just bit of mystery about
the brother He was to arrive at such
a time and such n 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 it would be a pleasure for him to
meet the Judge. The judge smiled
grlmly when this extract was read to
him. 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 10
take a train-that is, he thought she
was She had no baggage and appear
ed to avoid observation.
When she saw that she was discov-
cred she made some excuse and left the
depot In his company. She was a bit
glum for awhile, but soon rallied and
was very gay that evening. Two days
later telegram announced that Broth
er Tommy was III at home. The widow
said that she would run over there for
day or two, and the Judge said he
10 bna ri