The Republican journal., 1873-12-11
NV Husbands First Wife
BY AMY RANDOLPH.


'Such 4 child to he married ;" said Aunt
Tabitha
Not sixteen yetr' said old Mrs. Mer-
win
II don't know what this world is COM
ing tor said Desire Higgins, who at
fortv-six, was an ungathered rose upon
the bush of ''maiden meditation
Yes, it was all quite true. was very
young 10 get married, and yet it seemed
as if | had lived a whole century since
first had seen Edward Rayner. Only
sixteen and yet as | walked down the
broad church aisle with the orange wreath
in my hair and the cleaning wedding
circlet onm my finger, could hardly realize
that it was only yesterday | was playing
with dolls and chasing butterflies down
the shady aisles of Aunt Tahitha's garden
Il hope you won't regret your pre-
cipitancy, child" said Aunt Iabby.
Il hW0tc | shall not, aunt " | flashed
back For was not my hero stainless Us
Galahad without fault like King Arthur's
self?
"Oh YES said Aunt Tabitha, in that
dry way OF hers that | particularly detest-
ed that's what all young wives think
I've heard girls talk Just so before
All this was very provoking, but what
could | do? Only preserve a dignited
silence, and leave Time to disprove all
Aunt Tabitha's gloomy forebodings
Oh the cloudless Summer sunshine of
those first days of my welded life Shall
| ever forget them, if should live to be
as old as Joyce Heth? Our sunset walks
on Goat Island the wild flowers we used
f1,I he. ( dow
the sweet, low singing of the birds, au-
dible even amidst the thunders of Niagara
| remember, even now, how people used
to pause and look at us, and whisper one
to another how handsome Edward was,
and what youthful bride I seemed
Niagara was very gay that season, and
when Il telegram unexpectedly arrived,
summoning my husband back TO New
York on business OF vital Importance, he
left me with apprehension lest should be
lonely.
1t Will only be for a week, Rosa"
said he. And YOU must be as gay and
happy as you can until | come back
50 he left me. And in that first evening
OF his departure | put a knot Of white
rosebudS in my hair, and went down into
tl.a esrnat cool .eronds. Us gay 81 "a le,rl.
friend of mlne, from New York, with three
smilingly made room for me, and intro
duced me to II friend sitting at her side
Mrs Rayner-AIrs Tennington.n
Mrs Remington bowed aud smiled in
an automatic sort of a way.
Mrs. Edward Rayner, of Rudding
Vale -
bowed, in some surprise.
"EJ-actly so,n said Mrs bennington.
The world is quite full Of curious COIN
cidences. | knew Your husbands first
wife, Mrs. Rayner.'
| colored and then grew pale.
II think yon must be mistaken in the
person, Mrs. bennington" said |. 'Mr.
Rayner-mY husband-has never been
married before"
"Ah-hr' said Mrs Remington, with 4
little contemptuous laugh that made me
hate her cordially.
Its so natural for wife to believe as
she chooses. But that don't alter the true
facts of the case. Mr.. Rayner ,o0s mar
ried three years ago, to Isabel Mortimer,
a friend of mine-and two Years ago he
was divorced from her. Yes, yes, /
remember it all very we'll People gos-
siped good deal-they always will in a
small place like Budding Eale-and how
YOU ever lived there without hearing of
it
But | never lived in Budding Vale"
| interrupted hoty. Il am only just from
New York.
60" said Mrs. bennington, wisely,
that accounts for it. And dare say I'm
telling tales out of school, if Mr.. Rayner
himself has chosen to keep his counsel on
the NATTER" and she nodded more pro-
vokingly than ever
Just then to my infinite relief, iparty
of friends swept up to Mrs. Tennington's
corner, ard | was able to slip away, with
wildly thlobbing heart, and cheeks alter
nately flushed and ashy pale.
Was this true? Had my husband then
deceived me? Was | the wife of divorced
man? the successor to a heart which had
lost all the bloom and freshness Of first
love?
was crying and sobbing with all the
agonized anguish Of sixteen-year-
bride, who first finds out that life is not
all rose twined holiday, when a soft,
cool hand fell on my brow.
Pardon me; but | was passing your
half-open door, and | could not help hear
ing your sobs. |, too, have seen trouble.
Will you let me help comfort you9'
She was tall and slight. with dewy,
dovelike eyes, a face like Raphaels Ma
donna's, and dress Of deep mourning,
that made her ivory skin appear whittier
than it actually was,
The tender light of her plying eyes;
the sweet sympathetic tones of her voice
went to my heart at once | fell weeping
on her shoulder
81 don't know who you are sobbed |;
''but, oh, am very unhappy"
She listened to my tale with soft, wist-
ful interest
'.Do not Judge him harshly,' she said.
Remember he is your husband. Wait
and let him speak for HIMSELF
''Never!' | cried Indignantly. ''He
has deceived me; that is enough. Where
are my trunks? | will return home at
once, and never look upon his face again
''Of whom are you speaking, Rosa?'
started and uttered low cry-my un
known comforter and companion hurried
from the twilight room, murmuring some
incoherent apology as she went. In the
opposite doorway stood my husband
"Edwardr'
Eyes, Rose. it is |. Before ] had
reached Buffalo ! discovered that | had
left some important papers behind, by
My journey is deferred until
tomorrow morning. And now will you
give me some explanation of this mys-
tery?"
By this time my pride had rallied to the
rescue
"The mystery is very simple of solu-
tion,'' said l, haughtily. "Only that am
about to leave you -"
''Rosar'
ITO leave you-at once and forever"
l repeated, firmly. The wife..of di-