The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-07-21
THE TWO MRS. TRAFFoaos.


There was only one reason for not
proceeding to the ceremony that was
to make Rosaltha Hawthorn and FL
leray Trafford man and wife. That
reason was that Dick Trafford, FL
leray's younger brother, youth OF
about sixteen, had not arrived from
the city, where he was attending
boarding school. The day had come,
however, and almost the hour, and,
whatever the cause that delayed him,
especially since it was Christmas week,
it was not, of course, thought sufficient
to postpone the marriage.
The Tratfords were remarkably
handsome family-so handsome that
the family group would ut once have
riveted the eye of the most unob-
servant. Mrs. Trafford was one of
those few genuine blondes who do not
fade early and look like washed rib
bons before twenty years of married
life. Mr.. Tratford might have been
mistaken for Southern gentleman, so
bronzed was his complexion, so chiv-
alric his manner. OF the three chill
dren, Elleray, the eldest, resembled
the father. The two others were a
daughter, about eighteen, named Lucy,
and Dick, the schoolboy of sixteen,
just mentioned. Both favored their
mother, being blondes of the purest
hue. Lucy was just as fresh and ten
der as an apricot, and Dick was hardly
one whit less handsome. He was one
of those handsome, girlish-looking
boys, who not unfrequently make the
most masculine men, but who, during
the first year of adolescence have their
hair and eyes, the lips and complexion
of girls.
Little did Rosaltha Hawthorn dream
what was in store for her, when il was
proposed that the bridal trip should
be modified so that Elleray might call
in the morning at the school which
Dick was attending, and learn the rea-
son of his delay. II she had known,
would she have consentedy We viii
not stop to answer question which,
after all, is only foolish and futile, and
involves a contradiction from the very
nature of things.
The wedding was over, the con-
gratulations were said, the breakfast
was eaten, the speeches were made,
the good-bys were hidden, and the
new Mr.. and Mrs. Trafford, getting
into their carriage, commenced that
life, the first year of which is said to
be so tantalizing and rugged. They
took their places in the train, accom-
plished their journey in safety, and in
due time arrived in the quiet, old
time village of P, where Dicks
boarding school was established
They took possession of the room
which had been engaged for them at
the hotel, and the next morning FL
leray set off to his young brother,
leaving Rosaltha alone.
If he had the dimmest suspicion,
the blindest suspicion of what was to
take place, hardly think he would
have left Rosaltha's side for one mo-
ment Just as they were setting out
for P, Lucy had laughingly warned
him not to go there, and had reminded
him of former attachment of his-a
Miss Dorothy Dilworth-who still re-
sided there, and who might be dis
posed to be revengeful, and Meadea
like toward Creusa-rneaning, of
course, Rosaltha-now that she had
lost her jason. Elleray had colored
remembering, indeed, when
he had fancied himself in love with
one of the prettiest little Quakeresses
that P could boast; but he had
laughed it off, and apparently the
whole affair was forgotten.
But could he have guessed who
would have entered the little private
parlor where his wife was sitting, a
few moments. after his back was
turned, hardly think he would have
risked that walk to Dicks boarding
school, and the anxious inquiries he
made after him.
DIR. Stedman, the head-master, a
pompously commonplace man, ex-
planned that Dick had left the school
two days before, and appeared as
much perplexed as Elleray at the fact
of his not having been heard from.
He was an intensely garrulous man,
and Elleray found it impossible to es-
cape from him. He namely gobbled
on, until finally Elleray tore himself
away in the middle of a sentence.
Arriving at the hotel, he found that
he had been absent two hours. He
also found letter awaiting him.
Opening it; he found it dated from his
recent home. 1t was written by Dick,
was hasty scrawl, and ran thus:
"Ill fix you off-you see if l don't
for not waiting for me. l got too.
late for the train, and had to wait for
the next one, and l think you all be-
haved real mean.
"Your affectionate brother,
DICK"
Smiling at the boyish terms in which
this note was couched, he put it in his
pocket, and preferred to go up stairs
to Rosaltha.
Meanwhile, how had Rosaltha spent
the time Listen.
Elleray had been gone about five
minutes, when, without tap or knock,
or any other intimation, the door of
the private parlor opened, and lady,
entering, stood hesitating just inside
the threshold.
Rosaltha looked up. Her visitor is
what is called gay Quaker. Her
toilet was expensive, but extremely
neat, and was pervaded, through all its
interchange of color, with one quiet,
natural hue, which blent it into rich,
yet simple whole. Her face was SO
sweet, SO modest, SO candid, that it put
you in mind of magnolia blossom.
She was apparently about twenty
years of age, well formed, and deeid-