Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-12-21
TOM FOSTERS WIFE.
E,u, Dean Proctor in the Independent

Eiua Dean Proctor in the Independent.
had lust returned from a two years
STA, 10 Europe, and was saunterlng down
Tr, mont street in the golden September
mo ming, when l saw my old friend, Tom
Fn.,tr, get out Of horse car few steps
In advance of me. knew him In a
moment, though we had hardly met since
We we're at Exeter Academy together, ten
wears before, TOom-mates and blithe conf
psnions until we paTted-l TO go to Har-
yard aud he TO enter his fathers store, the
well known house of Foster IL Co., Pearl
street. He was IA merry, hearty, practical
fellow. clear skinned and robust as an
FppIshman, self-reiant and enterprising
as N,w Hampshire birth and Boston train
irg could make him. ! alway liked him,
hui he plunged into business AID l into
study. and so without meaning II 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.
Az Isaid, I knew him 10 a moment. He
had grown tall and stout, but the boy was
still IN his face, and with 1ush Of tatly
feeling ! sprang forward and caught him
by the arm.
tom, how are you :"
lie lookel puzzled for q moment, and
then, bursting in a laugh, he seized my
hand in hi long grasp, and exclaimed
why, John Rails on Is this you
Where did YOU come from am glad TO
see you my boy. Why l haven't set eyes
on YOU since we made that trip to Nahant
10 your Freshman year. Tue truth Is,
father was so poorly for long time then
thpi had everything to see TO, and felt as
II the world was on my shoulders. | did
hesr, though, about your college honors
and 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 shoulders,
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
you yet back aud what are your plans ~
"Well, now, this is Saturday, and you
can do nothing after 3o'clOck Come and
sreud Sunday with me in the country.
want to show you my Wife"
"Your wife Are you married Tom 2"
"Married nearly year." said he, with
smile.
"You don't look very solemn over It,"
solemnl It's the jolllest thing ! ever did
IN my life. Meet me at Eastern Depot at
4o'ciock, and I'll tell you all about It on
the way dewn."
We parted at the Winter street corner
he to 20 to his store, and 10 the Parker
House.
GLOW handsome Boston has grown -
said |, glanclng at the fine buildings and
the Common, beautiful as In the september
sun.
I've think It nice town." he replied,
tpeak .ng with the moderate words and the
perfect assurance of the Bostonian, to
whom his city is the sum of all excellence
and delight. "Remember O'Clock" Aud
be disappeared in the crowd.
tom married | said TO myself, as
walked along. 81 dare say It's to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland
whom saw when spent the day there
eleven years ago. | remember what long
curls she had and how fond she seemed oi
him. Yes, ! dare say it's to Clara.
hop, though, she hasn't grown upiuto ont
Of those delicate young ladies, good ful
nothing but TO display the latest fashions
and waltz a little, aud torture the piano
Better some rosy, sturdy German Gr,tcEeI
than a poor doll like them. Ii would be {
shame for Tom, with his splendid physique
and vigorous brain, to be tied for life L
such woman3'' And then, turning dow
School street, my thoughts wandered oil Il
bue-eyed, had loved for many a yea
IA girl who was not satisfied with tn
small tliumphs Of the crOquet-grounds, bu
who could send an arrow straight home Il
the mark and climb hills with me, he
step light and free as the deers IN th
glade below and hold steady oar in ou
-. rtt and aNyffu hnFp-
need should be and then, when walk o
row was over, who could sit down to
lunch CT cold meat and bread-aud-bulte
with an appetite keen as a young Indian
after days hupt yes, and who KNEE
how to be efficient in the kitchen and tn
rarest ornament of the parlor. How in
patient was to see her, the bewtchiu
maiden whom n prince might have bee
proud to marry. And again said I
myself, as went up the Parker llOus
stels IL do hope Tom hasn't made a iO'
Of himselfp'
Four O'Clock found me at the station
Rne a moment later in walked Tom carr
ing basket filed Wich Jersey peachc
They don't grow in Greenland" said hl
tucking the PAPER down over the frui
Come this way" ! followed him. and
had Just seated ourselves comfortably
the car when the train NOV, a. II.
Now for the story, Tom," said l, as
crossed the bridge and caught the breei
cool from the sea. "But | can guess b
ore hand the girl you married. 1t WI
Cara Maitland.'
shadow passed over Toms fac
sc ara has been dead four years. satd b
"she inherited consumption from b
mother. We cid every thing for her
fr.lah !. g. aNHA Au "a
was no use. She didn't live TO see h
eighteenth birthday"
Poor Clara She loved you dearl
THIN ] suppose yOu chose some Boston q
Of your acquaintance ~
"Jatk YOU couldn't tell who Mrs. To
Foster was If you should try from now 4
morning. shall have to enlighten yo
and moving the basket to one side and 81
tlng himself In his seat, he went o
"You know / have the misfortune to
su only child. After / was twenty OF
father aud mother began to talk about u
marrying. have plenty Of cousins, y
know, and we always had young lad
going in and out of the house but VII
Cara lived she was company for me, n
afteF she died was full of business, q
didn't trouble myself about matiimoI
To tell the truIh, Jack, ! didn't fancy
girls. Perhaps ] was unfortunate IN
acquaintances but they seemed to me
eurl- and fiounces and furbelows, and
wo i'd Ms soon have thought OF marryi
fashion plate AS one Of these elsbor
creatures. don't object to style, like
But you can see fine gowns and bonnels
day n the Washington street window
ami my Ideal of woman was one VII
drt's is her least attraction"
DO you recJllect fathers former pl
ner, Adam Lane He's clever old Z
tleman and a millionaire, and iather
the sreatest liking and r spect for b
He J. n0F snlaUghteIs one married ye
ago, and the other, much younger fat
liked upon as a desirable wife for me
s'ahr. think the two families had tai
over togeie 10 At any rate Mlss Mat
eau t0lg to tresepafi,r a long sum
visit. SAdd that 4. G. Stew But so
ted andopularity in this movementToth
-unde ere who is glorifed so tho worn
lock nor is he careful at what "rate y
lat, sbe ciassed by Our National Pro
!alH ts distinguished editor
hofespeetfully, 7. G. STEWARD.
Louhe above appeared Ia Wednesday,
onee svEESISG IN response 70 tbs article