A Widow's Device

Miss Wellr Imina Perks and her father wêre staying in London. They had been in Paris ior souie time, tro, partly because they were from Boston, Irat mainly because Wilhelmina had marie there some special purchases for her nevv adventure. She proposed to sail for Christiania frora Huil in the middleof the month, and already the papers had interviewed her, and "Miss Wilhelmina Perks, the Female Franklin- By One Who Knows Her," ap peared in nearly every paper that yon picked up. i They had all been to Lord's, and Dr. Fraser and his cousin, Mrs. VValderaliare, had been brought back to dinner at the hotel. "Well," said Miss Wilhelmina, " 'taint no use talkinR, you know. My mind's set on this trip, and I'm going to do it." "I know, my girl," said old Mr. Perks; "I know. You wouldn't be a Perks if you was to give way now and go back on your reputation." "And I'll just ko and make a name for myself, and tben I'll come right back, and" - sbe glanced at Dr. Fraser- "and then we'll be happy." Young Dr. Fraser pressed the young lady's foot affectionately beneath the tuble, and little Mrs. Waldershare suiiled. All the time young Dr. TTraser looked thoughtfully out of the window. "If you won'fc say another word about it," he remarked; "if you'll justlet mesay this" "Go on, dear," said Miss Perks. She and Mrs. Waldershare rose ;.s eñe spoke, aud the men rose too. "That l'd givo everyfcbing, éverything that I possess in the world," said Fraser, gtill lookiug hard out of the window, 'if it would only induce you to give it up." She came to him. "My dear boy," she said, "that can't be, but you're just the sweetest fellow to say go, and I shall think of you dreadfully." Mrs. Waldershare had scribblcd f urtively a note on the menu, which she came back to show tbeyouug fellow. "Before I forget it, Frank," said the little woman, "is this the right way to speLl cottipote aux fruits?" Under tho item was her penciled message: "Meet me in half an hour in the reading room." "Yes," said Dr. Fraser,' "I think that's right." The two men had their smoke and their coffee, and at the appointed time Fraser threw away his cisar, aud leaving old Mr. Perks went into the reading room. He found Mrs. Waldershare there, and for five minutes their heads were very close together. They talked spiritedly aud seemed to be arguing with much good humor. Presently they changed their seats and sat behind a screen in the corner near the window. Then Mrs. Waldershare gave a confidential message to one of the attendants. Inafew minutes Wilhelmina entered the room. She was a tall, striking girl, and everybody looked up from the evening papers as she came. "In that corner, I think," said the man carefully. "I think I saw them go there - just behind the sereen, miss." Miss Wilhelmina walked across the large, thickly carpeted room to the place indicated. The two familiar voices came to her ear, and there was in the voice of the little widow so unusually earnest a ring that Wilhelmina paused involuntarily. "You don't know, Frank, how much I lpve vou," she heard Mrs. WjQdershare say. Siie wás speakíng vury uistuictly. ."You don't kuow, aud untü nowyou have perhaps never guessed that you are everything to me. You will cali me uuwomanly- perhaps some might cali me shameless, but I can't help it. May I - may I ask you to glve me cine promise?" "Tell me wbat it is," said the voice of Dr. Fraser hoarsely. "Promise that as soon as this American girl, with whom you think you are in love" "With whora I am in love." "Very well, with whom you are in iove, then. Promise me that as soon as she has gone on ber preposterous expedition you will give me leave to speak agaiu. 1 am no chíld in these matter, Frank." "I can give you no promise of any kind," answered Dr. Fraser steadily. "I can quite uuderstand your position," the little widow went on. "It's very hard on you. But when she oomes back, if she ever does come back, aíter say three or four years, aged and altered by this ridiculous exploring business, she surely wouH not be surprised ií she should find that you have forgotten her." "I shall liever, never forget her," declared Frank. "Attendez," said tlie little widow persistently. "I repeat that I know something o( these matters. We'll let her go, let her get right away, and then we'll talk over this matter agaiu. If I'm not mistaken, you'll be of a different opinión then." "I beg you won't anticípate" "Oh, my dear sir," replied the little widow, with a catch in her voice, "think again. She does not love you really, or sha would never leave you like this, risking her life and your afïection." "Don't speak to me, please," prayed Dr. Fraser; "don't speak to me. I am doiug her a grievous wrong by listening toyou." There %vas a sob from the little widow, and Dr. Fraser rose aud put his chair back. She seized his hand. The tall figure went quickly and noiselessly from the reading room and stood for a few moments in the entrance hall, thinking hard. Dr. Fraser did not come out, and Wilhelmina went up the lift to her room, and sitting down on a low chair had the best cry she had had tor years. The next afternoon two clerks were reading in the evening paper as they vvaited for the bus. "Hullo," said one, "here's a go. That Yankee girl isn't going to bring home the north pole af ter all." "What's up, then?" asked the other. The first youth read it out: "Acting upon her doctor's advice, Miss Wilhelmina Perks bas relinquished her intended expedition to the north pole. Her boat and stipplies - which were of the most complete character - have been purchased by telegram by a Swedish explorar. It is stated that the marriae of Miss Perks to Dr. Fraser, one of the most successful young medical men of the day, will take place on au early date at Holv Trinitv. Slouiie street.