The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-01-22
TOM FACETS WIFE.

was all alive with glittering carriages
dainty pony ph@tons, and equestrian
of both sexes-and from her seat on th,
porch of the pretty little gothic cottage
that faced the sea, Mrs. Pierre Page
watched the gay throng of fashion witl
a calmly contemplative eye.
She was a pretty widow, with hail
just beginning to show silver CLEANS
beneath it's covering of Nile-green rib
bon aud Machlin lace-a white-handed,
soft voiced widow, who wore softly
rustling silks and great solitaire dia'
monds in her ears, like drops of glitter
ing water, and always spoke in languid.
gently modulated accents, as if it were
too much trouble TO raise her voice.
just opposite her lounged brilliant,
dark-eyed girl, with shining jet tresses
twisted and wound about her head, and
pierced here and there with the blade
of pearl-hilter dagger. Her dress
was of pure white muslin, with scarlet
silk scarf, looped with careless grace
over its billowy breadths.
Diana Hall was a southern belle-and
she had come to spend few weeks at
the summer cottage of her friend Mrs.
Paget-partly on the score of friend
ship, partly to get her roses and vitality
for the next Savannah season.
$50 Tom is married ?" said Miss
Diana, listlessly interested in a great
ocean steamer, whose black trail of
smoke could just be seen against the
dazzling horizon.
eyes, said Mrs. Paget, with scarce
Iy perceptible cloud on her serene face.
ellis wife is here"
"Here with you?"
Yes. She went for long drive this
morning, and she ought to have been
back long ago. I expect her every min
ute."
What sort of a girl is she?" Miss
Hall asked, not that she particularly
cared, but it was de regye to show some
sort of interest in the newly-wedded
bride of her hostess's son.
"Do you want me to tell you the
truth, Diana ?"
"Of course, I do"
Well, she's Toms wife, but she's
tall, awkward, raw-boned creature, en-
tirely without the element of style,
ignorant of the commonest accomplish
ments, with absolutely nothing to rec
ommend her but contralto voice and
pair Of fine eyes,"
"Dear me p said Miss Diana, arch
ing her black eyebrows. "What could
have possessed Tom to marry her?"
81 don't know" said Mrs. Paget, in
accents of despair. "And he don't
know either. I asked him the question
point blank, the other day. Il sup
pose was under a SPELL said he.
The fact is, mother, I am little disap-
pointed in Emily. But I'm married,
and the ceremony can't very we'll be
annulled.'"
"Just like Tom," said the pretty
brunette. "Tom was always buying
new toys, and getting tired Of them
even vixen we we're children together"
"Just like Tom," echoed Mrs. Paget,
bitterly. "But, unfortunately, this
toy can't be thrown away"
"But you say Tom has gone to
Europe"
eyes he can get rid of her, but I
can't" said Mrs. Paget. GAS my
daughter-in-law, I am bound to give
her the shelter of my home and-but
what was that rustling sound?"
Miss Diana turned her head. "Only
the muslin drapery inside-the blue
ribbon fastening has given away"
But Miss Diana Hall was mistaken.
It vas the rustling Of a woman's dress,
as Mrs. Thomas Paget, who had heard
the entire dialogue, hurried from the
room, her hands tightly clasped over
her eyes, her teeth unconsciously set
together,
For Emily Paget was only sixteen,
and these revelations came like thun-
derclap. Many a time in the brief
weeks of her welded life had she had
her deubts and fears, but never any
thing to compare with this. Tom was
Sof her! Tom was tired of
her? And Emily, who with all her
had true woman's heart,
threw herself on the low, chintz-draped
sofa in her room, and burst into tor
rent of passionate tears and sobs.
And yet it was all true enough. She
to herself that it was all
true. She had been an, uneducated
when Tom Paget, shooting
down at the New Jersey marshes, had
chanced to come across her uncie's
farm, and asked temporary lodgings
there. He had loved her-so he said
at least-and married her. And for a
brief while she had dvelt in Arcadia.
But now-now
She could not die-would to God
that she might She could not vanish
into the ground and become as naught.
But of one thing she was quite certain
she would never be a blemish in the
eyes of Tom Paget again.
And the worst of it all was that she
loved him still
No one but God ever knew what the
poor girl suffered as the purple twilight
faded into dusk, and the stars shone out
above the white foamed tumult of the
sea. But her mind was made up at last.
"Mrs. Paget," she said, next morn
ing at the kfast-table-she could
utter the sweet word I" mother" no
will you grant me a favor ?
Will you let me go home for awhile ?'I
Mrs. Paget hesitated and played with
her crested chocolate spoon.
ST do not think Tom would ap-
prove"
"Tom is not here. And I cannot
stay here !" the girl interrupted.
"Homesick, eh ?" said Mrs. Paget,
with a little soft laugh that sounded
ike purr.
"Wen, if you are determined upon
tt"