Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-05-17
MISCELLANY Y.
Ny Husbands Child.
A Second Wife's Story.
BY MARTHA II. wlLLAR
I had a little daughter.
Aud she was given 70 me
To lead me gently backward
M fhe Heavenly E4tbrr.s

N-N~NN
/ had married a widower How many
times had wondered, blamed, laughed at,
such marriages. How many times said that
| would remain single, if Fate so pleased, to
the end of the chapter; but never marry
one whose first love had been given to an
other--who offered me the ashes of heart.
A second hand garment, ! said was bad
enough still, were ii a choice between that
and freezing. one might wear it but not
"A secondhand husband. Better freeze than
warm ones being at such fire. 4 had
said all this, and yet had welded Hiram
Hoodbury. When | first mel him, how
ever, did not know that he had ever been
married.
Our acquaintance came about oddly
enough. ! was staying with my old school
mate, Elizabeth Simms, now Mrs. DR.. Hem
shaw. had been there for week, en-
loving myself heartily. 1t was pleasant
change from the boarding house in the city,
where lived in three rooms and band
box, with my guardian and his wife, 10 Liz
zie's pleasant and spacious country house,
with the wide handsomely laid out grounds
around it, and the free range of wood and
hill in the background had thought at
first that should presently weary of the
monotony, but each day of the seven had
grown more and more charmed. until be-
gan to believe myself in love with nature.
4" ! like it," l said to Lizzie, throwing
myself down, aftes long mornings ram
bic, in the easy chair in her sitting-room.
She looked at me fondly, with her kind
blue eyes.
Il knew you would like it. Look at
yourself in the glass Agatha Raymond
See that strong, well rounded form--those
great black, earnest eyes-the forehead with
more brains than beauiy-the dark face
with the crimson blood flowing through its
olive Docs it look to you like the face
and form of one TO be contented with con-
finement ond fashion I" l laughed.
81 never had the means TO be fashion
able, Lizzie. My poor five hundred year
has 10 find me food and shelter, besides
garments. Even if | had it all TO spend
in personal adornment, could only stand
in the outer ves;ibule of the temple of
fashion.
"If you had five thousand year, in
stead OF five hundred fashion and friyolity
would never fill your heart. 1t is a good,
honest true heart; although it is proud and
wayward, | know it well. | can see just
the kind of future you ought TO have. You
should marry a man who is worker in the
strife OF life, one whom you could be proud
Of, and look up TO; one whom You could
silently strengthen and help. You would
be at rest then. Failing 10 secure such a
husband, YOU will have to make career
for yourself. Some way the world must be
better for your living in it, or you will
know no peace"
made no answer but her words touched
a responsive chord. | felt that she had
painted the future which needed but
would it ever come ] had never yet seen
man whom could look up to, and trust
entirely, fearing nothing earthly so long as
he was mine. Kind aud good as Lizzie's
husband was, | could never have married
him. 1 had never seen the man could
have married. 1t was not likely, thought.
THAT | should ever see one. If not, | must
do something myself. What path would
open for-what and where | looked list
lessly from the window. A man was COM
ing up the walk, dusty and stained with
travel, carrying a heavy porimanteau a
man not handsome exactly, nor exactly
graceful, but with good face, a face ex-
pressing dignity, kindness and much power !;
the ability to command himself and others
" No other than Hiram Woodbury., the
doctors fast friend, and certainly the last
man l expected TO see to day. tie is al
ways welcome to Dick, though, and of course
that makes him SO to me-
ran up stairs to comb my tangled hair
and when / came down, Mr.. Woodbury.
was engaged in an animated conversation
with the doctor and Lizzie. lie was tall,
powerful man of thirty-five, with iightish
brown hair, bold, and somewhat massive
features, and eyes of Saxon blue. | learn
ed atterward that he was a remarkable me-
chanical genius, and had realized hand
some fortune by some cf his inventions ];
also, that he was a jealous relormer, lead
ing the van in every noble work.
had not known Mr.. Woodbury. four
days before | felt in my heart that here
was man | could entirely love. Still |
was proud, and | s,rove to retain my atiec-
tions in my own keeping. / id not feel
sure that be was interested Ia me, but there
sometimes seemed 4 language in his eyes |
dared not trust myself to interpret.
BY the time lie had been there fort
night, we knew each other better than we
could have done in year, had We met
slowly in society. 1t was on the fifteenth
day after his coming that he told me he
loved me, and asked me 10 be his Wife
We were alone, sitting under clump OF