The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-20
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING
"well, on my:word, George" said the dear
old lady, ''you should be more discreet than to

"Why you don't mean to say" said !.
eyes, I do" he interrupted. "Of course I
do. Charlotte has been my wife too long, I
hope, to be jealous now Of either Kate or Mary;
but loved them each in turn almost as dearly
as love her. Charlotte, ho added turning to.
wards her as sho sat in the great arm chair,
you don't mind George being told about my
other two wives, do you.
"I don't mind your talking of Mary, much,"
sho answered, but get over that young Kate's
story rs quickly as you can, please"
And I really thought detected blush come
over her dear old face while she was speaking.
"It is rather less than half century ago."
he began, "since first set foot in this beauti-
full Devon county. I camo down on short
holiday from London, in tho summer time.
to fish. and brought with me. besides my rod
and basket, portmanteau full Of clothes aud
about twenty-five pounds in gold, which was
tho whole amount Of my savings. Twas junior
clerk in house at that day, with one hundred
and twenty pounds year, and with as much
chance Of becoming partner rs you, my poor
briehcss Charles, have of sitting on the wool.
sack. From the top Of Tremaydn House
could point you out the farm house where |
lodged, and will some day take you to see it-a
mighty homestead with huge portico OF stone,
and flights of stone steps leading to the upper
chambers from without On ono side was the
farm yard filled with swine and poultry, with
open stalls for cattle, and enormous horns, not
so we'll kept or 80 neat, perhaps, as the present
day requires. but perfect picture of plenty
on the other stood the cider presses, and beyond,
the apple orchards, white with promise, red
with fruit, made the air faint with fragrance:
half orchard was the garden, too, in fruit,
through which, beneath rustic bridge, my
trout stream wandered. Charlotte, you know
the place-havc not painted itl"
"You have, Robert she said. The tears
were in her eyes. ready to fall, I saw.
"Thcre, then, I met Katie. The good man of
the house, was chdless, and she. his cousin.
was we'll cared for as his own child. II was no
wonder, George tho dark oak parlor seemed
to need no light when she shone in It. Like
sunbeam gliding over common places, whatever
household matters busted her, she graced.
Some sweet art seemed to lie in her, superior
to mere neatness, as high-heartcdness excclleth
pride. Iput on salmon flies to catch trout. |
often fshed without any hook at all. strovc
to image her fair face and form in the clear wa
ters, by the side Of that hapless similitudc Of
myself-the reflex of forlorn youth in his first
love. I did my best ut hay-making to please
her. took eternal lessons in tho art of max
ing Devon cheese. Igot at last so far as to kiss
her hand. drew little, and she sat to ne for
her portrait. We sailed out q mushrooming
and getting wild flowers, and on our way sang
pleasant songs together, and intcrchanged our
little stores Of reading. On the eve before my
long put of departure we were thus roaming
we had to cross thousand sties-the choicest
blessings of this country used to think them
--and once, instead Of offering my hand to help
her over, I held out both my arms, and. upon
my life, George, the dear girl jumped right in
to them, and that was how got to kiss her
check"
"whst shocking stories you arc telling, Rob-
crt." said Mrs. Chetwood. and certainly she
was then blushing up under her lace cap to her
white hair.
swell, my dear, nobody was there except
Kato and myself, and think must know what
happened, ut least as well as you do so" he
continued, "after one more visit to tho farm
house, Kate and were married she gave up
oil her healthy ways aud country pleasures to
come and live with me in the busy town stu
dious of Others happiness, careful for others
pain at all times forgetful of herself I; active
and diligent. she had ever leisure for q pleasant
word and kind action and for beauty, no
maid or wife In the world was at, l believe, to
compare with her to you George, who knew
and loved our dearest Gertrude, need no: de.
scribe her mother. She was not long with me,
but It soon seemed as IL II must have cost me
my life to have parted with her (; yet the glrl.
ish glory faded. and the sparkling spirit fled
and the day has been forgiven, though forgot
ten never, which took my darling Katie from
my side"
The old man paused o little here. Mrs. Chet-
wood kissed him softly upon the cheek.
'"My second wife," he resumed, "was not so
young, and certainly had not the outward gra-
ces of my first. She was beautiful. TOO, in the
flower rs Kate was in the bud. Her face had
not the vivaSlty, nor her eyes the dancing light
of Katio's, but there sat d serenity upon her
features, as We sometimes see upon lovely
landscape when the sun Is near its setting a
look which no man ever tires Of (; and Mary
bore me children, and then, much as loved the
sapliug, It seemed to me that the full fruited
tree was dearcr yet. She was no country girl
from tho Devon dales. but town lady bred
I had n great house By that time. with all things
fitting about me. and my sphere was hers. The
pearls suited her pleasant brow, and crowned
her still raven trcsses rs becominsly as the sin
els rose in her hair had adorned simple Kate.
think. II may say so without ingratitudc for
my present great happiness, and with the leave
Of my dear Charlotte. that tho hsppicst hours
Of my life werc spent during the days when our
two childrcu's voices rang chccrily over the
house, and some little scheme Of pleasure for
them was my everyday desire and Mary's.
Even NJ the terrible time when boy aud girl
wcro being taken from us at once. never did
their patient mother seem moro dear to rue
from when the hush of sickness stole upon us at
nrst. 70 the day when that white procession left
our doors. what healing spirit was she
when We thought the thickly folded veil OF sor-