Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-20
hunting Husband 'UneIe Henry" in
Spite Of His Age Looms Up as a
Prospective Sutton for The Widow
BY VIRGINIA TERHuNE VAN DE WATER.


A week had passed since the Robbins
dinner. and Beatrice found herself bored
10 Death 1t was a new experience TO
her. for, although lonely at times, she
had always heen able to interest herself
10 her children. her needework or her
books. Now. since her taste OF social
life. the existence which she had led
since her husbands death seemed flat.
stale and Improbable.
She dressed the children herself each
day and took them to kindergarten.
Then the morning lay before her. unen-
livened by a prospect Of any brightness
for the afternoon or evening. She
thought of many Of her'women acausint-
snces whom she might ask TO go out to
luncheon with her. or 70 accompany her
10 the matinee In the afternoon. but the
idea brought with It no thrill
She began to appreciate that when q
woman has allowed herself to enjoy the
look Of admiration In q mans eyes she
unconsciously at first TO herself. wants
to repeat the experience. But how. could
she find q way of ,mgeting Robert May
uNIu y TafIt4rrN
She. asked herself lids question ,ofsan
and Il was Artpamost in her mind one
evening when. as she sat alone in her
little drawing room-the ctrhdrsn having
gone 10 hed-she heard her apartment
door bell ring. and. as n was the maids
evening out. went to the door herseh.
70 her surprise Mr.. Blanchard Helen
Robbins ''Uncle Henry stood there
smiling.
"whyi@ exclaimed tho astonished
woman. Come int u did not expect to
see you tonights
II was banal and trivial remark TO
mako and Beatrice felt herself flush hotiy
as she appreciated that she must look |
like 3 fool. But her visitor. noting her
rising color. experiepced glow Of gratl-
fled vanity, attributing the blush TO her
delight at seeing him.
well" be aaid. as be pulled off his
overcoat. II happened to be passing. and. |
remembering thai you had told me the
other night where you lived. / thought
I'D stop in and see you for few min
utes."
That was kind Of you" Beatrice said
cordially. now sufficiently recovered
from her surprise 10 be. once more mis-
tress OF the situation. do sit down and
talk to me- Before you came was
lonely and wishing that something nice
would happen, and you see 1t has"
The elderly man beamed happily, He
was IS years Of age and had often been
obliged, as he expressed II sometimes.
Ito look lively TO escape scheming moth
ers and marriageable daughters." for Il
was known that he had a neat little for
tune. with nobody dependent upon him.
But bis niece knew this also. and had re-
solved that said fortune should. when
Uncle Hazry should die. come TO her and
her children; therefore she watched him
as something too precious TO be allowed
TO fall victim 10 scheming vonankind
she had thought Il would please him
to be asked 10 her dinner. and one Of
the men invited falling III. she had put
her relative into his place. She had 4
seated him next TO Beatrice. not to pleass
him, but to punish the latter for her re-
sentiment with regard TO her hostess
matchmaking schemes and to plque her
into being kinder TO Robert afaynari.
Failing In this. she had thought that her
husbands little niece. Msude SpauIding,
could do worse than to make q match
with Maynard. even II their ages we're
so unequal.
But Helen Robbins did net hook far
enough sheadsto consider that she might
be making future trouble for herself In
introducing the csse-hsrdened and -un-
impressionable old bachelor to a young
and attractive widow. Women sel5om
take into consideration a widows fas-
citations. Men seldom forget or ignore
them Il
To do Beatrice justice. she had not
thought Of SIR. Blapchard as a possible
suitor until this evening. Then. as he
said. with twinkle in his eyes. Il
didn't mention to Helen that wax.thInk-
Ing Of csainz 70 see yoa. for she has
never been much pleased AZ my going TO
call on the ladies. sudden idea flashed
Through Beafrios's mind II Helen knew
that her uncle had called here she would
fancy that be ~as aiready in danger Of
being snapped UP 10 an snterprisingl
widow. Ridicuionss muses Beatrice. As
IL any woman IN her senses would marry
this plsln-loaking. though kind-hearted.
man. old enough to be her father.
But Helen vould not fhfnk that such a
thing vas out Of the question. and the
widow decised that since she Ess 50
weary or her loneliness that she found
even this visitor welcome break IN the
monotony q dun evening. Il was as
wea that Mr. blanchard should rot tell
his niscs Of his vedturssone exposition
Therefore she laughed sith hin as be
spoke Of his seerettvszeks. and listened
e0urtsoaxly while hs rznblsd On with