The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-07-09
THE SECOND MARRIAGE.
gY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.

"You don't mean so-you don't really
mean that Dora West is married again Z"
cried Mrs Mills, as she came down to the
front gate, with both hands uplifted IN
surprise and dismay at the fact which l
had just communicated to her.
al must say really had too good an
opinion of the woman; but there's no
knowing what folks will DO in this world.
And it's only two years since her husband
met with that awful death. How pitled
her, and what fuss she made at the
time l really thought she would never
get over it; but she's done herself up for
HE, now"
l opened my lips to speak and then,
Oh second thought, | closed them again.
There would be no use IN defending my
dear friend, Dora West, to such person;
| and vet. do not misunderstood me, reader
Mrs. Mills was a kind hearted, good sort
Of woman, and would have made almost
any sacrifice for a friend or neighbor VINO
was in trouble but she was narrow-mind-
/ ed, and, of course, she was guilty Of all
/ that vast burden of petty sins and little
uncharitablenesses which are the indigo
nous fruit of this quality 50 | merely re-
Piled
ooh. Mrs. Mills. you don't understand
Dora as do; butt haven't time to discuss
the matter now. Good morning"
And, walking slowly down that little
grassy road, my thoughts went back to
night two years before, that had burned
itself into my memory.
1t was evening, in the early October,
and the rain was falling slowly and Ian
guidly outside The day, too, had been a
+! languid one, with kind Of wistfnl, blue
gray sky, and slight chill IN the still
air, which was far of whisper Of tine
winter.
Dora and I sat sewing in the little back
parlor that evening, 5y the round mahog-
any table, and there was sort OF rivalry
kept up between our tongues and our
fngers-I cannot tell which were the
nimbler
How pretty she looked that night; she,
the well beloved wife of five years, with
the smiles darting among the dimples of
her sweet lips, and the light of glad
heart beaming out from her blue eyes.
"To think, Alice" she nurmured,
"Harry's been gone week, and l thought
it would seem an age, that morning he
kissed me goodbye 1t would, too, ii you
hadn't been with me. But hell 5e home
tomorrow Oh. how glad | shall be to
sec him."
At that moment the bell rang, sudden
and loud.
"Oh dear! 1 hope nobody's come to
bore US to night. We're SO cozy and hap
Ply together"
"Here's dispatch for you, Mrs. West,
said small boy, whom the servant usher.
ed into the room.
Dora spraDg up quickly.
"It's from Harry, know"
She brought it to the light and opened
it with eager fingers. Her eyes-those
blue, beautiful eyes-ran across the page
'My God my God =
Then Dora West clasped her hands, and
laughed loud and wild. Oh! how that
laugh rings down now, through those two
years, apd curdies the blood in my veins
and fairly stops the beating of my heart.
Then she came round to lire with thai
wild, scared, pitiful look in her face, thai
was more terrible than the face OF the
dead
"What does it mean, Alice?" she whis
pered. 81 can't read it, but it struck m,
, heart just now, and freze it."
: Nothing has happened to Harry, ha'
there?"
"He'll come home tomorrow, and pu
his arms around me, and call me his dea
: little wife, won't he, Alice?"
ssYes, yes, he WILL" | tried to say, bu
/ I hardly think | succeeded, for my lip
had grown dry and parched, and my vote
} died away in my heart, where terribl
6 fear had come down.
> Then drew Dora into my lap, and lai
} her head on NY shoulders. and then, bend