South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-08-30
The Right, Kind of a Wife.

-
Europe, and was sauntering down Tee
mont street M the golden September
morning. whenI saw my obi friend Tom
Foster get out OF a horse car fcw steps
IN advance OF me. I knew him in a
moment, though we had hardly met since
we were at Exeter Academy together.
ten years before-room.m and
blithe companions until we parted to
go to Harvard, and he 10 enter his faith
ers store, The well known house Of Eos
ter q Co., Pearl Street. lie was a mcr-
ry, hearty. practical fellow, clear SKIM
ed ana robust as an Englshman, self
reliant and enterprising as New lIamp-
shire birth and Boston trimming could
make him. i always liked him but he
plunged into business and into study,
and so. without meaning it, we had al.
most lost sight Of each other. He was
an only child; his parents spent their
summers at their homestead in Green
laid, near Portsmouth, and their wins
tiers in Boston. tf at
AS said, knew him in moment.
He had grown tall and stout, but the
boy was still in his face, and, with n
flush of early feeling. sprang forward
and caught him by the arm.
Tom. how are your
He looked puzzled for moment. and
then bursting into n laugh, he seized my
hand in his grasp, and exclaimed:
'Why. John Ralston! is this you?
Where did you come fromp I'm so
glad to sec you. my boy. Why hav-
en't set eyes on you since we made the
trip to Naiant in your freshman year.
The truth is. father was so poorly for d
long time then that had everything to
sec to, and felt as if the world was on
my shoulders. 1 cid hear, though. about
your college honors and your going to
Germany, and I've often thought Of you,
lately, and wished to see you. Why,
Jack, in spite Of my weight and your
beard and broad shoulders. 1 can't real :
lie that ten years have gone since We
were at Exeter together. We mast talk
over old times and now: When did you
sc: back, and what are your plans?'
Il came back yesterday. and Shall
stay in this city, on account of a BUSH
ness matter, until next Tuesday. Then
am going home
> Nell, now, this is Saturday, AMI you
can do nothing after three o'clock
Come and spend Sunday with me in the
country. l want TO show you my wife,
Your wife are you married, Tom?
Married nearly year. said he with
q smile.
You don't look very solemn over it,
Solemn! It's the joliest thing ev.
er did in my life. Meet me at the Eas.
tern depot at four o'clock, and I'll tell
you all about it on the way down.
We parted at the Winter street cor
ncr--he to his store, and TO tie Par
ker House.
How handsome Boston has grown
said |, glancing ut the fine buildings
and the common, beautiful i'm the SEN
tember sun.
We think it nice town. he replied.
speaking with the moderate words and
the perfect assurances of the Bostonian.
to whom his city is the sum Of all excel.
lence and delight. Remember, four
o'clock, and he disappeared in the crowd.
Tom married! | said to myself as
walked along. Il dare say its to his
fathers pretty ward, Clara Maitland,
whom | saw when spent the day there
eleven years ago. l remember what
long curls she had, and how fond she
seemed of him.
Yes, | dare saw, it's TO Clara. hope
though, she hasn't grown for nothing
but to display the latest fashions, waltz
n little. and torture the piano. Better
some rosy, sturdy German Gretchen
than poor doll like that II would be
shame for poor Tom. with his phys.
ique and vigorous brain, TO be tied for
life TO such n woman. And then turn.
ing down School street, my Thoughts
wandered Off TO blue eyed girl | had
loved for many year "A girl who was
not satisfied with the small triumphs of
the croquet ground, but who could send
m arrow home to the mark and could
climb the hills with me, her step licbt &
free as the dcer's IN tie glades below +:
and could hold q steady oar in our boat
in the river and swim ashore If need
be; and then, when our walk and row
was over, who could sit down to a lunch
Of cold meat and bread and butter with
an appetite keen as a young Indians
after n days hunt; yes. and who knew
how to be efficient IN the kitchen. and
the rarest ornament Of the parlor. How
impatient | was 90 see her, the bewitch.
ing maiden, prince might have been
proud to marry. And again / said to
myself, as | went mp tho Parker House
steps, j DO hope Tom hasn't made n
fool OF himself
Four o'clock found me ut the station ::
n moment later in walked Tom, carry.
ing a basket Glled with Jersey peaches.
They don't grow in Greenland said
he, tucking the paper down over the
fruit. Come this way
Now for the story, Tom said 7. rs
we crossed the bridge. and caught The
breeze cool from tho sea. But I can
guess beforehand the girl you married
IL was Clara Maitland
a shadow passc I over Toms face.
Clara has been dead four years. said
he. she inherited consumption from
her mother. We all did everything for
her-took her to Minnesota and Flori-
da, but IL was no use. She did not live
to sec hOr piULfpputb birfLJo,s