The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-23
SELECT STORY.
TOM FOSTERS WIFE.
BY EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.

friend Tom Foster get out Of hoTae-car
q few steps in advance Of me. ! knew
him in q moment. though we had hard iy
met since we were at Exeter Academy
together. ten wears before--roOm mates
and uii,h- companions until we parted
i L. 20 to Harvard. and he to his faith
sr's stores the wsll-known house Of Eos
ter & CO., Pearl ST. He was q merry.
practical fellow, clsaF-skinned and ro-
bust "a an EnRlishman, and self-reliani
and robust as New Hampshire birth and
Boston train could make him. j always
liked him, but he plunged into business.
sni SO, without meaning il, We had al
most lost sight of each other. He was
an only child, and his parents spent
their summers at their homestead IN
Greenland, near Portsmouth, and their
winters in Boston.
As said, knew him in moment.
lie had grown tall and stout, but the boy
was still in his face, and, with a 6ash Of
early feeling I sprAng forward and
caught HIM ~ the arm.
"Toml how are you?"
He looked puzzled for a moment, and
then, bursting into a laugh, he seized nv
handed in his strong grasp, and eIclaim-
ed:
why, John Ralstonl Is that you?
Where did you come from? I'm glad to
see you, my boy. Why, haven't set
eyes on you since we made that trip to
Nahant in your freshman year. The
truth is, father was so poorly a long time
then that had everything TO see TO, and
felt az if the world was on my shoul-
ders. l. did hear, though. about your
college honors and your going to Ger
many; and I've often thought of you
lately, and wished to see you. Why,
Jack, in spite "f my weight and your
beard and broad shoulders, ] can't realize
that teu years have gone rince you and |
were at Exeter together. We must talk
over old times and new. When did you
get back and what are your plans?'
L came yesterday, and shall stay in
the city, on account ofa business matter,
until next Tuesday. Then I am going
home @
Well, now, this is Saturday, and you
can do nothing after shree o'clock
Come and spend Sunday with me in
the country. want to show you my
wife, +-
"Your wife Are you married Tom?'
"Married nearly a year. said he, with
a smile.
You don't look very solemn over it.
Solemn? It's the jolliess thing ever
did in my life Meet me at the Eastern
depot a. four clock, and I'll tell you all
about it on the way down.
We parted AT the Winter street corner
he going to his store, and ] to the
Parker House.
How handsome Boston has grown.
said I. glanciug at the fine buildings
AMI the Common, beautiful in the Sep
tember sun.
we think it a nice town. he replied,
speaking with moderate words and the
perfect assurance of the Bostonian, TO
whom this city ia the sun Of all excel
lence and delight. Remember, four
O'clock And he disappeared in the
crowd.
"Tom married" 7 said toImyself, as
walked alone. Il dare say it's to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland,
whom saw when | spent day there
eleven years ago. / remember what long
curls she had, and how fond she seemed
of him. Yes, dare say it's Clara. !
hope, though, she hssn't grown into one
Of those delicate young ladies, good for
nothing but 90 display the latest fash
ions and waltz little and torture the
piano. Better some rosy, sturdy, Ger
man Gretchen. than q poor doll like
them. II would be shame for Tom,
with his splendid physique and vigor-
GUS brain to be tied for life to snch
woman" And then. turning down
School street, my mind wandered off to
a blue-eyed girl ] had loved for many a
year-a girl who was not satisfied with
the small triumphs of the croquet
ground, but who would send an arrow
straight home to the mark; and climb
the hill with me, her step light and free
as the deer's in the vale below; and hold
a steady oar in boat on the river, and
swim Ashore if need be; and when walk
or row was over could sit down TO 8
lunch of cold meat and bread and butter
with an appetite keen as young Indi.
ans after days hunt; yes, and who
knew how to be efficient in the kitchen
and was the rarest ornament of the par
ior. How impatient / was to see her,
the bewiichiug maiden whom a prince
might have been proud TO marry! And
again ! said to myself as ! went up the
Parker House steps. al do hope Tom
hasn't made fool of himself?"
Four O'Clock found me at the station,
and moment later in walked Tom, car.
rying a basket filed with Jersey peaches
They don't grow in Greenland, said he,
tncking the paper down over the fruit.
Come this way followed him, and
we had jnst seated ourselves comfortably
in the car when the train moved off.
Now for the story. Tom, said ], as we
crossed the bridge and caught the cool
breeze from the sea. But can guess be-
forehand the girl you married. 1t was
Clara Maitland
A shadow passed over Toms face.
'Clara has been dead four years. said he.
She inherited consumption from her
mother. We did everything for her
took her to Minnesota and Florida, but il
was no use. She didn't live TO see her
eighteenth birthday
Poor Claral Shs loved you dearly.
Then, ! suppose, you chose some Boston
girl of your acquaintance?'
Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs