The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-13
From Pe;er-Sn's Magazine.
THE SECOND WIFE.
BY MRS. Fancy GAMBLE.

but Agnes Fleming. | was the wife OF a
widOwer Of thirty-eieht, and the step-Ino-
ther of three children! Not the first chosen,
first beloved bride OF young and ardent
lover, such as my girlish dreams had pictur-
ed; only second wife.
The reflection was not sweet, nevertheless
it was the thought with which ! took my
seat in the carriage which was to convey me
to my new home. The short wedding togr
was ended, and we were 'homcward bound" \"
4 long ride was still before US, for the vii
lage in which Capt. Fleming resided, was 20
miles from the last railway station; but he
had caused his own carriage to meet us
there, so l began to realize that we were
nearing home.
The road over which we journeyed, was
level and smooth and for a long time wound
close by bank of broad, New England
river. Fields lay on one side, stretching
far away, until they were 'skirted by low
woods and hills; here and there a white
house stood, looking cheerful and almost gay
/ IN the afternoon sunshine. The whole pros
pect was rural ana very beaatlfOl.
/ My gloom began to pass away, soothed by
the sweet influences of the summer land
scape and visions of future usefulness began
already to float through my brain. | had
ample opportunity to indulge iii these day
dreams. for Capt. Fleming, tired with the
long ride, was half asleep by the Sde Of his
new wife. | was weary OF takin, the lead
in conversation, and concluded 20 lea7e him
to MS medtatons, a. he had left Eie %
mine After weaving for myself very
profitable future, | looked, for little upon
the past
( Oh. taat past, Mine had been no gay
and pampered girlhood bur, looking back,
saw Oh the contrary, years Of loneliness
oi wearne>s and OF sorrow. For f)ar years
! had watched young, beautiful and gifted
brother. as stricken w,th Consumption, he
had wasted gradually away. We tao were
orphans, The last of our race, and ali in ali
10 each otner
Bu, at last saw hin laid in his coffin,
az al my love and hope were long buried
with him. Not that became sad or ras-
anthroyic. No; fe and duty were not
dead, and looking forward | saw that there
was yet mucn for me to do, perhaps suffer,
50 | planted swect-brier and vio'ets on Har-
ry', grave and th.n went out to act aud
strive with the res, Of the striving world.
About year after my brothers. death.
! met Arthur Fleming had been SO shu;
ou, from tIe world by Harry'S sickness, that
! had no lovers. and very fricn1S, aud h2r,i-
ly bel yea ! could again feel al interest f.
any ou-, but Arthur Fleming i,iui. geaiat
manner and Iciicate attentions warmed ms
heart 20 bew lie. Uncorsc. .pusiy, NY
whole heart, all tire m3rc ardent for its i5ng
stiffness. was given % tn's ne = friend. IL
with bitter disappointment that les o.
"a ne had already been once married. fss
could aclr- the thought of no ri7al. living s-
dead v.t | iOvel hi.l, ana wher ha asked
uue 20 become mo,ber to his mo;he#'-as
children, accepted his aaai, f.siins a.
lh-.t .est:-i wa Iroln hish IN ,fne. an A.
fiction Is straaisst as my o.n. knew he
did not marry me Tor love. HIS house vas
l-no'y. aud Hs children poorly protected,
ana De Ge--t! q vile. lad been recon-
m-n4-i 10 4im - one who would Neep hrs
house IA order an1 he suitable companion
TOR hi- e"i.is"u; alter a nr-ei acqna'Hiance
Zoe Ati proposed n Que iJ-m; AHa soon Il
'a- '.-'
Almost nome. tH''A',hei 'ap'. 4 .e'i-
1us, r'Isi1t Ai"-ei - ''pN out oi tie CT
H=e ".'+.'. ne "''e' Ne"' t'''u-"
i"l, '.'' % '..i '~-i''s ''.' ''' r"-- tue
t"'.'-.l, +---e.''' &, '.'' "'',9 Nc "t'S az
.F'i.u-'t l. vas liT@-' At' sIpo4 a q u s.,
'a'''e '.''' '.'- '..i-' >.'..', ""i' u go, ,'A-r
% 'is r'''sF " q s''"t' 1',pa''o', nf."'
trees SWING 1"r'F oT@h- -h'' over tA- gate
way, and as We rode between en-, the
w."4 ia'ie '='.'N7 s'l"' aii'''' 'ie caves
bA' tAe izits'' io"e' "'hho"s SHOWN
c'eeTih'y 10 -Ne ua' "i'ss>' seeming : '"eF
-'IA.-' s' "e.'oHi- me "ol"e' {
jan a.. .iH NJ my "I'o'hH S'StH' "t'
IA On Ms "oH't-HeepeF since hl VIE
'tn' came 20 me ao'r TO meet US ihe
IN 'in.Ht n'r 1''d q serS 'ouc'ed n'he' l
iet mat 'htie "'t " DC no ipamy Sc
t"teh US; ana we Ha1 entered 'he ishtcd
pariOr, aha haa So utnizcd her face, was
sure OF 1t. Without a word she sttoi be
SIDE mc while took oil NY bonnt ard
gloves, she carried them away, then as 81
len,ly walked into the ros'n again, leading
the three children. feel now the cE-il Of
her presence upon M.
IHe three ran into their tather'S arms and
embraced uim aiiecti1uatclv, and as .p c.
rs~sei them in return, perceived that
there was fountain OF warmth 10 his heart,
which could / reach It, would be eno'gh TO
shield me from cold and darkness fen,ver.
This show of passionate tondness maE me
glad and gs,ng to his side tried to wii the
notice Of the children to myself
- Ii Is Your new mother" said he. "Shc
has come take care of YOU, when am gone
10 sea again. Ellen and Nav, 20 to rour
mother
Nav. n pretty. blue-cyed child of ten.
came snyly toward me, and kissed my chick;
bur Ellen, the eldest. merely gave me her
hard Elien seemed t. have imbibcd Sona-
ting Of her aunt'S icy manner, for she sat
a'oof and watched nae coldlv. The little
boy now lifted his head from his fathers
shoulder, and, seeing that May stood byun-
harmed, ventured to approach me-
Come to me, Harry!" said Miss Flcl.ing
with frown.
Was his name Harry? | caught hin TO
my arms and held him closely, so that he
could not escape to his jealous aunt, and
thoHght in my secret heart that | would