Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-09-27
A Second Wife.

A Second Wife.
White and silent, in the centre Of the
darksome room, lay the source Of all the
darkness, the sobs, tn, black wells. "She
looks peaceful, doesn't she ?" murmured
an aunt to a sister who was dropping
bitter tears. cat last! at last!" The
words sounded as if they were ground
between closed teeth.
Mr.. Magogue stopped beside the coffin ;
he was taking last look at the face that
had smiled at him through bridalyeil,
fifteen years before.
ssSee how moved he looks !" whispered
Mrs. Brown to her daughter. ''Ah
she was a high-strung creature-not
Just the one TO make man happy-yet
how attentive and polite he was to her
There is not a better man in Roseville." ="
at seems as though he could not get
away from that coffin," remarked Mrs.
Prism TO Miss Prune. "OhI she was q
high tempered girl! But they seemed
to get on well of late years. He always
got her everything she wanted. What
fine looking man he is"
Just then occurred a sudden move
ment. sit is that sister Of Mrs. Ma
gogue, Julia More. She came near
fainting; her aunt took her out;" the
mourning crowd explained to each
other.
Outside: "Julia! Julia! don't take
on so, dear. Here, here-come in here
minute" Mrs. More drew her niece
into a conservatory, and dipping her
handkerchief into the tinkling fountain
she soothed Julia's temples. She ceased
the spasmodic hand clenchings, but still
glared at her aunt out of hot, dry eyes.
"There, there, cry now, dear; it will do
YOU good,'' said her aunt, still laving
her face.
81 can't cry, aunty; but you did well
to bring me out; in another moment
should have sprung at that hypocrite
| should have turned him round 70 those
maudlin women. l should have said :
There is her murderer! There is the
man who swindled her out of her prop
erty; who broke her heart and wore out
her lifev To hear those women go on
about her 'high temper My poor darl-
ing, Not fit to make him happy" All,
wish had the making of him happy
for little while!'
Several maids and widows had a
Thought of the handsome widower
which fitted into the identical words,
but not into the gritty accents used by
his sister-in-law.
"Don't, July DEAR" pleaded Aunt
More; "I didn't hear anybody say any
such thing; and 1 hope Margaret was
as happy as most wives. At least, she
is resting now, and perhaps the peace
of heaven has already washed away the
scars of earth. Do try TO compose your
self, and let US go back"
They went back, but We need moi
follow them into that dusky atmos-
phere, heavy with tuberose and hello
Irope. the flowers of love and death.
A little over a year afterward, Mr.
Burt Magogue might have been seen
bidding a reverent good night to 8
cherub face, at the door of charming
country house. Stepping back into his
carriage, he noticed friend waiting
for the horse car.
'Come with me, Ross?"
ssThanks, you're good fellow, Ma
gogue."
Gas the coachman drove back to the
city, Mr.. Ross remarked:
"This opera going is costly business
to a poor devil, if the lady lives in the
country, especially If it rains; but you
are not poor devil"
Magosue laughed; al don't care wha
spend in the campaign, SO come ou'
victor"
Then you have begun campaign in
earnest, have your"
you're right"
s'Dear me! Which one is the be
sieged? Miss Erminia? She has fine
dark gray eyes like-like your wife,"
81 know. 1t is not Miss Erminia."
ssMiss Helen? She is an accom-
plished, handsome girl"
.Too accomplished; she has too many
opinions of her own. I've had enough
of that"
"You want an echoE
"well, if you like to put it so, 1 do
want an echo. want little, artless
affectionate, docile, clinging sort Of wo
man. / am going in for Miss Effie."
"Miss Effie! Why, she's hardly ou
of school,
.Hardly. know what want"
'.She would scarcely be much Of {
companion"
81 don't want companion"
'sBut she is dear little thing to pet
sweet, timid eyes, quivering lips-yo'
can't speak to her but the color rises Ii
her face. What flossy, flaxen curls an
hasp On the whole, why don't you &c
a Skye terrierf"
81 know what want" repeated Ma
gogue, a dark smile on his fine features
Presently a new engagement enliv
ened the Roseville tea table.
$50 soon ?" sighed Miss Prune.
'.Soon ?" echoed her brother, "why
his wife has been dead year; sh
wouldn't be any more dead if he waite
three" ~
$50 childish ~ said Mrs. Prism.