Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-27
MARA; OR THE GIRL WITHOUT
REFERENCES.
(Continted.)
III.

Three years had passed. After we had
taken our degrees, Merry, Cloves, and
were scattered each to our vocations. Cloves
took root in a northern vicarage; Merry
went to grow manges on his estate; and
myself finished eating my terms at lincoln's
Inn, and was called to the bar. l frequently
saw Halsey, who lived in London. His fam
lily had been slow to forgive his marriage !;
but he had a sister who was fond of him {:
and an ally of this kind ends by removing
even such mountains as family pride. She
had brought the rest Of the Halsey house.
hold first to extend pardon to Arthur per-
sonally, then to call on his wife, and lastly
to admit that the latter was not vulgar or
odious, indeed was inoffensive. The conces-
sion went no further than this perhaps be-
cause Mara did not evince any wish to pene-
trate into her husbands family. Halsey S
sister, who was married, often called upon
her, and seemed disposed to strike up an in
timacy with, and pet her. Mara showed
herself grateful for these attentions ; but she
had grown more reserved since her marriage
than before it. She was sweet, kind and
amiable with all her husbands friends; but
she made no efforts to widen her circle of
acquaintance, and she never went into soci-
ETY..
This afflicted Halsey, who would have
liked to take her everywhere, and glory in
her beauty; but doubtless his home was all
the happier for Mara devoting her whole
mind aud heart to it, 1t was certainly the
happiest home man could have pictured to
himself, even in a dream. A year after their
marriage a child-a Baby Mara-had been
born to them and the young mothers life
was wholly abandoned to the two beings she
loved best on earth. A wish of her hus.
bands was law to her, his comfort the aim oil
her every waking thought. Arthur was
called to the bar, but did not practise, having
by family interest obtained post under
government which kept him absent several
hours every day. But, when he returned
home, he was sure to find every day the same
tender smile of welcome on Maras face, the
same mother-taught crow of love on the lip:
of his child so that sometimes he would
exclaim, half.laughing, half.seriously, "What
have l done to be so happy ?"
If he said this in his wife's presence, as he
often did, she would turn to him and answer
softly, "If you are really happy, Arthur
dear, you deserve it all for the happiness you
have given me-"
But do you know get to fancy have
taken somebody else's share of happiness as
well as my own? Providence must have
made a mistake; and there is some pool
devil walking about, wondering what has
become Of the lot of bliss intended for him
and Incorporated by me-" He said this
smiling, one winter evening as he met me on
the steps Of our club; and he invited me Il
accompany him home to dinner, adding that
Mara had not seen me for month, and
would treat it as pleasant surprise His
spirits overfowed; and, as contented meu
like to see the reflex of their prosperity OIL
others, he said, with abrupt kindness, " But
by the way, let's talk about yourself You've
no briefs yet? Well, l think | can promise
you one that may lead to others. Houillier
one of the coal people whose mines have got
into the common pleas, was telling me to-day
he wished he could get hold of a studlous
pushing junior who would really read up his
case. Those whom his solicitor has recon-
mended him are muffs cousins Of the solic
tor, of course So | mentioned you and he
booked it,"
Poor fellow he little guessed, no NOR,
did |, how soon | should be holding brie
up,n which vital concerns of his own, no
coal interests, would depend
He lived in pleasant house, out Kensing
tor way and we drove there in a cab
Cheeriness and comfort greeted US from tn
threshold. A well-brushed page Opene'
the door, bright fire was glowing in tn
dining-rOOm, where table shining with gas
and silver was laid for two; and thicl
crimson carpet muffled the staircase leadinI