The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-17
#iseellanp.
SECOND WIFE.

"Whst makes you 30 late tonight Tracyp"
Frank Tracy laughed and redeemed little q
his room mate, Howard Leigh, carlessly put TIN
question.
"Blushing, ehl pursued the latter, with .
spice of mschievous malice In his voice ''then oi
course am to conclude that you have been u
the charming society Of some young lady" -
"Your guess is partly right, said Tracy light.
ly, "but the lady is very little lady. To tell
you the truth, have been spending the evening
at Mrs Walton's, and playing with that charm.
ing baby of hers. never saw such Hcbe in
my life. Why could have sat for hours with
that baby on my knee
"Then am to conclude that she neither chew
ed your cravat ends nor jerked at your watch
chain, to say nothing of crying"
'Not bit of it. She's the most perfect little
piece of flesh and blood ever saw in my life; if
I thought she would grow up half as pretty a.
she is now, upon my life I'd wait for her"
"And what would Lenore Warren say ?"
"Ah, what indeed, I'm glad you've recalled me
to loyalty, though certainly Lenore can't very
well be jealous of my tiny firtations with Mrs.
Walton's baby. Heigho, sometimes think that
have made q mistake in engaging myself to LIE.
more Warren. She is as beautiful as an angel,
and yet, somehow we do not seem to be very
congenial." -
'Rather late to think about that, should i'm.
agine, when the wedding day is fixed and pass.
age taken in the European steamer for the wed1
ding tour. By the way, Frank, how long shall
you remain in Europe?"
81 can't say, some years / believe. Lenore
thinks residence in Paris would be delightful.
don't agree with her, but brides, you know, are
privileged to have their own way. I'll tell you
what, Howard, the prettiest coral in Naples shall
be sent to hang around the ivory neck Of Mira.
Walton's baby."s
GLOW fond you are of children ?"
"You're wrong there, my boy. am not fond
of children, generally speaking, but don't know
who could help but loving that little brown.eyed
seraph." ~
Frank took up the newspaper as he spoke, aud
the conversation gradually merged into the all
enhancing subject of politics, both foreign and
domestic.
Twenty years have ebbed and flowed in the
broad channel of time, and Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy
had just taken possession of their elegant home
after long residence abroad 1t was evening"
The gilded clock on the mantle pointed to the
hour of seven, the fire burned clearly in the or.
namented CRATE, and the flowers in the several
vases on each side of the chimney piece were
scarcely brighter in their hues than the pictured
blossoms on the superb velvet carpet. Frank
Tracy, who had changed from handsome youth
into tall, stately man, of about forty, stood
thoughtfully before the fire, while his languid,
faded looking wife reclined on the sofa, in the
lustrous shining of the glowing chandeliers
There was only one guest present to break the
monotony of the conjugal tete.a-tete, he was our
old acquaintance, Howard Leigh.
81 do wish, Frank, you wouldn't keep drum.
ming with your fingers on that mantle, it makes
me so nervous, but of course you don't care for
that" exclaimed Mrs. Tracy, petulently.
81 beg pardon, my love, was not aware it
was annoying you"
"Why don't the servant bring the chocolate ?"
pursued Mrs. Tracy, elevating her eyebrows.
''Shall ring and inquire 2"
mo, it isn't worth while. If we had only re-
manned in Ia belle Paris, where the servants un.
derstood their business
''Then you preferred Paris as residence"
said Leigh.
"oh, by all means, but Frank never could be
contented there. 1t is the most absurd within of
his, returning to America"
"But you forget, Lenore," said Frank, some
what gravely, shat America is home"
Mrs. Tracy tossed her head and took refuge in
a bottle of smelling salts. Her husband turned
carelessly to Leigh and resumed the conversation
that her petulance had disturbed.
II haven't asked yet whether my old acquain.
tances, the Waltons, are they living or dead.
You have not forgotten my penchant for that
beautiful baby Z"
"oh, the Waltons disappeared long ago from
the current of New York life. He failed or
somethins-blew out his brains believe. She
died of broken heart. La Belle was sent, I'M
derstood, to an orphan asylum, where she has
sprouted up into gawky, red haired woman"
Tracy was silent a moment, contemplating up.
On the sad facility with which people slip from
the cares aid memories of their friends in the
whirl Of large cities.
All at once the door was thrown open, and two
or three rosy little children bounded into the
room, with long shining curls hanging ON their
white shoulders, and their eyes all in sparkle
with infantine merriment
Don't come near me, you noisy little mon.
sters," isped Lenore, waving them away with
her snowy jeweled hands; you'll crush my silks
and laces ruinously."
No word of reproof fell from the Inns of Frank
Tracy, however, as the little ones climbed on his
knees and hung around his neck Those chill
dren were the sunshine of his life He endured
his wife, but idolized his children.
"Poor Tracy, it's quite plain to see that he is
not happy said Leigh that evening az he was
taking his ease with his cosy home circle. That
wife of his is enough to drive man distracted.
wonder that he don't commit suicide"
And so some days afterwards when the sud.
den death OF Mrs. Tracy was announced in the
wspapers-ailment, disease of the heart-his
first thought was, "What a lucky thing for him."
Il
1t was scarcely year after Mrs. Tracys de.
cease, and the wdower was sitting alrne in his
study, when Howard Leigh was announced.
We'll, my dear friend" was his smiling salu.
tation, "what news do you bring me-? ii-i
Capital news !" said Leigh. "Do YOU know
I've Just engaged you splendid governess for
your children z"
u am heartily glad If it. The littlc rebels AR.
getting beyond any management. They need