The Widow's Choice

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Harold and Jack Manning were rivals for the hand of Mrs. Dorothy Loveland, a handsome widow. John Manning, their father, was an elderly widower who hadn't smiled on a woman for many years. One day, Jack received a letter from his firm telling him to report at the office immediately, prepared for a business trip which would take him from home for at least a month. When Harold heard of these orders, he was naturally elated, because Jack's absence would give him a good opportunity to make the final plea for the widow's hand. But his rejoicing didn't last very long, as he soon received a message from the firm ordering him to accompany his brother. Fearing that someone else might win the widow while they were gone, they drew up a contract appointing their father guardian over the widow during their absence. The father was unaware of his trust until he learned it through a letter which he received after his sons had gone. There was nothing he could do but go to see the widow. He looked good to that charming lady and, when father was leaving, she pinned a rose on him. At the same time, the long-absent smile appeared on the widower's face. He called again the next evening, but in the meantime he had visited a tailor and looked at least twenty years younger. Things moved pretty rapidly after that and by the time Harold and Jack returned from their business trip, they found the fair widow was their stepmother.