The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-11-07
Tom Fosters Wife.

in advance of me | knew him in a mo
| mert, though we had hardly met since we
| were at Exeter Academy together, ten
| years befOre-roOm-m and blithe com
panions until we parted to 60 to Har-
ward and he to enter his fathers store, the
well known house of Foster 4 Co, Pearl
street. He was a merry, hearty, practical
| fellow clear skinned and robust us an
Englishman, self-reliant and enterprismo
| as New Hampshire birth and Boston train
| ING could make him. always liked 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
theirsummers attheirhomestead in Green
land near Portsmouth. and their winters
in Boston.
AS said, | knew him in moment
He had grown tall and stout but the boy
was still in his face, and with Il flush of
early feeling sprang forward and caught
him by the arm
Tom how are YOU ?"
He looked puzzled tor moment, and
then, bursting into Il laugh. he seized my
hand in bis strong grasp. and exclaimed
''Why, John Ralston! Is this yon
Where did you come from? Fm 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 q long time then
that had everything to see to, and felt rs
if the world was on my shoulders. did
hear though, about your college honors
and your going to Germany. and I've often
thought of you lately and wished to see
| al. ,l ,osl,t
and your beard aud broad shoulders |
can'trealize 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 ?''
'I came yesterday, and shall remain in
the city, on account Of a business matter,
until next Tuesday. Then | am going
| hOmen
''Well. now, this is Saturday, and YOU
can do nothing after three O'Clock. Come
and spend Sunday with me in the country
| want YOU to see my Wife
Your wife! are you married, Tom ?"
Married nearly year" siti,i he with Il
smile
You don't look very solemn over it,"
''SOlemn? It's the Iolliest thing ever
did in my life. Meet me ut the Eastern
Depot at four o'clock. and III tell You all
about it on the way down"
We parted atthe Winter street corner
he to 90 to his store, and to the Parker
| House
''How handsome Boston has grown, y
said |, glancn@ ut the fine buildings and
the common. beautiful in the September
sun.
''NVe think it nice town." he replied,
speaking with the moderate words and
the perfect assurance of the BoStonian. to
whom his city is the sum of excellence
and delight. sRemember, four O'clock y
And he disappeared in the crowdn
"Tom married ~ | said to myself, as
walked along. 81 dare Say its 10 his
fathers pretty ward, Clara MajNand
whom | saw when | spent the dry there.
eleven years ago. remember wh:tt long
curls she had and how fond She seemed ot
him. Yes, | dare say it's to Clara. |
hope, though, she hasn't crown up into
one of those delicate young ladies' good
for nothing but to Display the latest fash
ions, and waltz Il little, and torture the
piano. Better some rosy, sturdy German
Gretchen than a poor doh like them. II
would be {; shame iol' poor Tom, with his
splendid physique and vigorous brain, to
be tied for lie to such Il womanm Anh
then, turning down School street, wv
thoughts wandered off 10 blue -cvcd ciri
| had loved for many u vear-a girl who
y rs not satisfied with the small triumphs
OF the croquet- ground but who could send
an arrow straight home to the mark; and
climb the hills with me, her step light and
free as the deer in the glade below; and
| hold i steady oar in our boat on the river;
and swim ashore, il need be; and then,
when walk or row was over. who could
sit down to alunch OF cold meat and bread
| and-butter with IN appetite keen rs II
| young Indians after IL days hunt; yes,
and who knew how 10 be efficient IN The
kitchen, and the raresr ornament of the
prrlor How impatient was 10 see her,
the bewitching maiden whom a prince
might have been proud to marry. And
again | said to myself, rs went up the
Parker House steps: Il 10 hope Tom
hasn't made u fool of himscllm
Four o'clock found me al the station;
and u moment later in walked Tom, carry
ing n basket filled with Jersey peaches
They don't grow in Greenland" >" said he
tucking the paper down over The fruit
"Come this way" followed him, and we
had Just seated ourselves comfortably in
the car when the train moved off.
''Now tor the story, Tom" said rs we
crossed the bridge and caught the breeze
cool from the sea ''But can guess be-
forehand the girl you married 1t was
Clara Maitland.'
shadow passed over Toms face.
CLARA has been dead four years. salt
he "She inherited consumption from
hor all lid o,rorytbip,r t,r
her-took her to Minnesota and Florida
but it was no use. She didn't live 10 see
her eighteenth birthday"
''Poor Clara! She loved you dearly.
Then | suppose you chose some Boston
girl of your acquaintance ?'
Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs Tom
Foster, was if you should try from now
till morning. shall have to enlighten
you," and, moving the basket to one side
and settling himself in | is seat, he went
on: "You know have the misfortune
to be an only child. After | was twenty
one, father and mother began to talk
about my marrying. | have plenty Of
cousins you know. and we always had
young ladies going in and out of the
house; but while Clara lived she was
company for me, and after she died | was
full of business. and didn't trouble myself
about matrimony. | tell you the truth
Jack. | didn't fancy the girls. Perhaps |
| was unfortunate in my acquaintances
but they seemed to me al! curles and |
flounces and furbelows, and | would as
soon have thought of marrying u fashion
plate as one of those elaborate creatures. /
don't object to style like it, But You
can see fine gowns and bonnets any day |
in the Washington street windows; and |
my idea of a woman was one whose dress
is her least attraction.
Do you recollect fathers former part
ner, Adam Lane? He's clever old gen
tleman and Il millionaire, and father has
the greatest liking and respect for him.
He has two daughters married years
ago; and the other much younger, father
fixed upon as a desirable wife for me. |
rather think the two families had talked
it over together; at any rate, Miss Matilda
came to Greenland for u long summer
visit She is an amiable girl; but so
pettied and spoiled that she is good for
in mind and body.
She looked very gay in the evenings, at
tired in the latest inDOrtatiOnS But she