New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-30
TOM WIFE.

OF me. l knew him n q moment, thougi
We had hardly met since we were at EXete
academy together. ten years before-r0on
mates and bIilhe companions until We
parted to 90 to Harvard, and he to ente
his fathers store, the well known house o
roster d Co, Pearl street. He was a mer
ry,, hearty, practical fellow, clear-skinneC
and robust as an Engli5hman, self relian
II enterprisIng as New Hampshire birtl
n Boston training could make him.
| always liked him; but he plunged into bust
ness and | into study, and SO, withou mean
ing 1t, We had almost lost sight of eacl
other. He was an only child, and his pa
rents spent their summer at their home
stead ia Greenland, near Portsmouth, anC
their winters in Boston.
As / said, | knew him In a moment. II,
had grown tall and stout; but the boy wa
still IN his face, and with a flush of earl,
feeling l sprang forward and caught hiu
by the arm.
Tom! How are your
He looked puzzled for a moment, anC
then, bursting into a laugh, he seized ny
hand III his strong grasp, and exclaimed:
why, John kalstOn! is this you
Where did you come FRONT I'm glad Il
see you, my boy. Why, l haven't set eyel
on you since we made that trip to Nahant
IN your Freshman year. The truth is
father was SO poorly tor a long time theE
that l had everything to see to, and felt az
II the world was on my shoulders. 1 did
Dear, though, about your college honorS
and your going to Germany; and I've often
thought of you lately and wished to sec
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 together. We must
TllR nUan D1l fI,.aa anI Ya~ lIka- al
you get back and what are your planss ="
II came yesterday, and shau stay in this
city, on account of a business matter, until
next Tuesday. Then | am going home
We'll, now, this Is Saturday, and you
q do nothing after three o'clock. Come
and spend Sunday with NE in the country.
l want to show you my wife,
Your witef Are you married, Tom 2"
Married nearly a year" said he, with a
smile.
You don't look very solemn over it."
"SOiemnf 1t Is the j~olliest thing | ever
did in my life. Meet me at the Eastern
depot at four o'clock, and I'll tell you about
it Gu the way down"
We parted at the Winter street corner-
he to 90 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.
We think it a nice town." he replied.
speaking with the moderate words and per
feet assurance of the BostOnian, to whom
his city is the sum of all excellence and de-
light. "~Remember, four O'clock" And he
disappeared in the crowd.
"TOm married. | said 70 myself, as I
walked along. II dare say it's to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland, whom
L 93U Whnn I Gnppt the Aau thnra aIayau
years ago. remember whatlOng curls she
had, and how fond she seemed of him.
Yes, 1 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 fashions,
and waits a little, and torture the piano.
Better some rosy, sturdy Gretchen than .
poor doll Like them. 1t would be q shame
for Tom, with his splendid physique and
vigorous brain, TO be tied tor life to
such . woman!' And then, turning
down School street, my thoughts
wandered on to n hlue-eyed girl | had
loved for many a year-a girl who was not
with the small triumphs of the
cr0quet ground, but who could send an ar
rOW straight home to the mark; and climb
the hills with me, her step light and free as
b deer in the glade below; and hold a
oar III our boat on the river; and
ashore, if need should be; aud then,
when walk and row was over, who could
sit down to a lunch of cold meat and bread
and butter with an appetite keen az a
young Indians after a days hunt; yes, and
who knew how to be efficient in the kitchen
and the raresu d of the parlor.
impatient I was to see her, the be-
witching maiden whom q Prince might
have been proud to marry. And again /
said to myself, as l went to the Parker
House steps: Il do hope Tom hasn't made
3 fool OF himselfp
-Four o'clock found me at the station; and
B. moment later in walked Tom, carrying a
basket filed with Jersey peaches. They
don't grow in Greenland" said he, tucking
he paper down over the fruit. Come this
I followed him. and we had just
ourselves comfortably in the Car
the train moved of.
Now for the story, Tom," said I. as we
the bridge and caught the breeze
,ool from the sea. But l can guess before
the girl You married, 1t was Clara
A shadow passed over Toms face. "Clars
las been dead four years." said he. "She
consumption from her mother,
Ne did everything for her-took her to
Minnesota and to Florida; but it was of no
lse. She didn't live to see her eighteenth
birthday"
"Poor Clara, She loved you dearly.
Then | suppose you chose some Boston girl
If your acquaintance =
Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs. Tom
Foster was if you should try from now TIL
nsrning. 1 shall nave to enlighten YOU
md moving tue basket to one side and
himself in his seat, be went on.
You know | have the misfortune to be an
oIyih Altar 1 uJoa furnnfu M f.fhn-
nd mother began to talk about marrying.
nave plenty of cousins, you know, and we
Rays had young ladies going in and out
he houFe; but while Clara lived she wa
{ lpany for me, aud after she died / was
of business, and didn't trouble myself
,Out matrimony. To tell the truth, Jack,
didn't fancy the girls. Perhaps l was
in my acquaintanCes; bat they
eemed TO me all Curls and hounces and
lrbelows, and / would as soon have
bought of marrying a fashion plate 81 one
# these elaborate creatures. l don't OBJ
ect to style; | like it.. Bat you can see
gowns and bonnets any day in the
street windows: and my ideal
# a woman was one whose dress Is her
east attraction.
"Do you recollect fathers former partner.
Lanef He's d clever old gentleman
nd a millionaire, and father has the great
et liking and respect for him. He has two
IaughteTs-OBe married years ago, and the
ther, much younger, father fxed upon as
desirable wife for ne 1 rather think the
wo families had talked it over together; at
ny rate, Miss Matilda came to Greenland
OF a long summer visit. She is an amiable
irl; hat SO petted ana spoiled that she's
God for nothing-undeve clipped in mind and
'ody. She looked very gay in the eve
attired In Jordan, Marsh & Co.'S
Attest importations. But she was always
ate at breakfast; she didn't care to ride
.orseback; she couldn't take q walk with !
ut stopping to rest on every stone, and
nee, when asked her if she had read the
count Of the battle Of Sedan, she looked
III her childish way, and said: NO. Mr..
'oster. Newspapers are so tireeome.' Bless
ls. what should ] have done With such q !