The Placer herald., 1872-12-14
TOM FOSTERS WIFE.

mont street, in the golden September morn
ing, when saw my old friend, Tom Foster,
get out Of a horse car few steps in advance
Of NE. | knew him in n NOM ut, though
we had hardly met since we were at Exeter
Academy together, ten years beiore-room-
mates and blithe companions until we parted
i to 90 to Harvard and he TO enter his
fathers store, the well known house of Fos-
ter & Co., Pearl street. He was a merry,
hearty, practical fellow, clear skinned and
robust as an Englishman, self-reliant and
enterprising as New Hampshire birth and
Boston training could make him. always
liked him, but he plunged into business and
to study and so, without meaning it, we
had almost lost ght of each other. lie was
an only child, and his parents spent their
Summers at their homestead in Greenland,
near Portsmouth, and their Winters i'll Bos
ton.
As said, knew him in a moment. He
had grown tall aud stout, but the boy was
still in his face, and with a flush of early
feeling sprlns forward and caught him by
the arm.
"Iom, how are you ?"
He looked puzzled for moment, and then
bursting into laugh, he seized my hand il
bis strong grasp, and exclaimed:
"Why, JOHN RAlston! is this You? Where
did YOU come from? I'm glad to see you,
my boy. Why, haven't set eyes on you
since we made that trip TO Nah mt, in your
Freshman year. The truth is, father was
so poorly for long time that | had every
Thing 10 see to, and felt as if the world was
on my shoulders. did hear, though, about
your college honors and your going to Ger
many, aud I've often thought Of you lately
and wished to see you. Why, Jack, in
spite Of my weight, and your beard and
broad shoulders, can't realize that ten years
have gone since we were at Exeter together,
; We must talk over old times and new.
When did you get back and what are your
plans 2
81 came yesterday, and shall remain in
the city on account Of business matters until
Tuesday. Tlen am going home
"Well, now, this is Saturday, AID you
can do nothing after three o'clock. Come
and spend Sunday with we in the country
| want YOU to see my wife"
"Y onr wife! are you married, Tom p
"Marred nearly year, said he with a
smile.
"You don't look very solemn over it"
'Socmn? It's the jollest thing ever did
= in my lfe Meet me at the Eastern depot
at four o'clock, and III tell You all 4bout it
on the way down"
: We parted at the Winter street corner
he TO go to bis store, and ! to the Parker
House.
GLOW handsome Poston has grown, - said
|, gancing at the fine buildings and the COM
mon, beautiful in the September sun.
owe think it nice town." he replied,
speaking with the moderate words and the
perfect assurance of the Bostouian, to vi ON
his city is the sum of excellence and delight
"Remember, four O'Clock" And he disap
peared in the crowd
"Tom married. said TO myself, as !
walked along 81 daie say it's to his faith
ers pretty ward, Clara Maitland, whom !
saw when | spent the day there, eleven
years ago remember what long curls she
had and how fond she was Of him. Yes !
dare say it's to Clara. hope, though, she
I hasn't grown up into one of those delicate
young ladies', good for nothing but to display
p the latest fashions, and waltz "A little and
torture the piano Better some rosy, stur
p dy German Gretchen than poor doll like
hem 1t would be "A shame for poor Tom.
f with his splendid physique and vigorous
brain, to be tied for life to such woman!
And then turning down School street, my
thoughts wandered off to a bue-eyed girl !
had loved for many year-a girl who was
not satisfied with The small trumphs Of the
croouet grounds, but who could send an ar
row straight home TO the mark; and climb
he hills with me, her sep light and free as
the deer the glade below; and hold ii steady
oar in our boat ON the river and swim ashore
if need he; and then, when walk or row was
I over, who could sit down 10 Il lunch Of cold
, meat and bread and butter with an appetite
F. as keen as young Indians after a day Is
hunt yes, and who knew how to be efficient
in the kitchen, and the rarest ornament Of
the paror. How impatient was to see her,
the bcwitching maiden whom a prince might
have been proud to marry. And again
said to myself as | went up the Parker
House steps, 81 do hope Tom hasn't made
a fool of himself y
Four clock found me at the station; and
Il moment later in walked Tom, carrying a
basket filed with Jersey peaches. They
don't grow in Greenland" said he, tucking
the paper down over the fruit. 'Come this
way" followed him, AID we had just seat
ed ourselves comfortably in the car when the
train moved off.
"Now for the story, Tom," sad I, as we
crossed the bridge and caught the breeze
cool from the sea. "But | can guess before
hand the gir you married. 1t was Clara
Maitland"
| A shadow passed over Toms face.
| "Clara has been dead four years." said
he "She inherited consumption from her
! mother. We did all we could for her-took
her to Minnesota and Florida; but it was no
use. She didn't live to see her eighteenth
. birthday"
"Ponr Clarai She loved you dearly Then