Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-08
HARLToN'S FIRST WIFE.
BY LIMA LISwOoI

HARLTCN'S FIRST WIFE.
BY LIMA LISwooD.
81 don't think Harlton and Alice Lee will
ever marry" said my friend to me the other
day. charlton, well educated, so refined
! in his manners, so noble and generous, and so
handsome, Can you believe he would thinl,
OF wedding poor forlorn girl, a sewing girl
in his fathers family l tell you tits all
moonshine; when Harlton marries, it will be
one with beauty and wealth, his equal,'' and
kate's dark eyes flashed, and her cheek flush
ed as she spoke.
"a queeDly beauty, CIeopatrass beauty
you mean that dark flushing beauty which car
ries heart by storm. Oh, Kate because
Alice is not SO sparklngly beautiful as your
own proud self, don't call her plain. Did YOU
ever see softer, brighter golden hair waving
over iaifer, burcr brow! Did you ever see
eyes so clear, SO laughing, so loving in their
gaze; or a roundtr cheek, or prettier rosy
mouth, or 4 more graceful form Did you
ever hear 4 laugh that was merrier, or step
lighter than Alice Lees
.sNow,' / continued mischievously edo
you suppose Harry would rather win this little
sunbeam, or the fash of lightning You say
tits moon-shine, but think it will be sunshine
if ever Harry and Alice we'd"
'.Well, perhaps so,'' said Kate with sigh
my part wouIdn't exchange places with her.''
ado you know the reason, Kate 20
"There, don't trouble me; you are such a
quiz; ~ and Kate arose and took a seat at the
opposite side of the room, and ne changed the
subject.
i think / never witnessed more JOYOUS
bridal than that of Harry Harlton and Alice
Lee. Sweet Alice how happy she was, with
her noble. soulcd, high minded husband-how
she loved. yes, almost worshippcd him. 1t
was, perhaps, wrong, yet that joyousness sub
sided to calm and quiet peacefuness-a
strong, firm and mistaken love and confidence
in the one of her choice.
1t was pretty little cottage, with vines
climbing over the lattice and over the win
dows. That was Alice's home after her mar
riage. Alice, as was before noticed, was pen
niless, and her husband was not wealthy so
with one servant to aid them in their garden
Alice attended to the household duties while
Harlton was away at his Office and when night
N"'hS, t"S.S "ho " W iiappS ldCc 10
welcome him, and charming, loving words to
greet him. o. those days! they pasaed away
s'They parted as the waves glide on they died
as stars go down. There is little grove.
with. pretty white fence around it-a plain,
white marble slab, with simply calico Harl-
ton, aged nineteen,' engraved thereon. She
died young. 1t is such the good Father calls
home, ever surrounded by love and tenderness
to show us how vain it is to place
our affections here.
Poor Harltoni he wandered broken spirit
ed man. There stood the little cottage. An
other summer had come on. The vines clam
bered again over the window where Alice a
year before would wait his return. How lone
ly, how disconsolate! There was no joyous
face to smile welcome; there soft
melodious voice to beguile the evening hours
away. For while he gave up to solitude and
sorrow; then came forth into the worlds gay
tiles, as if to drown in mir:h the deep heart
sorrows.
1t was beautiful evening. 1 sat alone in
my room, and confess my thoughts were sad
Thoughts of the loved and lost came to mind, |
and the pure sweet image of Alice was among |
them. The door was suddenly thrown open,
and the sparkling, beautiful Kate entered. |
She smiled gaily, yet came, thought, more !
gently than usual, and seated herself by my |
dc.
You will be surprised, Mary DEAR" she /
SAN sswhen tell you my errand. wish you
u o,ny bridesmaid"
then are going to be married. 1 ex-
ciai'h'N looking at her dark eyes.
ohc Oh answered by laugh, then replied
sooerly' am going to wed the only man l
ever io'eo-Jarrv Harlton.''
was str"- dumb with astonishment. L
had no answer give. At last l said:
s.And when p
''ln two weeks. You must be sure and not
disappoint me. Line see, this is Thursday.
Come put On W. sUdr ~ill 2nnet, and go with me
, them to the mao'u"'iSers q, that they may be