The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-16
MY TWO HUSBANDS,
BY MAY BRENTWOOD.

BY MAY BRENTWOOD.
I was called strange girl, with quix-
otic notions of morality. I had high
ideal of manhood that seemed almost i'm
possible to be realized in the weak, frail
mortals of the sterner sex.
was nineteen when first met Harvey
Murch; my eyes found in him their ideal
of manly beauty, while my innocent,
girlish heart clothed him with all the
virtues 1 had vowed that the man 1
welded must possess. I think it would
have been hard to find a man of nobler
bearing, or of more high-bred, cour-
teous manner.
He drew me out little by little, until
he held the key to my heart. He pro-
and virtuous life; he may have meant
what he said; I would rather believe that
he did than that he stained his soul with
lie in those first halcyon days of our
love; for even now, looking back through
the mists of bygone years, with all their
sorrow and shame, I believe there was O
time when he loved me.
l was not handsome. 1 was tall and
slender, with brown eyes and hair.
had pretty chin and thin red lips. Peo-
pie called me interesting, but never
handsome.
In due time Harvey and I were mar
ried, and moved away from the city,
with its noisy din and perpetual excite
ment, to lovely place in the country,
ten miles from B enjoyed the
change, and, with perfect trust in the
man of my choice, for three short years
was as happy as the birds that carolled
to their mates in the soft, balmy days of
spring.
When we had been married cne short
year a little stranger, with large, Won
dering brown eyes and tiny form, came
knocking at the door of our hearts for
admittance; and no baby could ask for a
warmer welcome than we gave to our
darling baby boy. It seemed as though
there was nothing more that my heart
could desire; husband who was still
kind and true, a baby who grew in
beauty and in grace, every day taking
watched and guided by our loving
hands.
Our little Chester-for such we had
named our boy-was two years old when
the cloud arose on the horizon of our
domestic happiness that was so soon to
burst over our heads.
I had heard my husband speak of
Mabel Mace as of an old friend. had
no thought of jealousy, I trusted him
too much for that. What sent her to my
home, to enter, like the serpent, our
Eden
One day Harvey told me she was COM
ing to board with us through the sum-
mer, If we could accommodate her. I
dreaded stranger in our household,
but, as he seemed to wish it, / took all
due pride in making everything ready
for my guest.
One beautiful June morning the old
stage deposited wondrously beautiful
woman at our door. No description
could do justice to Mabel Mace. She
was small, with childlike blue eyes,
fair complexion, with dimples in her
cheek and chin, and mouth that looked
as though it were made to be kissed; she
did not look over seventeen, although
twenty four summers had passed over
head. She was just the woman for most
men to love; nothing of the dreaded
was one to float with the current, but not
the one to stem the tide. woman to
be petted and cared for as tenderly as O
baby, but not the woman to struggle on
alone. wondered in vague way, even
then, why Harvey had not loved her
when he knew her first.
My husband greeted her with smile
and warm clasp of the hand, saying he
hoped she would be contented with us,
and we would do our best to make her
stay pleasant. Then he introduced me.
She greeted me with warm embrace
and kiss. / liked her; could not
help doing SO, she seemed so innocent;
while she seemed to worship Chester and
me.
I told Harvey he must help her enjoy
the summer by waiting on her to the va
rious places of interest, and it was sur
prising how willingly he obeyed. On
Sundays they went to church. I did not
go, as-some one must remain at home.
Once he had hired a boy to come and re-
lieve me; but things had changed since
then. I was blind, and thought it no
hardship to remain at home.
Sometimes Mabel would say, with her
sweetest smile,
.'Will you go berrying to-day with me.
pet?" the name by which she always
called me.
When I could I went, but when I
could not she would prevail on Harvey
TO go, and then she would say,
ssYou won't be jealous of poor little
me? You know / don't have chance to
go berrying every summer, and am
afraid of cows and snakes, and dare not
go alone.
OF course I would excuse her on that
plea, and was not afraid to trust Har-
Vey.
At last there was vague rumor float
ng to the effect that my husband was
Ialse to me-that he loved Mabel Mace.
I did not believe it, and even though I
Jaw the looks of pity bestowed upon me,
I did not doubt my husband. be-
ieved he was still true, while Mabel
night be weak, but not wicked; no, I