Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-07-03

in the parlOr. How inpatient wa
to see her, the bewithing maider
whom a prince might have beer
proud to marry. And again said t
myself. as I went up the Parke
House steps. ~ do hope Tom hasn'
made a fool of himself"
Four o clock found me at the sta
ton; and a moment later walked in
Tom, carrying a basket filed with
Jersey peaches. They don't grow
in Greenland said he, touching the
psper down over the fruit. Come
this way" l followed him, and we
had Just seated ourselves comfortably
IN the car when the train moved off.
"Now for the story, Tom," said |
as we crossed the bridge, and caught
the breeze cool from the sea. "But
| can guess beforehand the girl you
married. 1t was Clara Maitland"
\ shadow passed over Toms face,
"Clara has been dead four years,
said lie. "She inherited consumption
from her mother. ave did every
thing for her-took her to Minnesota
and Florida; but it was no use. She
didn't live to see her eighteenth
birthday
Poor Claral She loved you dearly
Then | suppose you chose some Bos-
ton girl of your acquaiutance?'
Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs.
Tom Foster was if you try from now
till morning. l shall have to en-
tighten you" And, moving the bask-
ct to one side and settliog himself in
his seat, he went on: "You know |
have the misfortune to be an only
child. After | was twenty one, father
and mother bagan to talk about my
marrying. l haveplenty of cousins,
yon know, and we always had young
ladies' going in and out Of the house,
but while Clara lived she was CON-
pany for me, aud after she died | was
full of business, and didn't trouble
myself about matrimony. To tell the
truth, Jack, / didn't fancy the girls.
Perhaps | was unfortunate in my ac-
quaiotauces; but they seemed to me
all curls aud flounces and furbelows;
and | would a. soon have thought Of
marrying fashion plate, as one of
these elaborate creatures. don't
object to style; like it. But you
can sec fne gowns and bonnets any
day in the Washington street win
dows; aud my ideas of woman was
one whose dress is her least attrac-
ton"
''Do you recollsct fathers former
partner, Adam Lane? He's q clever
old gentleman and a millionaire, and
father had the greatest liking and
respect for him. He has two daugh-
ters-one married Years ago, and the
other, much younger, father fixed
upon as a desirable wife for me. |
rather think the two families had
talked it over together; at any rate
Miss Matilda came to Gree eulsnd for a
long summer visit. She is on amia-
bic girl, but so petted and spoiled
that she's good for nothing-uudc-
veloped in mind and body She look
ed very gay in the evenings, attired
in Jordan, Marsh & Co.'s latest i'm
pertations. But she was always late
at breakfast; she didn't care to ride
horseback; she couldn't take a walk
without stopping to rest on every
stone and once, when | asked her
if she had read the account of the
battle Of Sedan, she looked up, in
her childish way, and said, NO, Mr.
Foster. Newspapers are so tiresome'
Bless me! What should | have done
with such baby.
"A year ago this summer | was
very much confHedto the store;-
aud when August came, instead of
spending the whole month at home,
/ thought | would have a little
chance, and so went down for a
fortnight 20 the Cliff House, on
beach. Its a quiet, plesautresort, and
yon always find from fifty to orc
hundred people there during the sea
son. The landiord Is good fellow,
ami a distant relative Of mine. |
thought he looked furricd when |
weuJ 10, and after a lew moments he
took me at one side aud said,
"Tom, you We come at an unlucky
time | had a very good cook, that /
got from Boston at twenty dollars
month; but she is a high tempero d
woman Las: evening she quaTreied
with her assistants, this morning the
breakfast was all iu confusion, and
now she's packing her trunk to leave
by the next train. 10 two or three
days | can probably get another down
IN her place; but what we're to do
meanwhile | don't know"
But, Norton said l, "isn't there
some one near by or in the house
who can take i,2'
IL doubt it, he replied. I've bal!
dozen girls from the vicinity doing
upstairs work-ore of them from
your town, the best waiter ip the
dining room. But | suppose all OF
them would either be afraid of the
responsibility or think it beneath
them TO turn cook; though they
would have plenty of help and would
earn twenty dollars where they now
get three
who's hero from Greenland?
! | asked, for knew something Of al
most every one in the place.
MARY Lyford."
MARY Lyford2 A black-eyed
lieht-footed girl, about twenty year;