, 1872-07-11
My Widow.

ho said she was too young and pretty.
tarnham advised NE to be an old
bachelor--told me o man past forty SIM
ply made fool of himself by matrimo-
ny.
Tewksberry-a man who is notorious
for never mihding his own business =
told me she had made love affair with
Harry Birmingham, before he went
South. ~
Allen shook his head, and said Clara
Myers might be very pretty but he liked
somebody maturer and settled. IN. b.
lie married his housekeeper the next
week, and she is mature enough for Ne
thusa eh himself.)
Everybody thought I was trying a
dangerous experiment; but diin pre-
tend to suit everybody. SO simply suit
edmyself. l went quietly to church with
Chr Myers, and married her one elo-
rious morning, when the old st. Paul s
was fringed with glittering ieicles and
the brisk wind was freighted with the
particles of flying snow. like battalion
Of diamonds on a double quick.
SEe was nineteen and l was nine and
thirty. She Was as beautiful us rose
bud; was rough old codger, sound
enough at heart but like winter apple,
uDpromisIng on the exterior.
In short We were as unlike rs May and
November. and the good natared world
shook its head, and said, '-no good
could come of such an unequal match. 3"
But she said she loved me, and believ-
ed her. Nobody could look into Cla-
ra's blue eyes and not believer her, you
see.
The next day I made . will and be-
queathed all my property uncondition-
ally to my wife.
Are sou sure You are doing wise
rhirg. Mr., Folliott?'' said Mr.. Mardyn,
the lawyer, pushing his blue spectacles
upon his forehead. until he looked like
IN old bald gnome. with double pair
OF eyes. ''Iou see she is very much
younger than yourself, and"
"Plase to be so kind as to mind your
own business" said I brusquely.-
Don't be offended, Mr. Mardyn, but
really people seem to suppose that am
not able to attend to my own affairs"
"Just as you please, said Mardyn.
in rage. 81 am mere tool in your
hands,"
"That's it, exactly" said l. So l
signed the will and went home to Clara
"Oh. Paul, you must not die!" said
Clara. with scared look, when l told
her what I had dome. Nobody ever
loved me as truly and generously as you
have done, and / don't know what /
should do if you were taken awayr'
There was young Birmingham. Ii
all reports are true" mlschievousl,
began. but the curl on Clara's lip stop
ped me.
"a mere butterfly" she said haught-
liy. without either brains or principle,
Paul. l have found a shelter in youl
true loving heart, and l mean to nestle
there always"
And then she cried-this foolish, soft
hearted little wife of mine.
Jones and Tewksberry might have
called this policy. Farnum would have
SAID 1t was acting. But it was very
pleasant, and l felt more than ever like
man who has found some precious
Jewel, and wears it like an amulet on his
breast.
So things went on until the firm Of
which l was managing partner needed
to send some one to Calcutta to see after
turban- d scoundrel of an agent, who
had absconded with more money thai
we could well afford to lose. Morrison
was old and feeble-Hewett's wife lay
very i'll, SO was the cne to 20. kisse,
Clara good bye as cheerfully as could
fully expecting to be back in thre.
months OF SO.
had to follow the agent up into the
mountains. of Ipdia--I fell ill of one OF
those burning climate fevers il. the bum
gallo of an old native priest. and the
months flew by, until 1t was more than
year before 1 found myself on the
deck of the Blue-eyed. Mary" steam
ing into New York harbor.
All this time Clara had not heard IL
word from me.
had written to her TO prepare he.
for what seemed almost like INV rislu.
from the dead, but l had afterwards
found my letters il the pocket of the
neSlectful native servant who had
undertaken to deliver the mail to the
Calcutta office.
- But it don't matter so much now r'
thought /. - she will be III re delighted
poor little girl"
And then IL cold chill seemed to creer
through all my veins like November
flowers.
Clara hal heard nothing of me Tor
nearly fifteen months-what might Ia. "