Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-16

come Mrs. Wander
"Thc widow smiled and folded me to her
bosom.
"Don't get angry, Duncan, DEAR said
she. You know you are going to marry
me-.
"'Neverr cried.
"'Then I shall sue you for breach of
PROMISE
"'But haven't promised
"'We shall see, my DEAR
livery well, we will see.'
"'Good night, love-
"The next morning I called upon n law
yer aud stated my case.
"'Better marry her. said Mr.. Gogg.
She's got everything her own way, and If
you go TO law about il, you'll lose the case,
sure. But perhaps you can settle with her
for ten thousand dollars. II you can, set
tie, and in future, as the elder Weller said
TO his son Sammy, "Beware of viddersr'
"But the widow wouldn't settle for ten
thousand; and so-and SOIL married
her,"
AAtr, wandle paused here, and covered
his face with his hat TO hide his emotions.
At last he recovered sufficiently to contin-
ne his story.
"After we were married she gave up her
boarding house, and we lived in the grand
est style imaginable. Nothing was too
rich or rare for my wife, She invested
fortune in diamonds alone, and in less than
year, my dear sir, Duncan Wandlc wasn't
worth a cent. Mrs. Wandle had either
spent it, or got it into her own hands, and I
was left wthouta cent.
81 proposed 10 Mr.. Wandle then that
we should separate, and she agreed to the
proposal. A week after | started for the
West; and finding friends in Chicago, I
soon obtained a situation but fearing my
wife might, at some future time, come after
her little hubby as she used to call me-
l applied for, and obtained a bill of di-
vorce.
"Then, my dear sir, was happy. As
happy almost as l had been in my bachelor
days. ut I was born TO i'll luck, and it
follows me.
zone day my uncle Benjamin came home
from Australia. OF course he didn't come
home in one day, but he arrived in Chica-
60 one day, came TO see me, was taken sick
that night, and the next morning he was
dead. As had never seen my uncle half
dozen times during his life, my grief at
his very sudden departure was not extra
ordinarily heart-rendng; but when |
found after the funeral, that he had left me
half million of money, | tell you, Mr.
Robinson Dobson, | fairly howled, for |
knew that my late wife would be after me,
an d how was TO protect myself?
"As soon as could conveniently, pack
ed my trunk and left for st. Louis; and
was not moment too soon, for my former
paitrer AZ peared in Chicago, the very day
that / left. She followed me TO ST. Louis,
and hurried away TO Cincinnati. Then
went to Baltimore, TO Philadelphia, and at
last to New York, with that woman close
at my heels. However, she lost the scent
at last She went up the Hudson to Albany,
k9nd went 10 Newport.
at was right in The height Of the season,
and was determined that would marry
the fist handsome and agreeable lady that
| could fEd, who would have me.
ain less than a week made the acquaint-
ancc of just the woman wanted. She was
beautiful, very.
Her step royal, queenhke, and her face
As beautiful as saints in paradise
81 think l was almost in love with her
beauty. She had black hair, and always
did dotc ON raven trcsscs; and then such
sweet and doveike eyes! Yes, almost
loved her, but my reason for wishing TO
marry her was that | might lave a wife to
protect me against Mrs. .IIckorydckery.
~ suppose I should have taken the law
yers advice and kept away from the wild
ows, for my intended was one. But she
was so beautiful that l had made up my
m ind TO marry her if possible, even before
learning her name.
at was said by those that knew, that
Mr.. Jarvis Freeman was wealthy, and con-
seauently she had scores of lovers old and
young. But what surprised them all was
that such magnificent woman (she was a
perfect Juno in form) should deign to cast
her eyes upon me. Perhaps they forgot
that was worth half a million. I'm sure
that was fool enough 10 think that she
loved me for myself alone.
"Our courtship was short, for before the
end of the season Mrs. Freeman had prom
ised TO be mine.
'She returned to her home in n Nv York
about the first OF September, and l follow
ed soon after. l stood in such fear of my
former wife that couldn't feel safe outside
of Mrs. Freeman's protecting presence.
ave were married in October All I how
well remember that day! What n sense
of relief stole over my senses when the
minister pronounced us one!
1--WE were gcing TO Europe on our we'd
ding tour; but we didn't go. No, we did
MT 60"
Here Mr. Wandle stopped to groan, and
again he covered his face with his hat. But
after momentary pause he went on again:
"Immedately after returning from church
my wife returned to her room. Her maid
came to me soon afler, aud said that her
mistress would like to SEQ me.
"When l entered the room she was seat
ed in an easy chair, looking, if possible.
more lovely than ever.
"Duncan, she began, smiling sweetly,
Il have sent for you for very particular
purpose
"Well, darling
wen, duncan, the gentleman ofwhom
Ihired this house and furniture is very
anxious about the rent, and
"'What! hired2 Don't you own the
houseY
"'Is II possible, Duncan, that you don't
recognize me? Don't you know your own
Josephine?' p and with laugh she threw off
her glossy black hair.
"'A wig yelled.
"'Yes, wig, hubby dear. You see had
my red hair cut close and covered II up, be-
cause didn't like the color
"'And you are
Il am Mrs Wandle, formerly Mrs IIick-
orydickery. And she laughed sweetly.
"'But your complexion P gasped.
"'Enameled, my love-