Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-24
Giterarp 5eIsftions.
THE SECOND WIFE.
CHAPTER I.

was married. The final VOWS had
been spoken, and 1 was no longer Agnes
Park, but Agnes Fleming. l was the
wife of a widower of thirty-eight, and
be step-mother of three children! Not
be first chosen, first beloved bride of
Young and ardent lover, such as my girl
,b dreams had pictured only a second
wife!
The reflection was was not sweet; ney-
trtbeless it was the thought with which I
,ook nv seat in the carriage which was
20 convey me to my new home. The
.bort wedding tour was ended, and we
,rore homeward bound A long ride
r.s still before US, for the village in
ubicb Capt. Fleming resided was twenty
r,les from the last railway station; but
he had caused his own carriage to meet
rs there, so I begun fully to realize that
We we're nearing home.
The road over which we journeyed
was level and smooth, and, for long
time wound close by the bank of a broad
river Fields lay on one side, stretching
fraFay, until they were skirted by low
woods and hills; here and there white
farm house stood, looking cheerful and
almost gay in the afternoon sushine. The
whole prospect was rural and very beau
iial.
Ny gloom began to pass away, soothed
by the sweet influence of the Summer
landscape, and visions of future useful
ness began already to feat through my
brain. I had ample opportunity to In
talge in these day-dreams, for Captain
Fleming, tired with the long ride, was
half asleep by the side of his new wife.
was weary of taking the lead in con-
yer;ation, and concluded to leave him tc
his meditations, as he had left me tc
mine. After weaving for myself very
profitable future, l looked, for little
upon the past.
Oh that past! Mine had been no gay
and pampering childhood, but looking
back, saw, on the contrary, years o
loneliness, of WEAKNESS, and of sorrow
For four years 1 had watched young
beautiful and gifted brother, as, stricken
with consumption, he had wasted gradu
ally away. We two were orphans tn
last of our race, and all in all to eacl
other.
But at last, / saw him laid in the cof
fin, and all my love and hope were lon
buried with him. Not that / becam
sad and misanthropic. No; life and du
ty were not dead; and looking forward
saw that there was yet much for me t
do, perhaps suffer so planted swet
Orler and violets on Harry's grave, an
then went out to act and strive with th
rest Of the striving world.
About year after my brothers dealt
lmet Arthur Fleming. I had been so shl
up hadnO lovers, and very few friend
and hardly believed l could ever aga
ieelan interest in any one but Arthl
Flemings kind, genial manner and de
lcate attentions warmed my heart to
new lite. Unconsciously, my whole heal
aAthe more ardent for its long stillnei
was given to this new friend. 1t W
With bitter disappointment that ] lear
Cd ne had already been once married,
Icould not bear the thought of riv
living or dead yet I loved him, a
when he asked me to become moth
% MS motherless children, accepted
uand, feeling sure that | would win FRI
nm In time an affection as deep a
"eadfast as my own. His house v
lonely his children poorly protected, a
le needed a wife. I had been reco
mended to him as one who would ke
us house in order, and be a suitaI
'Onpanion for his children; after bI
a4ualntance, he had proposed in
form.
Almost home p exclaimed Capt
rNmlng, arousing himself to look Out
w carriage window. The words S
'u'in through me and looked cage
through the twilight shadows, to
we were approaching. 1t ,
~,8e' and stood at distance from
e street, and it seemed to me
amer desOlate situation. Great TT
."IS their branches over the gateu
as we rode between them, the W
P~4a ' a slghing sound among the lea
~ 'ne lighted lower windows sh
Isy saOlly in the darkness, seeming
u brightness to welcome me hom,
'Ie Fleming, my husbands sis
vif,, -10 been housekeeper since
Tue rLs death, came to the door to NEE
1ue moment her cold fnnors tor,o