Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-27
ENOCH ARDEN, AGENT.
By JAY EDGARE.


4 beautiful woman of twenty-six, sat by
the sitting room window of a small cot
tage gazing listlessly out at the passers
by.
She had just returned from hard
days work Canvassing for new book
on which she was dependent for the
support of herself and two small chill
dren. As she sat gazing out into the
dusk, her thoughts went back to the
time two years ago, when, with a low
ing husband and three children she
had lived as happy as a mortal could
wish for. But soon the Black Hills
gold fever broke out, and her husband,
dividing his savings and leaving her
One-half, departed for Deadwood to
make his fortune. Three months
passed during which the wife received
frequent letters speaking of good pros
poets, and then came silence, followed
soon after by the news of his murder
and robbery; and the light went out of
the wife's life. Sickness of the
little pet of the family-redueed the
widows funds, and she was at last
reused from her sorrow to make a
living for the two little ones left to her
1t was new and bitter trial for the sor-
rowing wife to go out in the cold selfish
world and earn her bread, but the love
of her little ones gave her strength
Many ways and means she tried,
shirt making at six cents piece, and
J other plain sewing as unremunerative.
AT last she tried the agency business;
and, after trying different articles with
varied success, finally secured the
agency for a popular subscription book,
in which her education was a great
help to her.
AS the holidays approached, Mrs.
Arden had hoped to sell enough books
to enable her not only to pay up her
rent and grocery bills, which were con-
siderably in arrears, but also to pro-
vide for her little ones, who were clam
orous to know if Santa Claus was going
to bring them anything. But the peO-
| pie pleaded hard times, and the disap-
/ pointed mother found her little fund
| barely sufficient to settle her rent and
grocery bill; and her eyes dimmed
with tears as she now sat in the twilight
of Christmas eve and carressed the two
little heads that lay in her lap, and
listened to the childish voices asking il
she had seen anything of Santa Claus
Suddenly knock at the door started
her. Mrs. Arden opened it and ad
mitted her landlord, the rich Senator
Gordon. After the usual salutations
she said "NIr. Gordon [ shall have tC
, ask you to wait for the rem
until next week, as some of my sub
scribers willno be able to pay unit
then"
"Ahem. that's all right Mrs. Arden,
said the landlord pompously. Sui
yourself about that" Then after :;
long pause, during which Mrs. Arde1
thanked him for his forbearance, h
said nervously. Fact is Mrs. ArdeI
| did not call for that tonight, II
that is-yOu know it's Christmas eve
and that IS to say | wanted to speak
about another matter"
Here the senator paused, and wipeC
his troubled brow with his silk handker
chief, while Mrs Arden waited in sur
prised silence.
At last the senator looked far ava,
from her and said-"Your HUSBAND
has been dead now-how long,"
'Nearl Y two years sir," said Mrs. Ar
den, depressing her tears and the grea
throb that welled up from her heart a
the thoughts IF her husband.
"And you've never believed anything
] else than that he was-dead. That is
no news lately that would make YOU
think.
"N1r. Gordon exclaimed Mrs. Ar
den, excitedly. as she sprnng up anC
took a step towards him. 'What de
you mean? For heavens sake. tel
me, is he's he
No, no, Mrs. Arden" exclaimed
the Senator, Il didn't mean to hin
that he was alive. We all know he j
not. | only wanted to know if you fel
certain Of it."
Eyes, yes, too certain of it." sigheC
I Mrs. Arden, sinking to her seat with
sigh.
1t was too dark for the Senator to Sc,
the widows agitation, or perhaps h,
would have postponed what else h,
had to say till a more fitting emporium
ity. SO he said, Mrs. Arden. twt
years is rather long time, and yol
have had rather a hard time to se
along. You must often feel lonely
Don't you think that, ahem! unde
circumstances you might think ofmar
rying again?"
''Sir." said Mrs. Arden, In a tone o
mingled pain and Indignation.
81 ask you if you will not marry
again" said the Senator, still Oblivion!
to the widows state of feeling, or think
ing it came from some other cause
''NIrs. Arden, Edith, l loved your moth
er and lost her. May not her daughter
be kinder to me. EDITH, will you mar
ry me! [ am lonely, and"
''Mr. Gorden." interrupted the wild
ow in trembling voice. please dom
say any more. 1t can never be. NJ
other can fill my husbands place il
my affection"
Very well ma'am, said the senator
in a husky voice as he arose. II think
. good deal of you because loved youI
mother and [ thought maybe yor
might like me 4 ittle-but-it's al
, right [ suppose. | was foolish to think
of it. Good evening ma'am. Dom
trouble yourself about the rent, any
time it's convenient"
GOOD evening Mr.. Gordon" said
Edith kindly, Il respect you and an
grateful for your appreciation, but
shall never marry another"
After Edith had put her little ones te
sleep, she sat gazing at their little limo