THE WIDOWS' RACE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2498, 14 July 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WIDOWS' RACE.

By MRS W. RATTRAY. Author of "The Mystory of Sloan Cottage," cto. [COMI'I.ETK IN O.VK CHAPTER.] " Anyhow, I must bring him to tlic point to-night," said Widow No. I, as sbo carefully arranged her bonnet in front of the glass; "Mr Jacob has been dead pretty nearly fivo years now, and I haven't seen any man with whom I would care to replace him since, except Mr Hammcrton. He's tall and good-looking, though a trifle rough, perhaps, but I'd soon polish him up ; and above all—he's very well off. Now in theso hard times that alone is onough to make one willing to marry even a ohimnoy-swecp; though, now I think of it, no one ever henrd of a chimney sweep retiring from business with a largo fortune !'' Mrs Jacobs paused a moment to contemplate the effect of a scarlet feather in front of her bonnet.

"Now, I'm not sure that I wouldn't have preferred blue!" She remarked to the bonuet presumably, as no one was in the room but herself. Then, possibly doubting her own taste in the important matter of the most becoming colour, she opened her door and called her maid : " Bettie, come here!"

Be it known that Mrs Jacobs had a genteel taste, and always spelt the general servant's name—in her own mind at least

—"Bettie," which certainly, when you come to think about it, does sound grander and more refined than Betty or Betsey. The servant was acting lady's maid just now, and the i.e. at the end of her name was even more distinctly present than usual to Mrs Jacob's mental vision externally. She contemplated in her glass a buxom figuro in a black silk dress, with ribbons and beads and lace to brighten it up. Her bonnet was a sort of maize-coloured Btraw with black lace, and the scarlet feather in question.

"Now, Bettie, do you think I should remove that feather and substitute this pale blue ; and of course, wear a, ribbon at my neck to match f"

Bettie didn't know what substitute meant, but she saw that her opinion on the question of colour was all that was wanted, and she promptly decided in favowr of the brighter hue. " Laws ma'am, you do look nice in that 'ere red, I must say !" Mrs Jacobs smiled pleasantly, and the round cheerful face in the mirror, brightened in sympathy. " Where's my warm cloak, I shall want it in Government House grounds seeing the fireworks." " But they're in the paddock," said the matter-of-fact abigail. " It's all the same ! Put on your hat, and walk down with mo to the Albert Hotel."

As they left the widow's small dwelling, and made their way down Victoriastreet, into Queen-street, the widow was running over her chances of success.

"There's really none I'm much afraid of! There are lots of girls just aching to marry him, but he doesn't seem to care for girls at all. I'm not old, though I don't mind owning to myself, I'm a year or two older than Philip Hammerton But that's nothing ! I'm good-looking, pleasant, and have—what all men value —a few pounds of my own. There's that little Mrs Firley to be sure. But what a man can see to admire in her baby-face and piteous eyes, I can't imagine ! Besides, she has not done mourning for her first husband yet ; she's no business to think of getting married again. No! the game's in my own hand, and I'll win him to-night !"

In a quiet boarding-house in Hobsonstreet, widow No. 2 was buttoning her gloves. Mrs Firley was a very different woman to her rival.

She was slender and graceful, with a sad look in her beautiful brown eyes. Her husband and she had been much attached to each other, and it was a terrible blow to the poor girl when a sudden accident deprived her of his loving protection, just three months after their marriage. That was two years ago, and even now the memory of that terrible night haunted her at times. She had been sitting one evening in their quiet little home in the country, waiting for her husband's return from Auckland. She heard the horses' hoofs on the road, and opened the door to welcome her husband, But the horse stopped at the gate and neighed. She went quickly down the short gravel path, and to her dismay found the horse riderless. Just as she was, fearing she knew not what, she ran down the road. About a quarter of a mile from hor own gate she saw something lying on the road. Her trembling limbs seemed as i£ they could not carry ber up to that dreadful, unknown something. And yet in the agony of the moment the awful conviction was borno in upon her. It was her husband ! Coming at last to it, feebly and uncertainly groping her way now as though the glorious moonlight had suddenly been turned to the blackest night, the unfortunate wife fell a senseless heap across the dead body of her husband.

An hour later they were found by some neighbours. Poor Mrs Firley discovered she had barely enough money to live upon ; and, coming to Auckland, succeeded in adding to her scanty income by needle work. She had few friends, but at the house of one of them, Mrs Kear, she made the acquaintance of the rich new-comer, Philip Hammerton. He was engaged in some mining operations in Australia, which had paid him very well, and he was now in Auckland on business connected with a new enterprise he had in hand. At this same house Mrs Jacobs had also been introduced to Vm, and had, as we have seen, made up her mind to marry him. To Mrs Firley's credit, be it said, she, at present, had no designs upon the wealthy bachelor. But if she had not, her friend Mrs Kear was fully determined to " run her," and, if possible, get her in first, in the race for the hand and heart of Mr Philip Hammerton, I said hand and heart, advisedly, as it is greatly to be feared that the qr-stion of affection had not much weight with most of the ladies entered for the matrimonal stakes.

Mr Hammerton had determined to recognise and return the kindness he had received from various friends in Auckland, by a little dinner at his hotel, and then he intended to take th« whole party to see Pain's fireworks. He had included the two widows in his invitation, because he hart so often met them, he said, and he did not like to leave them out.

Mrs Kear told him she meant to come early, and have a nice chat before the other guests arrived. "Mrs Firley is coming with me. I may bring her early, may I not ?" said this diplomatic lady, hoping thereby to secure in her friend a few minutes by way of preliminary canter to exhibit her attractions before the other widow should come on the field, and the race fairly begin. B'or Mrs Kear-iud resolved to put Mis Firley on her mettle, and insist on her trying her powers against Mrs Jacobs She was full of her plans that evening as she was dressing for the dinner. (They had all agreed that full toilette would be unsuitable, as it wag

rainy weather, and they would get crushed at the fireworks, so each lady was trying to attain a becoming compromise between that and morning dross.) "Henry! do you think dear little Mrs Firley has any chance against Mrs Jacobs!'' " How ™n I toll.' retorted her husband. "I havon't asked Harainorton which ho prefers ! " ,„..,.. „ " I wish yon would ! sighed Mrs Kear, "but I really think if all ray plans succeed ho will have such a ploasant time with her to-night, that he is sure to pro-> pose. Won't it be a splendid thing for Mrs Pirloy r" " Look hero," said the gentleman, who was supposed to exercise some sort of supervision over Mrs Kear's movement; " you take my straight tip, and leave the wholo thins alone. If Hammerton wants to marry the Firloy widow, of course he will propose to her ; and if he wants to marry t'other, why should you wish to make him unhappy for life by marryins him to the wrong woman i Again Mrs Kear sighed, and dropped the conversation, but quietly, and possibly all the more firmly, adhered to her determination to conclude a marriage between the lonely, poor and pretty little widow and the burly, handsome, wealthy bachelor. Accordingly, seated in the private sitting-room, Mr Hammerton had enga<nid for the occasion, she asked her host to show her some Sydney photographic views which he had said he possessed. Whilst lie was fetching them she dextrously arranged a seat for him between Mrs Firley and herself. He walked unhesitatingly into the trap set for him, and as Mr Kear, who was an amused spectator of the little scene, was obliged to own, rather as if he liked it, somehow. Mrs Kear found she had seen the views, and contrived to turn round a little, and talk to her neighbour, a pompous director, located a couple of chairs off her sofa. This left the field onen to the widow, and a very pleasant quarter of an hour the two seemed to have, until the door opened and Mrs Jacobs appeared. She at once took possession of the host, and laughed and talked gaily, usurping in fact most of the conversation in the room. Left alone in her corner, poor Mrs Firley became painfully conscious that the economy which had made her hesitate to sacrifice her one silk dress to the possible risk of spoliation at the fireworks was misplaced. Her black cashmere relieved with a pretty whito arrangement of ribbon and lace at the neck and wrists looked, to her eyes at least, old and shibby beside the newer and handsome dresses of the other ladies.

A bitter feeling rose up in her heart. Why should oho be so very poor ? If omifort instead of privation, wealth instead of penury, were within reach of her hand, why not grasp them ? Supposo she fell ill, what was before her hut the Hospital? When she got old, where could. she go but to the Refuge. This last thought, aided by a sudden feeling of jealousy of the comely, cheerful jolly-looking widow, who really did not want a home as she did, induced her to reHolve to run a rune with Mrs Jacobs for the bachelor's hand.

It would be difficult to say why these two had each decided that the struggle fur victory lay between them, but they certainly ignored all other starters. Indeed, most people now agreed in calling: it ' The Widows' Rac.' 1 have heard that bets were freely clumped on the chances of the fair ladies, but this is probably only scandal.

Dinner was announced, and the Widow Firlcy's heart sank as she found herself two or three seats from mine host. She had one compensation, however. Sho was sure she heard him say, and she fancied it was intended for her ears alone, " Tina is not what I had arranged." But she could not be sure, and if Mr Hammertou had not intended to take in Mrs Kear, and put Mrs Jacobs on his left, who else would have placed them so ? There was not very much conversation at first. The dinner was a most excellent one, and Mr Hammerton gently reminded them that if they wanted good places for seeing they had better go to the paddock early. But when they started to walk up Shortland-street to the scene of the pyrotechnic display some difficulty was experienced in pairing properly. Mrs Kear tried to carry Mrs Jacobs off with her, so as to prevent her, at leant, from escaping with their host. But the lively widow was too quick for her.

"Now, Mr Hammerton," she said, "you promised you would take care of me if I came; and I am so fearfully nervous in a crowd." " Did IP" he said, and they set off together.

As every one knows, Shortland-Btreet is pretty steep ; and Mrs Jacobs found it particularly steep that evening. She had trotted up and down it once before, that d;iy, and seemed to have no difficulty at all in doing so; but that was when it was light, and sho was alone. Circumstances alter cases, and in the present case, with a good strong arm at her service, why should she not lean on it, and even beg her escort to rest a little, and not walk quite so fast ? " I am afraid of losing the rest of our party in this crowd," he answered. " Dear Mr Hammerton," with a faint pressure of his arm, "does that matter? Wo are all so happy to-night. lam sure no ono will mind being separated from the others." Sho meant no two will mind, but she was only anxious to keep him to herself, and could not look after hor grammar; of course, he took ber literally. "I hope nothing of the kind will happen !" he said. " I should be very sorry to think of a lady, for instance, being alone in this throng."

" You are always so thousrhtful! " With another little squeeze. " But lam so perfectly content with your protection, that I fear it makes mo just the least little bit selfish. But you will forgive that, lam sure !" This with a beaming look into his face, meant to be expressive of the most adoring confidence.

But alas ! Mr Hammerton was looking everywhere but in his companion's face; and instead of the answer, the widow had fondly anticipated, " I will forgive you anything if you will be my wife ?" onuie the prosaic, " there they all are, just in front of us ! Let us hurry up to them!

But Mrs Jacobs was not to bo thus baffled, and the party in advance had to wait a few minutes at the gate, before, looking as consciously important ae she knew how, Mrs Jacobs sailed up with her hand still tightly clasping the bachelor'! arm.

But he had not proposed ! " Just wait till the fireworks begin, and I'll faint," said the enterprising woman to hersslf," he'll have to carry me out, or something!" Going through the gates. Mr Hammerton attached himself to Mrs Kear and Mrs Firley, The latter kept close to her friend, and did not ?ecm at all inclined to rush off with the g-nt'eman, who was causing so many female hearts to beat time to imaginary and very visionary wedding marches. Just as they were taking their places at the fireworks, a great rough fellow tried to fo.ee his way in front of them, and in doing so struck Mrs Firley a heavy blow which sent her reeling towards the man next to her, who proved to be Mr Hammer ton. No one else had noticed the affair, as they were all watching the first blaze of the grand display. Fljilip Hammertoe caught (he little,

figure in his arms, and supported her out of the crowd.

"Are you hurt?" he nsked anxiously. "Not much," said the lips, but the white faee told another story.

He led her far from the somewhat rough outer circle to the oak trees by Government House, and taking oft' his thick overcoat, spread it on the ground, and gently placed her on it. Then lie seated himself beside her, put his arms round her, and said— " Lean your head on my shoulder, so. Does it ache very much now ?"

There was an unmistakeablo accent of tenderness in the strong, manly tones which wero addressed to her, and Mrs Firley felt a warm sense of protection and comfort, such as she had not experienced for a long time. She raised her hoad, and looked him frankly in the face, as she said, " how kind you are! No ! it is getting better, thank yon !"

Mr Hammerton could not helping contrasting this specimen of woman-hood ■with the ono he had escorted up Short-land-street, nnd he was silent a fow seconds, the better to appreciate and enjoy tho difference. " It's rather public horo !" he said at length. " With that bright light we arc liablo to be discovered any minute by a special search party. Shall we get over into the privnto grounds? See, through here!"

Mrs Firley laughed. He put on his coat, and at the next interval of darkness, helped hor over, and they strolled leisurely down under the lovely oak trees in the pretty grounds round Government House.

What they said to each other must have been of a very engrossing nature ; for though thpy wero walking about all the time, thoy were startled to finds the fireworks over, and Mrs Firley not at all tired. They made their way to the gate of exit, and with some difficulty discovered their party. Mrs Jacobs had been sitting down most of the time, but sho was very tired, and not in the best of tempers. Mr Hummortnn treated them to an oyster supper, which revived the flagging spirits of the majority of tho guests. Mrs Kear said aside to Mrs Firley, " my dear, ynu look so happy, may I congratulate you ?" And the pretty blushing face was sufficient answer. " Going home ?" said Mrs Kear to her husband.

" Well, whom do you suppose has won tho widow's race ?"

" 0!i !" said ho laughing, ''it wasn't difficult at supper to distinguish between tho victorious complacency of Mrs Firley, and the beaten look of disappointment on the visage of Mrs Jacobs."