Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE YOUNG WIDOW. 43 bordered handkerchief. She shut herself up for two whole weeks and refused to see any one except her lawyer. But when she did begin to show herself again the first move she made was to establish herself in quarters more to her liking. The big barn-like mansion gave her the ‘‘creeps,’’ she declared, so a new flat, with all the modern conveniences was selected, and here she took up her abode, with a household consisting of a French cook, a maid, and a butler, to say nothing of an English coachman and a tiny footman, resplendent in buff and blue liveries. As soon as she could do so with decency, she left off her mourning and gradually gave herself up solely to enjoyment, determining to make up for all her lost time. How different her new life was from the old! It was in her power now to have almost every whim gratified, and the weeks flew by on golden wings. Balls, receptions, and dinners followed each other in bewildering succession, and she was courted, feted, and admired to her heart’s con- tent. It is true that there were certain people who were sur- prised at the rapidity with which she had forgotten her husband, and these did not hesitate to express their opin- ions, at times, rather forcibly. Butshe merely frowned and laughed when told what they said and went her way as merrily as ever. What difference did their likes and dislikes make to her? They were a lot of old tabby-cats, who did not know the meaning of the word ‘‘fun,’’ and who were as spiteful as they were solemn. At any rate, even if they did not ap- prove of her ways, there were plenty who did, and the so- ciety of these, she infinitely preferred. One noon, she was sitting in her dressing-room, wrapped Gomichbookssco im