Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-12-05
F ON the New York Independent.
TON FOSTERS WIFE.
BY EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.

o4 CDNA DEAN thOClOR.
I had just returned from a two years.
stay in Europe, and was sauntering
down fremont street, in the golden
September morning, when I saw my
old friend, Tom Foster, get out of the
horse-car few steps in advance of me.
I knew him in moment, though we
had hardly met since we were at Exc
ter Academy together, ten years before
-room-mates aud blithe companions
until we parted-I to 20 to Harvard and
he to enter his fathers store, the well
known house. of Foster & Co., Pearl
street. He was merry, hearty, prac.
tical fellow, clear-skinned and robust
as an Englishman, self-reliant and en-
terprising as New Hampshire birth and
Boston training could make him but
he plunged into business and into
study, and so, without meaning it, we
had almost lost sight of each other.
He was an only child, and his parents
spent their summers at their homestead
in Greenland, near Portsmouth, and
their winters in Boston.
As I said, knew him in q moment.
He had grown tall and stout, but the
boy was still in his face, and with a
flush of early feeling I sprang forward
and caught him by the arm.
"Tom! How are you?'''
He looked puzzled for - moment and
then, bursting into laugh, he seized
my hand in his strong grasp, and ex-
claimed:
"Why, John Ralston! Is this you ?
Where did you come from2 I'm glad
to see you, my boy. Why, 1 haven't
set my eyes on you since we made that
trip to Nahant. in your Freshman year.
The truth is, father was so poorly for q
long time then that I had everything
to see to, and felt as if the world was
ON my shoulders. I did hear, though,
about your college honors any your
going. to Germany; and I've often
thought of you lately and wished to
see you. Why, Jack, in spite of my
weight and your beard and broad shoul
ders, I can't realize that ten years have
gone since we we're at Exeter together.
We must talk over old times and new.
When did ycn get back and what are
II came yesterday, and shall stay in
the city. on account of a business mat
ter, until next Tuesday. Then 1 an
going home"
"Well, now, this is Saturday and
you can do nothing after three O'Clock
Come and spend Sunday with me il
the country. I want to show. you m,
wife"
Your wife Are you married
Tom9"
"Married nearly a year," said he
with smile. >,
"You don't look very solemn owe
it,"
"Solemn? It's the jolliest thing
ever did in my life. Meet me at tn
Eastern Depot at four O'Clock, and II
tell you all about it on the way down.
: We parted at the Winter street corn
er-he to 60 to the store, and to tn
Parker House.
How handsome Boston has grown,
: said /, glancing at the fine building
and the Common, beautiful in til
September sun.
1--WE think it is nice town." he re
Piled, speaking with tho moderat
words and the perfect assurance of til
| Bostonian, to whom his city is the SUI
= OF all excellence and delight. Remem
D ber, four o'clock" And he disappea,
ed in the crowd.
"Tom married." I said to myself, a
- 1 walked along. 81 dare say it is t
y his rather pretty ward, Clara MAITLAND
!, whom Isaw when I spentthe day there
j. eleven years ago. I remember vii;
i long curls she had, and how fond sll
seemed of him. Yes, I dare say it's
!; Clara. I hope, thought she hasn
= !. grown up into one of those delicat
~ ~ young ladies', good for nothing but I
- display the latest fashions and waltz
y little and torture the piano. Bette
some rosy, sturdy German Gretche
than poor doll like them. It woul
: be shame for Tom, with his sp1endi
physique and vigorous brain, to t
tied for life to sucl, woman!" An
then, turning down School street, m
y thoughts wandered off to /, blue eye
!. girl had loved for many Il ycar--n ri
Is who was not satisfied with the Gmu
: triumphs Of the croquet-gronnd, b,
who could send an arrow straight hon