The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-08-09
Hin Hn1crican
Widow
BY LouRENE RICHARDS


II was az Lausanne. Lake Geneva,
and st one Of the small and quiet ho
tells, that Judge Fordham. u. y. A. was
iold by the landlord
"yoa win he glad TO learn that !
Lave esnpairioi Of yours here. She
has been hesc week She " a widow.
I believe she comes from Chicago. Can
ads
s'Sure Il Isn't Philadelphia. Mou-
taniy~ asked the Judge
Il win at once find out all pariicu-
lars, yonr c,cellency."
Never mind just now. ia like a
few hours rest before meeting the
widow, American or otherwise. II you
win he 30 Kind. you needn't mention
10 h.,f that am here. came away
from my home In Boston. California,
TO escape widow, and, you see. !
don's want 10 bump M against another
TOO soon. We Americans always want
10 walk around awhile before getting
acquainted
III Is SO, your excellency, and your
wishes shall be respected" said the OBJ
sequlous host.
How does the widow happen TO be
here alonef" inquired the Judge with
out much show OF interest,
Her brother is ut Lyons, France.
lie is buyer OF silks for Americans.
He will soon be here"
lis she good looking and richf" ank'
ed the Judge.
Had ] known. your exccllency, 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 l said to
myself:
"'He comes from the same country.
He looks like widower. He appears
to he rich. Why should not the Wild
over marry the widow and thus make
each other happyT"
.Thanks for your interest In the
case, old man. but 20 slow. An Amer
lean widower and an American widow
will always find each other In good
time II you leave them alone. just
leave 1t to us"
They met ut the table. but were nor
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
n book In her hand, the landlord and
the Judge approached, and the former
lndulged In dozen bows and scrapcs
as he said:
4 have the utmost felicitatlon in
pr senting Judge Fordham to Mrs
Chatham
"A he Judge found the widow to be a
bright and 'Keah "Hf6 'slrav pSsaeewas
she found the Judge to be man Of
about forty-elght hale and hearty aho
inclined to be frank spoken. or course
they became Interested at once. ano
after a few minutes the landlord re
entered the Office to say to his wife;
To-day, Marie, have done a noDl'
thing. The widower will marry tn
widow, and when they return to Amer
len they will probably live In New
York. Arizona, and be happy all thell
days, Did not tell you when we wer'
married that as a landlord should b'
4 magnificent successY'
Neither the Widow Chatham no
Judge Fordham had story TO tell.
came out casually in conversation ina
she was the widow Of Chicago whole
sale grocer and had taken the trll
abroad at the instance OF her brothc
Tom. who was a silk buyer for NeS
York house and who would soon D
with them. 1t came out the same wa
that the Judge had retired from IN
bench in New York and was now TAX
ing II easy abroad while his bono
went right on piling up interest Ihe
found themselves agreeing on almos
all subjects, especially on the greatnes
Of Chicago and the purity Of America
poljtIcs. and now and then the landlor
looked out to smile and turn to hl
wife with:
"Marie. compliment me on my mas
nificencc. The widower and the wido'
are becoming more and more intereste
In each othcr.'
The Judge rather took charge OF MT
Chatham after the first day. They roo
ont together, they boated together, the
climbed the hills together. The subje'
OF love wasn't even hinted at. but thel
were other persons than the landloi
who smiled In a knowing way,
Ihere was just a bit Of mystery abo'
the brother. He was to arrive at sut
a time and such time. but he dldn
arrive. II was all the fault OF u
silk men. he wrote. They were tnkif
things easy and refused to be hustle
lie would be along In good time, hoy
ever. and 10 one OF his letters he wro
that II would be a pleasure for him
meet the Judge, The Judge smll'
grimly when this extract was read
him. He seemed TO doubt It.
After their acquaintance had last
two weeks and one day Just after
telegram had been received by Y
widow the Judge stroiled into the ra
road depot apd found her about
take o train--that Ia, he thought =
was. She had no baggage and appef
ed to avoid observation.
When she saw that she was disco
cred she made some excuse and left 7
depot In bis company. She was
glum for awhile. but soon rallied q
was very gay that evening. Two "a
later a telegram announced that Bro
tr Tommy was VI at honf. Ths w'n'
said thar ate would run over there
a oay or ,wo, ard the Judge said
wou!d accompany ber. lie had er
ssisy about the silk mills, and q
would be good time to crafty II y
widow suddenly decided that Tcmr
might get over bis Illness without a
: Of her help. She had her fair share
sIsrerly affection. but Tommy was
u these fellows that always play
! baby eveu with a cold IN The head
: Two mornings later the Judge q