The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-08-13
Selfft Shrp.
RoB's WIFE.
BIZ DAISY DEAN.


dresses we were to wear to Madame Del.
mont's reception that night, mamma sip
ping her coffee leisurely, when James
came in with the morning papers and
laid letter beside mammals plate. She
finished her coffee, took up the missive,
broke the seal, glanced at the first page,
then dropped it with horrifed little
scream
"Wh.t is it7' cried Del and /, in con.
cert.
"Rob," gasped mamma.
Isis anything the matter with
Rob2'' I faItered, growing suddenly
white. .Is be sick 2'
.Worse than that" said mamma; she
is married!"
Then we stared at each other aghast
for space of ten minutes, during which
interregnum mamma recovered her equa.
nimity sufficient to read Bob's letter to
US. He had been married then q month,
would be with US some time in Novem
Der, OF his wife he only wrote:
"She is an orphan, and but for myself
entirely alone in the world. I hope you
will all. love her dearly, for she is very
young and very lonely"
Now we, the Marsdens, were an ex-
,remely aristocratic family. Our father,
who had been thoroughly gentleman
and an aristocrat, had died when l and
Del 1--WE were twins were mere babies,
leaving mamma charge defairc OF his
large property, Of which Beechcroft,
where we still lived, was the old ances-
trail home of four generations Of the
Marsdens. We we're all very proud of
our mother, who had been great belle
In her day and was still beautiful, with a
high bred, patrician style of beauty
which. though inherent, seemed to have
matured with time as some delicate trop-
ical fruit grows richer as it grows ripper.
When my sister and reached woman
hood every one declared us to be the
exact counterparts of our mother, which
we accepted as the greatest compliment
that could be paid Us. But Rob, who
| was our senior by Eve years, was so de.
cidedly cosmopolitan 10 his tastes, and
vithal was so supremely Indifferent to
his mothers high. born ideas Of caste
that at times be was the object of her
earnest solicitude. He had early devel-
oped rowing disposition, had travelled
extensively on the continent, and on his
return would not be content till he had
made the tour Of the western and south
western states, though he frequently in
his letters avowed his intention cf com
ing home to settle down. He was com
ing now soon for certainty, and was
bringing with him wife, strange wo.
man, who would supercede our beautiful
mamma as mistress of Beechcroft, and
think from the time we received Reb's
letter we hardened our hearts against the
stranger who was yet to come in oul
midst. We regarded her not as oul
brothers beloved and honored wife, bu,
as ore Who had supplanted US in his af.
| fections, had stolen bis allegiance away
from US, and was coming soon to as
sert her superior claims, and resented
her coming as an invasion-resented !,
with blind dunreasonableness which was
unworthy true womanhood, and which
blush to look back upon. Not but wha,
we had always expected that Rob would
marry sometime, but we had rather
hoped that he would at least consult the
tastes of his mother and sisters in thu
selection of wife. / think if bomb
shell had suddenly exploded in oul
midst it could not have created greater
surprise or CONSERVATION than did thii
simple letter Of my brothers which an
nounced his marriage, and named th.
day when he and his newly made wifi,
would be- with as. Doubtless it was ,
new version of the old King Cophetw'
and the beggar maid, and the bare sug
gestion on Dels part OF Rob Marsden
the last of that ancient and honorable
name, victimizing himself and family BY
misalliace was sufficient in itself to Sc
us all shuddering with horror. But ",
we're only anticipating.
The days went swiftly by and on,
dreary day in November Rob and BIZ
wife came home. From the drawing
room window we saw the carriage driy,
up the avenue, and mamma, Del aud
; went into the hall to receive them -
James opened the door and two figures
stepped inside-one tall, broad.shoul
dered and. handsome, the other Sigh
and shrinking and dressed in gray plaid
Rob kissed us all tenderly, then turning
to the figure in gray, and taking one o
its small hands in his own, said simply
aMother, this is my wife, Dolores
these are my mother and sisters"
Rob's wife turned toward US face, O
rather a pair of eyes I saw only th
|, eyes) whose expression / shall never for
get, and in day that came afterwar'
the hungry longing In their trouble,
depths haunted me. Now they SCENE,
to search all our faces as If looking 70
the welcome light which was not there
then all the sorrowful yearning was cor
centrated in one look. which rested O
mamma's face The two hands wer
put out toward her with gesture ha
deprecating, half imploring. Mamm
coldly took one Of the hands, touche
!. her lips to the pale cheek turned towar
J, her, and murmured few dignifed word
8 of welcome; but they were mere woYd
r conventional falsehoods, such as we u
d ter every day of our lives, from force {
n elegant habit-words prompted and fasl
e ioned by the head, not the heart d,
!. and greeted her with icy condescer
i sion; then followed tea. After tea "
J. all gathered into the drsWing-room. 3
often recall that evening as one of Ii
8 most uncomfortable ones OF my life.
n chilly reserve seemed to have settle
!. upon. the little family circle when a
should have been warmth and goo
cheer, the conversation was desultor,
forced, and ! was heartily glad when D,
8 lores pleading fatigue retired early, Re
a following her almost Immediately.
I am disappointed" said mamma, "s
' disappointed in Rob's wife,
3 "A daughter of the gods divinely TALL,
d And most divinely fair -
Who would shine resplendent as qaee