The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-01
MY Two Husbands.
BY MAY BRENTWOOD.

was called strange girl, with ouix-
otto notions of morality. l had high
ideal of manhood that seemed almost i'm
possible to be realized in the weak, frail
mortals of the sterner sex.
l was nineteen when 1 first met Har-
vey Murch my eyes found in him their
ideal of manly beauty, while my inno-
cent, girlish heart clothed him with all
the virtues l had vowed that the man I
welded must possess. think it would
have been hard to find man of nobler
bearing, or of more high-bred, courte-
Gus manner.
He drew me out little by little, until
he held the key to my heart. He pro-
fessed the deepest veneration for pure
and virtuous life he may have meant
what he said l 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, l believe
there was q time when he loved me.
was not handsome. was tall and
slender, with brown eyes and hair l
had a pretty chin and thin red lips.
People called me interesting, but never
handsome.
In due time Harvey and 7 were mar
ried, and moved away from the city,
with its noisy din and perpetual excite
ment, to a lovely place in the country,
lilo cro,, ID bo
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, talmy days of
Spring.
When we bad been married one short
year little stranger, with large, won
derlng 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. 1t seemed as though
there was nothing more that my heart
could desire husband who was still
kind and true, baby who grew in
beauty and IN grace, every day taking
one more step in the mysteries of life
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
had heard my husband speak of Ma
bel Mace as of an old friend. / had no
thought of jealousy. / trusted him too
much for that What sent her to my
home, to enter, like the serpent, our
Eden
One day Harvey told mo she was
coming to board with US through the
Summer, if we could accommodate her.
| 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, q
fair complexion, with dimples in her
cheek and chin, and mouth that looked
as though 1t were made to be kissed she
did not look over seventeen, although
twenty four Summer had passed over
her head. She was just the woman for
most men to love; nothing Of the
dreaded "woman's rights" style about
her. She was one to Aoat with the cur
rent. but not the one 10 stem the tide.
A woman to be petted and cared for as
tenderly ~ baby, but not the woman
to struggle on alone. wondered in .
vague way. even then, Why Harvey had
not loved her when be knew her first.