The Placer herald., 1873-06-07
MY WIFE'S CONFESSION.
BY LAURA SOUTHGATE.

The short winter day was closing in ear
lier than usual and a few fakes of snow
were beginning to fall. Matte Greenfield
glanced out the window and sighed, a thing
she was not much accustomed to do. A
sense o. the dreariness aud solitude of her
life depressed her for moment, and a look
of sadness clouded her usually cheeful face.
There she was at thirty-four, quite alone in
the world. Old acquaintances were mar
red and gone; even dear friends had found
new interests, and now the death of her
mother, three weeks before, had left her ut
lerly alone And Matte sighed, and tears
started in her blue eyes as she thought Of
the happy years that were past.
Ten years. 1t was twelve years that very
night since the sleighing party to Bound
Bridge, and she had gone with Ellison
Huntley: and David Nllard-Mattie
smiled as she remembered t-had whs-
pered, as they were dancing, that Ellison
would get paid off for cutting him out.
All the village thought at the time it was
settled thing between David and herself;
but David, it appeared, had preferred
Sarah Roberts, and six weeks after the
sleighing party he married her.
'Poor Sarah" said Matte to herself
"with everything to make life happy, now
she must die, and leave it all.
Scarcely had this thought left her mind
when little figure in cloack and hood ap-
peared, bobbling along outside the pailng
in front of her house.
"Why, little Bessie! how strange that |
was thinking of her mother at that very
moment!'
Matte quickly brought the child into the
| house.
"Why you are half frozen, Bessie dear,
are you not?" she said, warming the little,
red, fat hands in her own. "And how is
your mother to-day?"
"Mother is pretty WE'LL mean, mother
said she wasn't so well, and will you please
come over and see her
"Dear childp Matties quick aympa-
thies were stirred for. the little girl SO soon
to be left motheress. eyes, will come, ="
she said "and would she like to have me
stay all night p
81 don't know"
"Well, will stay if she would like to
have me-"
I" Mother said it was pariicular-some-
thing particular. 49,.
"Well, will come right away. will
walk home with you"
For some reason, the intimacy between
Matte and Sarah Willard had seemed to
drop off since Sarah's marriage; still they
were friends, and being sent for, was scarce
a matter of surprise.
Sarah was dying of consumption; and
each visit that Matte had made for some
time she had thought might be the last.
She put on her things, and giving few
words of household instruction to Jane, her
companion and servant, she went with the
child.
A pleasant, cheerful home it was where
Sarah was closing her life. "You are very
good to come" she said, extending her thin
hand as Matte entered the sick room. 81
wanted to see you because-because ] can.
not live much longer and-'she fixed her
ewes earnestly op Mattie's face, and became
agitated. A fit of coughing followed.
"Never mind to talk" said Matte: 81
will stay while with you"
81 wanted to say something; but pretty
sooI--I cannot now.
"Dont try to talk; it makes you cough"
"Pretty soon" An unnatural bright
ness shone in the eyes Of the sick woman;
1.-The nurse said nervous chill was coming