The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-14
ION FOSTERS WIFE.

had ]usG returned from TWO years
in Europe, and was sauntering down
fremont street in the golden Septem-
Der morning, when / saw my old
friend Tom Foster get out OF a horse
car few steps in advance of me. |
knew him in a moment, though we
had hardly met since we We're at Exc
ter Academy together, ten years be-
fore-room-m and blithe compan-
ions until we parted-I to go to Har-
ward land he to enter his fathers store,
the well-known house of Foster 81 Co.,
Pearl street. He was merrya hear
ty practical fellow, clear-skinned and
robust as an Englishman, self-reliant
and enterprising as New Hampshire
birth and Boston training could
make him. l 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, 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 a
flush Of early feeling, | sprang for
ward and caught him by the arm.
Tom, how are you?"
He looked puzzled for a moment,
and then, bursting into laugh, he seiz-
ed my hand In his strong grasp, and
exclaimed:
"Why, John Ralstonl Is this you?
Where did you come from? I'm
glad to see you, my boy. Why l
haven't set eyes on you since.we made
that trip to Nahant in your Fresh
man year. The truth is, father was
so poorly for long time then that |
had everything to see to, and felt as II
the world was on my shoulders. l
did hear, though, about your college
honors and your going to Germany,
and Pve 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 together. We must
talk over old times and new. When
did you get back, and what are your
plans"
~ came yesterday and shall stay ii
the city on account of business mat
ter, until next Tuesday. Then 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 country. l want to show you my
wife"
"Your wife areyoumarried, Tom?"
"Married nearly year." said he,
with smile.
"You don't look very solemn over
| it.n
solemn! It's the iolliest thing I
ever did in my life. Meet me at the
Eastern depot at four o'clock, and I'll
tell you all about it on the way down"
We parted at the Winter street cor
ner-he to go to his store, and l TO
the Parker House.
"How handsome Bostonhas grown"
said l, glancing at the fine buildings
and the Common, beautiful in the Sep
tember sun.
"We think it nice town." he repli-
ed, speaking with the moderate words
and the perfect assurance OF the Bos-
tonian, TO whom his city is the sum Of
all excellence and delight. "Remem-
Der, four o'clock" And he disappear
ed in the crowd.
tom married" | said to myself, as
I walked along, II dare say it's to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland,
whom saw when spent the day
there eleven years ago, reminder
what long curls she had, and how fond
she seemed Of him. Yes, dare say
it's to Clara, Ihope though, she hasn't
grown up into one of these delicate
young ladies good ior nothing but to
display the latest fashions, and waltz
a little, and torture the piano. Better
some rosy, sturdy German Gretchen
than poor doll like them. 1t would
be a shame for poor Tom, with his
physique and vigorous brain, to be
tied for life to such a woman" And
then turning down School street, my
thoughts wandered off to blue-eyed
girl had loved for many year--a
girl who was not satisfied with the
small triumphs of the croquet-ground,
but who could send an arrow home TO
the mark; aud could climb the bills
with me, her step light and free as the
deer's in the glade below; and hold a
steady oar in our boat on the river;
and swim ashore, ii need be; and then,
when our walk and row was over, who
could sit down TO lunch Of cold meat
and bread and butter with an appetite
keen as young Indians after days
hunt yes, and who knew how to be
efficient in the kitchen, and the rarest
ornament of the parlor How impa-
tient l was to see her, the bewitching
maidenl A prince might have been
proud to marry. And again | said to
myself, as went up the Parker House
steps, Il do hope Tom hasn't made a
fool Of himself"
-Four o'clock found me al the sta.
ton; and a moment later in walked
Tom, carrying a basket filled with Jer-
sey peaches. 'They don't grow in
Greenland" ," said he, tucklng the paper
down over the fruit. "Come this
way" 1 followed him, and we had
Just seated ourselves comfortably in
the car when the train moved of.
'Now for the story, Tom," said l,
as we crossed the bridge, and caught
the breeze cool from the sea. But l
can guess beforehand the girl you
married. II was Clara Maitland"
A shadow passed over Toms face.
"Ciara has been dead four years" said
/ ko Chn ;ubnr;tnJ ooueurrt1f inn from