The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-11-13
THE MERRY WIDOW
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
BY FRANK H. MELOON

stuck to the Merry Widow like a
dock-burr. She followed her upstairs
and she trotted after her down. Bliss
fully unconscious. as 1t seemed. OF our
alteration, the widow made no attempt
to rid herself OF the incubus. The one
consolation attending the Merry
Widows proposed departure would be
that she would take Pickles along with
her.
That night the Merry Widow was at
her best Never had her blue eyes
flashed with so much happiness. We
felt actually jealous OF Yaleville, Wis.
Was 1t possible she was glad she was
going hcme? No, that could not be.
There must be some other reason for
the Merry Widows glee. Could II
chance she had left lover behind her
in the far away town? Not likely. be-
cause all the mail which had come to
her had been addressed in feminine
hand So much we forced Jake to
tell us to set our minds at rest on
that score.
Never was there the like of that
night in Jake MAINS Pickles played
the piano tuncd for the occasion, and
the Merry Widow sang Believe Me,
THE Rocky Road TO Dublin" and all
the old songs Il does our heart good
TO hear. Jake wanted to send the
champagne around, but the old aunt
objected. She said that as chaperone
she could stand for nothing stronger
than coffee. The Merry Widow hest
tated moment, then poutingly as
scented, but we all felt that the yoke
of propriety in this instance weighed
heavily on her. Still, we would have
been gladly willing for her sake to
drink dishwater.
Pickles, too, could certainly touch W
the piano. think Jake felt little
bit ashamed of certain things he had
said about the old lady behind hel
back, when she struck up the tune
OF Watch on Rhine" while the Merry
! Widow announced she would sins
some verses her aunt had composed or
Jake Mann and German hospitality IL
| general.
Following this, Pickles announced
that as II was getting late, she woulC
| go to bed. but her niece she added
could stay up a while longer Thu
| Merry Widows blue eyes included III
all In their fash of appreciation, ye
every man felt It was intended mos
particularly for himself
The Merry Widow stayed We con
versed with her by turns. Part OF tn
conversation was aloud, part whis
Lered. The widow was dazzling, bu
no man dared overstay his limit. w
all said our little say, each after hi
own fashion, and the widow was gam
TO the finish. Al the stroke of IL, sh
begged TO be excused for the night
Strange 10 say. not one OF us nd
journed to the bar after she ha
gone.
For n while we INDUCED In gu
usual game of forty-fives, then one h
one the members of the Fourteen clu
,onai,,t,, ~. 49,. - 49,, T.. lie. :,
ran" A. ,,.,,S A. ~ VII,
:, ,,.. II, 49, IT,, -, \. -,
hon,ra, b.. ho,, har l.. 49,. -,
IT., -. -, It a.
rn,ot,ah, 49,, H. 80 $50, 80" -, H.,
in,arnhauaod ,'ama - a,o.na, adaitt
and went my way.
Tho No.. Widow ana pioIIas wor
.,n, a., ,Soi. 80 h,. Ia,,a ~,
saa.,nn .h,,. ahao,a W." oa,,as ~, :,
:" oomr,ot,,Ia,o btn, I,o annornoo
tIa snna"a"n, 80 ,ho NJ, WILL
A,,,ta ,he asan,a 90 voioaa rotaaa d,
annn,,ead rrotast ,o,ao,aa tho NO,
- 80 ouaa.n,toa wo,id TO-
,ar@had =, ,ha nranos, arou.noss ~ III
- M. -. haa,,aa, -