Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-18
WEDDING AND WOOING.

element by the arrival of a stranger at the
White Hart Inn The event in itself was likely
to arouse a good deal of gossip, for visitors at
Welldean were few and far between; but what
gave additional interest to this particular case
was the rumOr, that rapidly gained ground to
the effect that the new arrival had just returned
from Australia with a lot of money; that he in
tended settling in Walldoan; and that it was
very likely he would choose himself a wife
anon the available ladies of that village.
The interesting questions arising from the
two repOrts-that Is, what was the extent of the
strangers fortune, and what were his reasons
Tor choosing Neilcean as his future residence
were overlooked, and swallowed up in the all
engTOsSing nature of the idea suggested by the
hird-whO was he likely to choose as his wife?
But IL was not long before the vivacious in
habitants of Weldean came to a conclusion on
this point; and before the man had been a
couple of days in the village, Ii had been de-
cided by the majority that Mrs. Burnham was
to be the lucky woman. Once suggested, this
settlement of the question spread rapidly
through the village, and wherever MENTIONED
ham?
Mrs Burnham was simply the most popular
woman in the village. Her good temper and
good nature, her love of fun, and her busting
active manners, had made her the favorite of all
who knew her. She was the friend and COM
forter OF The old and middle-aged, who poured
their troubles into her sympathetic ear She
was the confident of all the young people, who
unbosOmed themselves to her with the utmost
freedom; she entered into their vexations and
triumphs, and delighted in the fun of encouraging
ooutship, or making match. With the young
men she was an especial favorite, and all en-
joyed a bit of sportive gallantry and filtration
with her. This was the reason why the propo-
sitiOn that she should be the choice OF the
stranger was received on all sides with appro-
But there was also another reason why the
suggestion appeared humorous and amusing-it
was not quite clear that Mrs. Burnham was free
TO take husband, and opinions differed on the
point. On one hand IL was not certain that
Mrs. Burnham was widow, and on the other
hand, il could not be said that she had a hus-
band. The case was this:
Nearly twenty years before-a time so long
ago that many of the advocates of the proposed
match dated their appearance on this sublunary
ham, then Mary Haywood, married at the age
of eighteen, young Frank Durham. She was
plain, kindly, good natured girl, and general
favorite. He was a handsome, roystering
young fellow, whose dark eyes had made great
havoc among the hearts of all the girls but who
chose plain and pleasant Mary out of them all.
But somehow the match didn't answer. Frank
was gOod-lOOking, taking, and clever in a good
many ways, but lazy, Indifferent and unsettled.
Mary, on the contrary, was active, enterprising,
and energetic, and chafed at seeing her hus-
band. who was capable of good things, leading
an idle and useless life. They never auarreled
never had any words; but a feeling of soreness
and irritation arose between them, and after IL
had gone on increasing for a couple of wears
one day. Frank, who had been fiighty and err
ratio, took ii into his head to enlist, and satisfied
that his wife could do very well for herself, de-
teTmined to relieve her of the burden of his own
presence. AT first they used to correspond regu-
larly, but he had nothing to relate but mono
tOnOus duties; she had little to tell in return.
Their letters became few and scanty, and at
length the husband and wifes correspondence
ceased altogether.
And now. since her marriage, more than
eighteen years had rolled away, and Mrs.
Burnham thriyed in her sphere; her needle
work was held in high repute by all the great
families of the neighborhOOd; her cottage was
one of the neatest and Prettiest in WeIIdean
Meanwhile there had been wars and battles:
Burnhams regiment had been abroad and came
home over and over again, and she had neither
heard nor seen anything of her husband. Her
married life now seemed very brief episode in
her career, and the long Intervening years OF ac-
tive industry and busy content had diminished
Its Importance in her eyes Indeed, by many OF
her friends, and especially of the younger ones,
the fact was quite overlooked. They never
ave thought to the husband who had separ-
ed from her 20 long ago, until the idea arose of
aking match between Mrs. Durham andthe
ranger in the village, when the objection that
he had been married, and that she was ignOr-
nant as TO the fate of her husband, required to
them, only TO be Immediately crushed and done
away with.
What nOnsense." said Mrs. Purday to a
small knot OF acquaintance who had gathered
round her door 10 discuss the project that was in
the wind ' Isn't il the law, if you do not see or
hear from your husband for seven years. let
alone eighteen, You are at liberty TO marry
again, I'm sure I've always heardso."
And m sure II ought to be So said another
of the conclave. The idea, The man doesn't
trouble his head about his wife for eighteen
years; leaves her to earn her living and support
herself as she can, and suppose he's to come
back then and call himself her husband. a pretty
sort OF a husband Think
Other opinions OF a like nature were ute red,
until the gossipeTs were presently joined by Mrs.
Durham herself who, loving a bit of chat. had
put on her bonnet and shawl, and popped over
to hear the last news about the stranger. Her
arrival was the signal for significant chances,
and looks OF intelligence passed amongst the
well. Mrs. Purday, 1 can guess what YOU
were all talking about" said Mrs. Burnham
(which of you has seen this Mr.. Harwood?"
- have. Mrs. Burnham," eagerly exclaimed
Elles Purday, tall girl OF eighteen: ''he's such
a nice fellow, with such bright ewes. aud a great
melanchOlvi"
''Hum.'' said Mrs. Burnham: 'and suppose
his eyes looked particularly bright and csPtiva-
ting when theywere ogling YOU, Ellen Purday?''
Mono, Mrs. Burnham," replied Ellen
" And must say, il the man is looking out for a
wife, he might pay little more attention to the
girls who pass him every day. Ideclare, he took
no more notice of me than IL had been a stone,
and he seemed 80 wrapt up in his reflectiOns.,
All. very much misdOubt these men" said
Mrs. Purday, ''whO start from no one knows
where, with their black eyes and boards, and
their melancholy ways. should not wonder if
the man turned out 10 be some murderer hiding
from Justice
"Or London thief. )" suggested another.
OF an escaped mailman added a third.
"NOnsense, wOmen." said Mrs. Burnham,
Sharply. :. The man has a pair of black eyes
has he? Well. never heard that they were
any sign of villainy or crime and for his gravity
II he has lived a. long in this world as have /
dare say he has seen enough 10 make him sadD
q am glad to hear you speak up for him.
Mrs. Burnham." said Mrs. Purday, mallcously
why sO?" she asked.
"Nen, you know he wants a wife" said Mrs
Purday, and he don't seem 10 take much notice
OF the girls and It's satisfactory to know that if
he should set his heart on you, Mrs. Burnham.
there'd be a liking ON both sides"
"Oh, II that it?' exclaimed Mrs. Durham.
g pity the poor man when think OF the time
he'll have OF IL here among you all; for believe
I'm the only disinterested person in the village.
IL you're not after him yourselves, YOU want to
catch him for your daughters. Jas Mrs. Purday
here. But a. for me, you forget I've got hus-
band somewhere OF other, and 80 I'm left out Of
the race"
"For my part" said Mrs. Purday, indig-
nantly, 80 I'm so far from running after him,
that II he were TO come up and speak to me 1
shouldn't answer him."
"And for my part" said Mrs. Burnham, ct
have 50 little interest in him that wouldn't
mind going and speaking 20 him myself"
Here she was interrupted by all the young
people Of the group breaking In and clamoring
for her TO be AZ good her word, and to take the
first step toward making the strangers ac-
qnaintance- twas evident, they said, that he
wanted 10 make friends In the village, and did