The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-31
The Child-Wife.
BY H. F. STAUFFER.

/ was standing by the open window.
1t was not quite twilight, and cold
breeze was sweeping over the lawn.
Five years before, had stood by that
same window, looking out upon the
same scenery, and enjoying similar
delightful rcvrry. True, the view was
slightly changed. AT the angle in the
road beyond, neat little church,
reared it's head, while from the stream
below came up the busy clattrr of a
mill. Improvement had done that.
The barn looked lilapidated few of
the doors hung upon one hinge, and
the thatch was uff the roof in some
places the old eln,S sill stood 10y the
catchy the yard, but they leaned weari-
ly toward each either, aud few dead
brauci,es threw up their sacred arms
among those of deepening green. De-
cay had done that.
And these self same reverirs Five
years before, as have said, | stood
with beating heart beside that open
Window. My cheek was flushed, and
bright light shone in my eyes. 1t was
the light "f my early love.
John l. had asked me in his
usual qniet way Ia become his wife,
and when we parted that evening at
the door We were beiruthe.l. Well,
strange To say, a few weeks brought a
GOODNESS between ns. We rarely met.
anil then simply as friends. But we
shut our love up in our souls; We laid it
away like some holy memory. Each
d"nbt-d the others truth, and neither
would make advances toward recon.
ciliation.
We al last became wholly estranged.
For five long years we walked in diff.
ferent paths through life-culd, crcum-
spect, misanthr"pic and never happy.
1t was the "ld story. Others had NJ.
trrfered falsrhood AMI treachery be.
came the t"'ls "f envy and revenge,
anil found willing ears.
But all was right again. The con-
fessions Of another had brought il
about. We We're reconciled and were
to be married. was more woman
as stood by the window now. Ny
love sfor j thu was just az wild aud alb
snrbing, but it was also deeper and
stronger, coupled with Judgment, aud
more beautiful to me after years uf pa.
lient waiting.
was not thinking wholly Of our own
wedding. That evening my brother
was To bring home bis ,oung wife, and
| was watching for the stage TO come
around the great bend in the road.
Amos had won his bride in Connects
cut, and ! I,sd meyer seen her. My
idea of her appearance and tempera
ment was enluced from occasional de-.
scrirtions he had given me of her in
his letters.
Before a great while / was chatting
gaily with the newly married pair.
Amos wife was a dear, sweet girl; but
| knew at once that she was not a wife
for him. She was too quiet aud child
like. Diminniiye in form, with soft
eyes, sunny hair, and a placid expires.
sion of couDtenance, she seemed more
like half-frightened dove. She was
the opposite of Amos in every thing.
Perhaps | should not have said that,
AZ there was considerable similarity in
their intellectual tastes. But Amos
was SD stern, rigid, moody, passionate.
lie was Jeai"ns and exaciing; impera
tive in his commands and instantane
ously to be Obeyed. These traits singu.
lar as it may seem, he had inherited
| from his mnther. ! was more like nav
father, goo.i.natured, affectionatr, and
! vet alittIp proud | do confess. True,
/ had softened Amos disposition cen
siderai,ly, but still it was not one I" be
mated with one 80 gentle as Minnie.