The Portland daily press., 1876-04-24
Tom Fosters Wife.
BY EDNA d. PROCTOR.

BY EDNA d. PROCTOR.
had just returned from two years. stay in
Europe, and was sauntering down fremont
street, in the golden September morning,
when saw my old friend, Tom Foster, get
out of horse car few steps in advance oi
me. l knew him in a moment, though we
hardly met since were at Exeter academy to-
gether ten years. before-Ioom-mates and
blithe companions until we parted-I to go to
Harvard and he to enter his fathers store,
the well known house of Foster & CO.., Pearl
street. He was a merry, hearty, practical
fellow, clear skinned and robust as an Eng
lishman, and self-reliant and robust as New
Hampshire birth and Boston training could
make him. / always liked him, but ne
plunged into business and SO, without mean
ing it, we had almost lost sight of each 9TH
er. He was an only child, and his parents
spent their summers at their homestead in
Greenland, near Portsmouth, and their win
ters in Boston. @ E5ra
As I said, / knew him in a moment. He
had grown tall and stout, but the boy was
still In his face, and, with flash OF early
feeling sprang forward and caught him by
the arm. r1
"Tom! How are you?'
He looked puzzled for anoment, and then,
bursting into laugh, he seized my hand in
his strong grasp, and exclaimed:
s'Why, John Ralston! Is that you? Where
did you come from? Pm glad to see you my
boy. Why, haven't set eyes on you since
we made that trip to Nahant in your fresh
man year. The truth is father was so poorly
for long time then that I had everything to
see TO, and felt as if the world was on my
shoulders. l did hear, Though, about you
college honors and your going to Germany
and Pve often thought of you lately and
wished tolsee you. Why, Jack, in spite OF
my weight and your beard and broad shoul-
ders, can't realize that ten years have gone
since we were at Exeter together. We must
talk over old times and new. When did your
get back and what are your plans?'
81 cane yesterday, and shall stay in the
city, on account of a business matter, until
next Tuesday. Then am going home"
"Well, now, this is Saturday, and you can
do nothing after three 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 year," said he, with a
smile. ~ tF -
''You don't look very solemn over it.'
SfSolemn? It's the jolliest thing ever did
in my life. Meet me at the Eastern depot at
four O'Clock, and I'll tell you about it on the
way down."
We parted at the Winter street corner-he
to go to his store, and to the Parker house.
"How handsome Boston has grown" said
/, glancing at the fine buildings and the Com
mon, beautiful in the September sun.
I'VE think it nice town." he replied
speaking with the moderate words and the
perfect assurance of the Bostonian to whom
his city is the sum of all excellence and de-
light Remember, four O'clock" And he
disappeared in the crowd.
Tom marriedP' 1 said to myself as I
walked alone. 81 dare say it's to his fathers
pretty ward, Clara Maitland, whom / saw
when spent the day there eleven years ago.
remember what long culls she had and how
fond she seemed of him. Yes, 1 dare say it's
to Clara. l hope, though, she hasn't grown
up into one Of those delicate young ladies,
good for nothing but 10 display the latest
fashions, and waltz little, and torture the
piano. Better some rosy, sturdy German
Gretchen than poor poll like them. 1t
would be a shame for Tom, with his splendid
physique and vigorous brain, to be tied for
lie to such woman" And then, turning
down School street, my thoughts wandered
off to blue-eyed girl who was not satisfied
with the small triumphs of the croquet
ground, but who would send an AFRO W
straight home to the mark; and climb the hill
with me, her step light and free as the deer's
in the gale below; and hold steady oar in a
boat on the river; and swim ashore, if need
be, and then, when walk or row was over,
who could cit down to lunch of cold meat
and bread and butter with an appetite keen
as young Indians after days hunt; yes,
and who knew how to be efficient in the
kitchen and the rarect ornament of the par
lor. How impatient was TO see her, the
bewitching maiden whom a prince might
have been proud to marry. And again 1 said
to myself as l went up the Parker house
steps: 81 do hope Tom hasn't made fool of
himselfp' All
Four o'clock found me at the station, and a
moment later in walked Tom, carrying a bas-
ket filled with Jersey peaches. "They don't
grow in Greenland" said he, tucking the pa
per down over the fruit. ''Come this way"
followed him, and we had just seated our
selves comfortably in the car when the train
moved off.
snow for the story, Tom," said /, as we
crossed the bridge and caught the breeze cool
from the sea. "But l can guess beforehand
the girl you married. 1t was Clara Matt
land" --9rR
A shadow passed over Toms faco. '.Clara
has been dead four years." said he. ''She in
herited consumption from her mother. We
did everything for her-took her to Minneso-
ia and Florida, but it was no use. She didn't
AitS " sec ACL CiSAtSCutn
''Poor Clara! She loved you dearly. Then
suppose you chose some Boston girl of your
acquaintance?"
Jack, you couldn't tell who Mrs. Tom
Foster was if you tried from now till morn
ing. I shall have to enlighten you," and,
moving the basket to one side, and settling
himself in the seat, he went on: ''You know
have the misfortune to be an only child.
After was twenty.one. father and mother
began to talk about my marrying, I have
plenty of cousins, you know, and we ALWAYS
had young ladies going in and out of the
house; but while Clara lived she was compa-
ny for me, and after she died I was full of
business and didn't trouble myself about
matrimony. To tell the truth. 1 didn't fancy
the girls. Perhaps was unfortunate in my
acquaintance; but they seemed to me all
curls and founces and furbelows, and |
would as soon thought of marrying fashion
plate as one of those elaborate creatures. 1
don't object to style, I like 1t. But you can
see flne gowns and bOnnets any day in the
Washington street windows; and my ideal of
woman was one whose dress was her least
attraction.
"Do you recollect fathers former partner,
Adam Lane? He's clever old gentleman
and millionaire, and father has the greatest
liking and respect for him. He has two
daughters-one married years ago; and the
oIner, Mucn younger, IaIner HXeu upon as a
desirable wife for, me. rather think the
two families had talked it over together; at
any rate Miss Matilda came to Greenland for
a long Summer visit. She is an amiable
girl, but SO petted and spoiled that she's
good for nothing-undevelope in mind and
body. She looked very gay in the evenings,
attired in Jordan, Marsh & Co.'S latest i'm
portation. But she was always late at break
fast, she didn't dare to ride horseback, she
couldn't take walk without stopping to rest
at every stone. and once when 1 asked her
if she had read the battle of Sedan, she look
ed up in her childish way, and said: No,
Mr.. Foster. Newspapers are so tiresome.'
Bless me what should l have done with such
baby?
"a year ago this summer was very much
confined at the store; and, when August
came, instead of spending the whole month
at home, thought would have a change,
and SO I went down for fortnight to the
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