Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-26
For the VERMONT FARNER.
The Deserted Wife.

When Leon Somers and Stella Browning
were married, people generally, and their
own immediate friends in particular, were
well pleased with the match. Leon was a
farmers son, who, by patient industry and
unwearied perseverance, had obtained
good education and thorough knowledge of
the science OF medicine, and was reaping
the merited reward OF his untiring efforts, in
the profits of good and constantly increas-
ing share OF the public confidence and pat
ronage in the busy and thriving town of
Denham.
The happy bride was the only daughter of
the wealthy manufacturer, Paul Browning
not n millionaire, indeed, but possessed of n
fortune adequate to supply the wants of his
family. and to support style of living con-
siderably beyond that OF other well-to-do
citizens the village. Stella had been lib
orally educated and having passionate
love for music, her talents had been improv-
ed and she was an excellent performer on
the piano. and n beautiful singer. Inperson
she was rather above the medium height, her
figure well proportioned and graceful in
movement She was not beautiful, there
are but few really handsome WON en- in real
life, although the heroines Of novels are al
most invariably perfect,-but n fine hazel
eye gave expression to countenance by no
means unpleasant, and she impressed the
beholder as being rather superior both in
mental power and personal appearance to
the Dr., who, though tolerably good looking,
was slight in stature and boyish in appear
ancc.
They were ardently attached to each other,
and Stella seemed to reverence him as one
who saw in him qualities of mind and heart
not perceptible to less interested acquaint-
ances. Love is blind" they say, but some
times it appears to be wonderfully sharp
sighted. and discerns in its object multitudes
ofgood qualities never discovered or mag
ined by others, and alas! too seldom realiz-
ed by the deluded admirer.
However that may be the DIR. and his
youthful bride seemed destined to realize
their fondest anticipations. As the years
rolled on their attachment showed no signs
of diminuton, and in financial and social
point they were eminently prosperous. With
continued success the Dr.'s popularity and
business increased, and the lady's pleasing
manners and real goodness of heart won her
friends among all classes.
Thus it seemed that their cup of happiness
was full, when, alas a fatal mis.step DASH
ed it aside, and the bright sun that had shone
so auspiciously upon them was yelled under
an impenetrable cloud.
1t was four years after their marriage that
the village of Denham was invaded by q
troop of city people, seeking rest and reerea-
ton amid the health-inspiring breezes Of the
frowning mountains, by which the town was
nearly shut in on all sides. The hotels,
though commodious for country village,
were insufficient to accommodate the nvad-
ers, consequently afew sought lodgings among
private families, and as it CHANGED, or rath-
or, as Providence ordered, two of them were
quartored for the season at the cottage Of
DIR. Somers.s These were Mrs. Ingalls,, a
weak, foolish mother, and her beautiful
daughter.
1t would be in vain to attempt to describe
Ncttie Ingalls,. Imagine beautiful, bewitch-
ing blonde, n thorough coquette though only
just turned of seventeen, (for city life is cal
culated to mature such propensities earlier
than they are acquired by our open-hearted
country maidens,) and you have n better
idea of her than you could have after the
most elaborate description.
And for this creature, not deliberately
wicked, but vain and thoughtless, was the
happiness of Stella Somers to be sacrificed
Whether she appeared in the morning with
n simple wrapper, with her golden hail
drawn loosely back from her face and con
fined by ribbon, or in n more elaborate
afternoon or evening toilet bespangled with
jewels, (for her mother was wealthy wild
ow, she was the same, bewildering and be
witching by her loneliness, yet to any but ,
blinded devotee she was vain and superb
cial, with little that was really good or true in
her heart.
But Leon SOmers was daZzled by this Wis
ion of beauty, and forgetting his duty to hi
wife he worshipped this new divinity, ant
even neglected the business of his profession
to spend his time at her side. Why she en-
couraged such lover-like attentlonsfrom him
when plenty of young men in her circle
were ready to fall at her feet, cannot be ex
planned, unless it was to crafty sinful van
ity which triumphed in attracting all mel
after her, without regard to honor or right
At all events, she not only allowed his at
tentions but showed him most marked IN
vor, till the poor victim was fairly enthrall
ed.
Poor Stella at first she could hardly be
lieve tho evidence of her own senses. Leo
Somers had been fond and devoted hus
band,-no GOODNESS or suspicion or doub
had ever arisen between them,-he had al
ways been loyal and true,--and W hen it be
came apparent that he was forgetting her h
had promised TO honor, in the smiles of tn
syren, Stella could but think that in fey
days, or weeks at the most, he would Sc
whittier his footsteps were tending, and re
turn again to the heart that was still faith
full to him. So she bore her burden alone
moaning in secret over the pain daily in
flicted upon her sensitive, loving heart an
by no word or sign showed either to he
husband or to the world that she saw augt
ofwhat was taking place.
The summer days dragged slowly to III
tortured wife. At length the day was al
nounced for the return of the pleasure-soel
ers city-w ard, and Stella breathed mol
freely, "for now" thought she, Leon wi
awake from this horrible dream and be hin
self again"
But her hopes were doomed to dissappoin
mont. On the day following the departuI
of their guests the Dr.. did not return at nigh
fall, although he had been absent the entiI
day. Stella wondered at his prolonged al
sence. but hoped he had resumed the dutit
of his profession which had been sadly int
rupted of late, and being naturally hopef
and lighthearted she gathered new oouraI
from this supposition, and from the fact tn
the charmer had gone, and, retiring to h
room, sought her pillow, and reposed mo