The Placer herald., 1870-07-09
TWICE MARRIED.

WAS . high tempered, ywaro R'rL
Whso vas fourteen my mother died; and
eighteen ruon,hs sfter my fs'bsr married
second ,ipss ! bad tbs pr.}udics most girls
have against stspm Others. | WIS very much
dwplsassd when my father married, ssd
rspdsrsd myself ~ disaessesbis N possible
10 the woman be had made hs wife.
She was not patient or particularly cool
tempered, aud, besides, considered me =
spoiled child. who needed s,rict bone dis,'i-
pIins to correct my impsrfsctioos Of hsbi.
and dispostios.' She wss right saopxh
abou, is. Bu, it might naturally be expect
ed that | would resent, her exercising any
very arbitrary authority over me. The con-
sequence was tha, We quarrslled constantly, /,
rs only sslf>wilIsJ girl and 40 arbitrary
siri can.
Before I VA. seventeen / 6sd from my
fathers roof TO marry q man only three
years older than myself, nearly a. ignorant
% l Of the realities Of life.
Ar bur L rsine's father WAS a merchant.
Ny father was an auctioneer aud house
agent, not remarkably we'll to.do in the
world. The merchant absolutely refused to
assst bis son, in bis anger At bis basty mar
riaQe, and my father was too poor TO DO 70
il his will had been good, and it WAS not.
We were very helpless pair 10 be cas-,
upon our own resources thus. Arthur, rs
rich mau's son, had never learned any use
ful snploy oyment had never dous anything
moro arduons than to lounge about bis
fsther's counting house, or make fsint at
keeping books. .......
had spent the best part Of my life 20 far
at school. My father, poor man in his am
bi,ion to educate ms. bad sp.nt much money
on me that he could III afford. We found
very soon that We bad made great mistake
Arthur and l. We were like two s,sge-
players taken with ench others pretty faces.
and acting love in farce. Wiiltupess aud
romancs-my s.epmother bad very sensibly
oppossd the in,imacy-had as much to do
with il ~ anything. II was not long before
We qnarfeled in most unromanlic fashion.
and one nigh. Arthur left me in Il Of bad
temper, and never came back. The next
heard of him he bad gone 10 sea.
was too proud to 60 home, poverty
s,ricksn as was. went, irs,ssd, TO dis
tsnt town, and tried to exc an existence by
turning my accomplishments to account.--
|
anything Of ,ba. sort, and WAS glad enough
TO gs, needlswork at even starvation price.
How lived for the next three years it ia
h"d 10 toll. ~as hungry; was cold ; |
was persscu'ed for youth kept me 'cms
portion Of my good looks, in spite Of suffer
ing and privation. heard from boms some
,ims'; but, proud a. ever, though under such
stern discipline, never told them that all
~as not toIerabIy well with me.
Ia one of tlese letters from home came
one day ns~s that my young husband had
died on sb pboard within year after our
separation. The sane letter urged the to
come home. My stepmo.her was 10 failing
health and was needed as we'll ~ loved
there. But would no, 90.
WAS not cold hearted enough to feel no
sorrow a. Arlhur'G death, though The psws
OF II was more to me like bearing the death
Of some acquaintance than Of dssry loved
husband. | WAS scarcely more alone 10 The
world now than before.
About this time came turn 10 my for
tunes. A wealthy. kind hearted lady for
~bom I worked. learning accidentally Of my
bard life, and that could do something bet.
ter, obtained for me . situation as teacher in
juvenile schools situation proved com
psteut 10 fll, fortunately. 1t was small
charge; but il WAS Independence and luxury
to me. shed tears Of heartfelt thspkfuI-
sess in tho little chamber allotted 10 me ut
my new qusr,er.. The plainly furnished
room, with its simple carpet, its white bed,
i,s one window, was heaven TO me. The
boarding school fare was daily feasiing
had Jared 30 differently in the years past
Nightly took lessons for the next day and
went carefully over them, TO bs sure that
should not fail myself in them. strovs in
every way to fulfill the duties Of my position,
for knew that the school mistress deferred
entirely TO the clergyman who came to hear
the Bible class, and who was q somewhat
stern end exac,ing man Of middle aye. lie
watched me narrowly. | trembed, lest
sbould not satisfy him, and lose my position
io consequence. To think Of going back TO
my garrsl aod starvation, after this state OF
comfort and ease, made my very heart sink
with terror.
One day the clergyman asked me TO come
to the parsonage after lessons we're override
wished to speak with me. Ths summons
made ms turo cold all over. was nearly
untitled for. the performance Of my duties
the res. Of the day. in my fear. AZ knock
ed at tho study" door Of The parsonage, my
heart was 10 my throat.
"Are you III. Mrs. Lorraine I" M. Borden
said, A. be lsd me kindly to . seat, startled,
no doubt, by my evident agitation.
III you would ask Miss WiIliams 10 try
me little longer. sii-," began.
"Will you BE- kind enough TO look At met"
be said. Ia strange voice.
lifted my eyes. II WAS grave, plain
face saw, the hair not uns,resksd With
gray, the dark eyes troubled somewhat.
II am not young man." bs said, land
you ere, 40 II wers, 10 the bloom Of woman-
hood. know such language from me
must have been . great surprise 10 you. l
~il give you plenty Of time 10 consider il.
| sent for you, my dear lady, to ak you 10