Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-17

That solemn word "wife' 'sobered me direct
| ly. Miss Sanderson my fathers wife! What q
flood of wild, incoherent thoughts passed
my mind as those simple words rang inmy ear.
be able to read her character at glance, to
analyze the very virtue and falling OF the
woman who was to supply the place OF my
dead mother. It was useless to try to think
quietly on the matter-equally useless to talk
to my farmer about it then. must wait until
could reflect more calmly. and then might
be able to determine whether my father was
to be congratulated or the step he was about
to take, or pitied TO- his folly.
In the course OF q day or two learned that
my father had been introduced to Miss San.
derson at the house of a bachelor friend at
Ellington. The introduction had been made, ]
found out, with view of matrimony. My f.
Their had told his old chum, Mr. Fordyce, that
he wanted a wife; that iovial old bachelor had
instantly mentioned the daugeter OF the Hack
ney schOOlmaster, as fitting bride for my
father, and the latter was graciously pleased
to approve of the selection, and thus was the
affair brought about. So :
My father was the very soul of hanor. Al
though man of business, he was not man OF
the world. Even us young man he had new
er sought its pleasures. A quiet evening at
home, rubber at whist, a new book, were to
him never falling sources of enjoyment, and
have often thought that man possessed OF
QulCO GdStcS duu udUlGS 10 W OC OAYASN ~
his fellows. Was it ST. ange, therefore, that
should feel anxious about the character OF
Miss Sanderson? Was it singular that asked
myself over and over again, "Will she make
my father hsppyw
Miss Sanderson's appearance and manners
disposition. She was about six-and-twenty;
but certain staid demeanor, combined with
quiet, yet perfect and exceedingly graceful
and self-possession, would haye excused the
supposi> ion that she was thirty. Her features
were good, and her smile was of the sweetest.
She was well educated, too, and possessed of
much literary and artistic taste. She was
cheerful, but pever frivolous; indeed her
many good qualities seemed SO evenly bal
anced that could scarcely wonder at my ia
Their being riveted, facinated by them. And
yet my heart did not warm toward Miss San
derson. I did not feel that I could love
her; and as I became aware of it. wondered
at my GOODNESS, the more especially as was
obliged to own to myself that had any one
asked me my opinion Of her who was to be-
come my fathers wife, should have felt
bound to give favorable one.
1t was abont a fortnight after the day first
became aware of my fathers acquaiatance
a letter in my hand, at breakfast time. The
superscription was in the hand OF Arthur Mel
ford At tremblingly opened the missive
knew my fathers scrutlnizing glance was
re ting upon me.
"Do not be nervous Florence" said he: "the
expected you would hear from him by this
mornings post, and he has probably written to
ask you to see him this day. You have my
full permission to doso."
My father resumed his Times. Twas speech
less with amazement. l read my letter; it
asking me to meet him in one of the parks.
Papa" I said when had somewhat recov-
cred my equanimity," you know, then, that
Arthur Melford is friend of minew
II have been aware of the fact for some
time Florence" he replied, dryly.
on the subject. At the appointed hour met
Arthur Melford. He looked very pale, but
there was good deal of resolution expressed
in his countenance. There was evidently
something on his mind.
+ Florence, dearest" he said, gravely, II have
asked you to meet me here this morning to say
good-by, and, Florence, must ask you to for
since, and also forget the words that told you
of my love-"
looked in the face of Arthur Melford; it
were a troubled, anxious look, that gave me
pain.
"But, Arthur" said I, "why is thisr' Do
II mean, Flor :nce," interrupted Arthur
Melford, chat am very poor man. As
such, had no business to ask you to love me;
it was cruel for me- it was ungenerous. But
meant to persevere and try and win better
position in the world. shall still persevere
Florence, the knowledge that am not wholly
Indifferent to you will give me courage and
''Yes-yes, Arthur" said, II shall never
cease to love you: but tell me, has my father
had anything to do with this changer
NJ 81 lev IN I'D o1O
"Then it IS Miss Sanderson," l said; lit is
she who"
"Hush, Florence. hush-not word" said
Arthur, gently.
The hot blood mounted to. my cheek, as I
fancied l had got at the truth. I became alb
sorbed in one of those sudden fits of thought
which possess the mind with all the tendency
of dream; and as stood with my eyes va
cantly fixed on the graveled pathway, I was
unconscious of everything-even of the
presence of my lover. Presently low, gen.
tie voice whispered in my ear.
free, dearest, when I return, I may again
know something of happiness"
started from my trance. Arthur Melford
was gone, and I saw him in the distance,
walking rapidly away.
"And so it is Miss Sanderson who mas done
this; it is she who has come between me and
Arthur Melford." I thought as walked slow
ly home.
Exactly month after my parting with
Arther Melford my father was united to Miss
Sanderson. The honeymoon was spent in
Switzerland, and while the happy pair were
away Visited some friends in the country.
had not seen or heard anything further OF
were silent whenever made any inquiries re.
speeding him, and the more reflected, more
certain did feel that there was a great deal
concealed behind my parents reticence. A
certain GOODNESS existed between me and my
step-mother. In this cooless I must, how
liked my fathers wife, why, I scarcely knew
Nv father was happy, .supremely happy in
her society, and his relations and friends con
graduated him on his choice. Then, too
what could be more admirable than the un
| varying kindness with which Mrs. Maynard
treated her huaband? while, as regarded my
| self, although she of course felt that there
| was difference between us, she would scarcely
condescend to acknowledge its existence, anC
treated me with generous affection which
| made me sometimes warm toward her in
spite of myself
But then, that sudden parting with Arthur
Melford! What was the cause of that dreary
farewell? Was it not probable that the daugh
ter Of young Melford's employer had fount
out that her fathers usher was acquaintance
with me, and had she not felt it her duty tx
inform my father of the cladestine and pre-
sumpLuOuS cOurtsnlp OF Inc poor anu ueSplsel
young man?
Eighteen months passed away. My father
had retired from his share of the business in
| which he had so long and so proftably en-
] gagged, and we were residing in pleasant lit
! tie retreat in quiet watering-place on thu
Kentish coast. It was Autumn. Seabridgt
was getting dull; the myriads who annual,
| flock to the ,unpretending yet popular littl
town, were falling off with the yellow. leaf. II
another brief month they would all be gone
Welingered to the last, for my father en-
joyed the rough weather that set in at thu
beginning of October, the Seabridge pier, witt
| Its tarpaulined sailors, formed his daily prom
enade. It was the season Of the eauinoctia
gales, and the casualties atsea were becoming
frequent and serious. The autumnal visitors K
Seabridge for the benefit of their health be
gan to experience difficulty in taking thei1
Constitutional walks; trades people became
anxious about their plateglass, and like Sc
many sailors on board ship, prepared for {
long spell of bad weather. One evening ".
were seated round q cosy fire, when wore
or two spoken by my step other tony father
reused my curiosity to high degree. It wa,
iu reference to the bad weather that Mrs
Maynard spoke. ST s..s "a. nj - - u. %.
| Terrible indeed at seal" she said. "Hil
ship will be due soon. Heaven grant him ],
safe voyage homer p. ss1.sss :. "