The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-01-20
THE THROCKMORTONS.
Harpers Monthly.

Theodore Throckrnorton?" said Aunt
Jane, with a sniff OF disapproval.
Yes, I believe I am" answered
Rose.
THE ThrockmortOns were always
a stiff-necked race I wish you well
i wish you WE'LL but don't care to
have one Of my girls marry into the
family"
Rose forebore to answer that her girls
We're in no danger Of marrying into any
family.
Yes" she pursued. 'they've always
had filthy lucre enough-always their
wine in the cellar and their capon on
the spit, and their brocades and dia-
monds for the confusion oftheir neigh
bOrs.' Their was General Throcknor-
ton, who used to lock up his wife in the
old manslOn-hOuse when he went to
court, for fear she would enjoy herself
too much. Who knows but your Mr.
a tyrannical set the Throckmortons
were, never at peace with their wives.
There was Tristram, the first member
Of congress from this district, or state,
or whatever he was IN those days-Well,
he married the prettiest fool, and he
broke her heart, and they used to say
that her ghost wandered about the old
mansion-house; that a young LADY, who
was visiting there years after-vlsiting
his sons Wife-met her in the corridor,
dressed in an old-fashioned changeable
silk, with an ancient brass candlestick
and lighted candles in her hand, hold
ing it up to look at the portraits on the
wall. Oh, [ know the ThrockmortOns,
root and branch"
But, Theodore doesn't belong to
this branch said Rose, who was used
to Aunt James TRADES.
They all come from one stocE-all
from one stock; masterful people, the
Throckmortons carrying all before
them; walking over d friend if he
stands in the way, breaking the hearts
Of women. I've even heard say that
your Mr.. Theodore, with all his soft
manners, never got on with his wives u
you speak as if ne had a harem,
Aunt Jane" cried Rose. Theodore
has never been married but once; and
if he didn't get on with her-which |
don't believe-it must have been her
fault"
II wish you well, Rose; but I am
thankful that neither Ellen nor Amanda
are going to trust their happiness to a
| ThrOckmOrton."
Could there be any grain of truth in
Aunt James insinuatiOns? Rose pom
dered- OF course there was not d par
ticle in her innuendOes about TheO-
dore; but We're the 1hrOckmOrtons a hard
family? OF course Theodore was an
exception if they were as hard as flint
land as for his first wife, Rose had
Iscarcely thought Of her wildly before
What had she been like2 had Theodore
loved her? had she dreamed Of another
woman filing her place? It seemed just
then to Rose as if that must be the bit
terest thing in all the universe She
wondered if Theodore did not possess d
picture OF her somewhere, that she
might satisfy her curiosity one day
and judge if it had been painful for him
to part from her-what manner Of wo
man it was who won his heart first, anC
she plagued herself conjecturing which
he would have chosen had he known
them both. She felt sort Of anguish
in behalf OF this dead woman, who haC
stepped aside and let the sunshine fal
upon herself.
Now that she reflected about it, The
odore had been strangely silent in re-
gard to her, it was certain. Was itindif
ference, or because the grief was toe
sacred. Does q man, she questioned
ever make his first wife the subject O.
conversation between himself and he:
SUCCESSORS describe her charms, make
an inventory Of her little attractions
Wouldn't it be awkward? Rose had nc
experience to inform her. Perhaps il
VAS temperament which decided. Thi:
affair, however, did not dwell long il
her mind; other things absorbed her
buying the last item Of the trosseau
unpacking presents, the perpleying task
Of making a little money do the service
of good deal, and trying on the wed,
ding-dress. Though the Throckmor
tons as family were well known, &C
cording to Aunt Jane, in the neighbor-
hood, yet Theodore was q comparative
stranger, having married and lived in
the south for years, after foreign ed
ucation. It was onl o year since Rose
and he had met on n railway train
showed up some few miles beyond
Little Champion. She had been to
the city to give music lesson; he
was coming home to look q 'ser
, some property that had fallen
to him in Little Champion. Though
they were but five miles from the
station, yet the storm was 50 cold and
binding that only few undertook the
walk into town. There was but a hand
full Of passengers altogether, Little
Champion people mostly who did bust
ness in the city and returned at night;
land 1t so happened that rose was the
IOnly woman among them. They spent
| he night out there among the drifts,
There being, fortunately, plenty of wood
lon board the train to keep them COM
Portable; and under such circumstances
ipeople make acquaintance with COM
parative ase. Mr.. Throckraorton, not
wishing to t'avel on foot in the storm
and rather enjoying the novelty Of the
situation, had yet ventured out a, mile
Or so and foraged at a farmhouse re,
Turning with supply Of dainties walch
lhe begged Rose to share. He had oh,
i+erved she was bored, sleepy and mis-,
lerabIe; he sympathized with her as a
Imam invariably does a pretty woman
lWhy is it that beauty in distress is more
tappealiag than ugliness2 Though fol
| the matter of that perhaps Mr. 1heo
ldore Throckmorton would have folded
Ibis wrap for her weary head, have
braved the storm for her refreshment
| and beguiled her tediun with anecdote
and nonsense, all the same had she
Ibeen the plainest old maid in Littl
Champion; but then his conduct Noul'
have proved an exception to that o
the sex, no doubt By daylight Ros
land Theodore were as intimate lbs
They had been born neighbors; and al
acquaintance begun in a snow-drift, hat
drifted into more tender relation. Il
Ispite of Aunt Jane, Rose and Theodor
we're married, and set off in the earl,
winter for his southern home; ant
what new world it was which Ros.
mad discovered She used to wonde
during those days if it were really her
: self, poor, little, overlooked Ros