Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-10-25
Miscellany.
TOM FOSTERS WIFE.
BY EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.

HAD just returned from two years
stay in Europe, and was sauntering down
fremont street, in the golden September
morning, when | saw my old friend, TCm
Foster, get out of a horse.car a few steps
in advance of me. | knew him in a mo-
ment, though we had hardly met since
we were at Exeter Academy together, ten
years before-roOm mates and blithe COM
paniOns until we parted-I to go to Har-
ward, and he to enter his fathers store, the
well-known house of Foster q Co., Pearl
street. He was merry, hearty, practical
fellow, clear, skinned and robust as an
Englishman, self-reliant and enterprising
as New Hampshire birth and Boston
training 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 their summers at their homestead
in Greenland, near Portsmouth, and their
winters in Boston.
AS | said, | knew him in a moment.
He had grown tall and stout, but the boy
was still in his face, and with flush of
early feeling l sprang forward and caught
him by the arm:
"TOm How are you ?"
He looked puzzled for a moment, and
then, bursting into laugh, he seized my
hand in his strong grasp and exclaimed /:
"Why, John Ralston Is this you
Where did you come from? I'm glad to
see you my boy. Why, I haven't set
eyes on you since we made that trip to
Nahant, in your Fresh nan year. The
truth is, father was so poorly for long
time then that | had everything to see to,
and felt as if the world was on my shoul-
ders, did hear, though, about your col
lege honors and your gong 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 were at Exeter to-
gether. Wemust talk over old times and
new. When did you get back and what
are your plans?"
81 came yesterday, and shall stay in
the city, on account of business matter,
until next Tuesday. Then l am going
home"
"Well, now, this is Saturday, and you
can do nothing after three o'clock. Come
and spend Sunday with me in the coun-
try. want to show you my wife"
" Your wife Are you married,
Tom ?"
Married nearly year." said he, with
a smile.
"You don't look very solemn over
it."
"Solemn It's the jolliest thing ever
did in my life. Meet me at the Eastern
Depot at four o'clock, and tell you all
about it on the way down."
We parted at the Winterstreet corner
he to go to his store, and to the Parker
House.
How handsome Boston has grown"
said |, glancing at the fine buildings and
the Common, beautiful in the September
sun.
1--WE think it nice town." he replied,
speaking with the moderate words and
the perfect assurance of the Bostonian. 20
whom his city is the sum of all excellence
and delight. Remember, four o'clock -
And he disappeared in the crowd,
"Tom married." I said to myself as
walked along. 81 dare say it's to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland
whom sawswhen [ spent the day there
eleven years ago. remember whatl long
curls she had and how fond she seemed
of him. Yes, dare say it's to Clara.
hope, though, she hasn't grown up into
one of those delicate young ladies, good
for nothing but to display the latest fash
ions, and waltz little, and torture the
piano. Better some rosy, sturdy Ger
man Gretchen than poor doll like them.
1t would be shame for Tom, with his
splendid physique and vigorous brain, to
be tied for life to such q womanw And
then, turning down School street, my