The Van Buren press., 1875-05-04
NO.. 4

with roses and elematis that you fancy
you are entering bower
'Oh, splendid! ! cried Mary exstatical.
ly.
And there's blue lake shining thro'
the trees, as If some great liquid sap
phirc had lost itself among the hills; and
tiny plateau of lawn, surrounded by
beeches and elms and CEDAR trees and
flower borders--Hallo what's upT
For, just then, there was crash, a
shouting Of the driver, and deadly SEN
sation of pain The carriage had upset
on the steep mountain road, and Mary
lay white and fainting before her hus-
bands horror stricken eyes.
Ny wife my treasure! ! he cried, 'oh,
speak to me Tell me you are not dead! I!
she tried to smell as they held the re-
storatives to her pale lips.
Not dead but | think my arm is
broken
She was right. The overthrow Of the
carriage had concentrated her whole
weight on one arm, and the slender bone
had snapped And, while they we're try
ing to ascertain the extent Of the injury,
she tainted u second tine.
How kind you arc to me and what .
secluded spot this. Do you know, Mfs'
Ardea, do not get the accident that
brought me so near 10 your heart
Mary Dearford lifted her eyes to the
face of a delicate, graceful woman of fifty
or thereabouts, as she lay on sofa in .
flower garlanded bay window. Mrs Ar
den smiled.
Yet your recovery has been long and
tedious
Il have not felt it so. Dear Mrs Ar
den, you have been like mother to me.
do not want to leave this sweet, little
bower--no, not even for my own homo
unless
She checked herself with sudden light
in her eyes flush coming to her brow.
Unless what, Nary
Unless you would come with me!
Oh, Mrs Arden, do say yes
Young married people are better by
themselves, my love, said Mrs. Arden,
with smile and sigh. You see ! can
remember back to the days when was o
BRIDE
But would be like sunbeam in the
house. pleaded Mary, pressing her lips
coaxngly to the fair, transparent hand
that lay in her own. / should be so
much happier if you would come
Really and truly, MaryT
Yes, really and truly. Promise me.
darling! win you? Oh, it will be such
good news for Charley"
Aunt Mary's girlish face grew fairly
radiant as she read the unuttsred Ian.
guage of her friends eyes.
oh, am so glad she repeated over.
And the instant her husband entered she
cried out joyously:
Oh. Charley, what do you think I
Mrs Arden is coming IN stay with ~ for
long time; IL am good, perhaps for
always.
lie glanced from one to the other.
But thought you didn't like mothers.
in.law, Mary
Mother in-law ! repeated the bride,
vaguely. :.
Then you have not told her., said
Charles Dclaford.
Told me what9 What does this mys.
terry meanY' eagerly questioned Mary.
This is my home, dearest, the home I
had engaged for the summer--and when
heard that you were lying i'll and sense
less at the inn just below, ordered them
to bring you here. Mary, my darling,
can you call me mother, nowT
From my heart, she answered, hiding
her iace on the tender maternal bosom.
And when Charley teased her after.
wards about all the demonstrations she
had made on the subject Of mothers In
law, Mary stoutly defended herself:
Now, Charley she persisted, ! was
right, after all For il isn't mother.in.
law that have, but dear and cherished
mother