Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-05-17

/ our emotions; l think we both liked best
to sit there, hand clasped in Land, feeling
how utter was the happiness and satisiac-
ton of each in the others presence. Al
length he said -
! know that | shall be giving good
mother to my little Laurie. | should be
cruel were to forget her in my joy"
could not at first divine his meaning.
looked at him inquiringly.
"Your little Laurie?
Yes, my child, my little girl. You knew
Of her existence, surely 2"
MOI"
II had supposed that the Henshaws had
told you all my history. Did you not know
| had been married My wife, my Laurie,
died five years ago, and my little Laurie is
just five years old"
What could say, who had said so ofen
that would wrong no dead woman by
taking her from her husbands love? | could
give up Hiram Woodbury., perhaps, but /
could give up my life as well. clutched
at hope; | asked,
Did you love her-your wife 2"
Tenderly, most tenderly."
And she loved you
"Wih all her heart"
She was your first love? 2"
Yes. the love of my youth. But why
these questions, Agathas Are you not sat
isfed with the love pledge to you, love
as strong ard true as man ever gave TO a
woman 4"
:" must be-" | whispered in a voice
whose calmness startled me, it contrasted
so strangely with the tumull of my heart.
/ love you SO well, heaven help me, that
l have no other choice. And yet had
thought to be the first love of the man |
married.
You are my love, Agatha, my dear, true
love! You will be Laurie's mother, will
/ you not I"
/ Heaven made me truthful. did not de-
ceive or belle myself in that hour. | an
swered honestly.
! will be Laurie's mother, so far as see
/ ing to all her wants, and being kind to her
is concerned. / will love her, it i can. If
/ | cannot you must not blame me. We can
not force our hearts TO love because it is
our duty. | was born jealous, and it would
be hard for me TO forget that you had loved
4 Lauries mother before you had loved me;
perhaps better than you ever could me-"
He looked at me sadly yet irustingly,
still.
:" ] believe you are better than your own
estimate, Agatha. AT any rate, whatever
you are, love YOU"
1t was with such an understanding as this
that we were married, but my wedding-day
was not as happy as my girlish hopes had
always pictured it. A phantom was al
4 ways at my side-Hiram first wife. She
came between his lips and mine, and made
his fondest kisses seem cold.
How did she look | wish l could
} know.
/ l asked him this question as we sat alone
! together on our wedding-night.
Had he been thinking OF her too He
understood me at once. lie opened his
trunk, and took from it mineature paint
ed on ivory and placed it in my hand. O,
how lovely she was-just the being to be
cherished by a mans mmost heart; ideal
lied, wrapped arour with loves idolatry.
She looked like one to die young, with that
I clear, transparent skin, the brow so white,
and the vivid bloom in her cheeks. The
/ eyes were large and blue, with an innocent,
appealing, unworld.y look, and the hair in
the picture was dnsky gold. How could he
ever love me, with my dark Pawnee face
and irregular features, after that! / asked
him the question could not help it.
-" | do love you, my dear; is not that
enough! love you as tenderly as any
woman's heart can ask"
was silent on the subject for very shame,
but the demon of .elaousy made his lair in
my heart, and am afraid his wicked eyes
looked out of mine now and then.
For five weeks we were travelling to-
/ gether, AMI thus cur honeymoon was hap
py one. For The most part my jealousy
slumbered, for there was nothing TO arouse
it. Sometimes | iormcnted myself with
the fear that there might have been some
charm in the early days of my husbands
first marriage, which was wanting now
I But his JOY was so evident, his tenderness
so constant. that had little opportunity for
such gloomy thoughts. After our bridal
night, until the day before we were to 20
home for the first time, | had not alluded
to his first wife, or child. 1t was while
packing my trunk, preparatory 10 an early
start The next morning, and he was talking
to me of my new home, that locked up
aud asked,
Where is little Laura Y" How has
she passed the time while we were getting
acquainted, and these weeks since our mar
riage! Z"
suppose he interpreted the question as
a sign Of an awakening interest in his child,
for he bent over me and kissed me before
he answered.
Thank you, Agatha. am glad you
think of Laurie sometimes. She mas been
spending the summer, 50 far, al my sisters;
but She will be these 10 welcome Us to-mor-
row. have taken care that she should be
taugh, in advance to love her new mamma"
1t was a beautiful home on the banks Of
the Hudson, TO which We went the next day.
A handsome carriage met us at the boat
landing, and the drive wound from the riY-