Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-10-06
HIS FIRST WIFES RELATIONS.

HIS FIRST WIFE'S RELATIONS.
Hubert Stickney's choice OF second
wife was not generally approved. If
Mr.. Stickney had been an ordinary cit
izen there would undoubtedly have
been talk enough in regard to the un-
suitableness of the match; but Mr..
Stickney was not an ordinary citizen.
He was selectman, surveyor, master of
the Grange, general administrator and
adviser on all legal, moral and domes-
tic subjects. The governor himself
could scarcely be more in demand than
this well-iniormed and high minded
Vermont farmer. Now for such man
to choose companion from fashionable
city life was inevitably to cast some
doubt on the soundness of his Judgment
in the past, and so friends and neigh
bors shook their heads sadly, and told
each other that Stickney's influence was
a thing of the past.
Now this gentleman, honorable as he
had certainly proved himself in every
department of life, had not been quite
frank with his lady-love. He had told
her with some pride the exact amount
of his income. He had pictured the
fine old homestead with the warmth of
one who loves what he is describing.
His intended wife had known just how
many elms there were in front of the
house, as well as their ages and his
tories. The lawn, the orchards, the
mountains, the little lake in the heart of
the woods, she was perfectly acquainted
with. In fact, there was nothing
omitted from the picture but the human
figures occupying the foreground.
These were the first wife's relations, and
no one knew better than Mr. Stickney
how prominent were the positions they
occupied.
The gentleman's voice did not seem
quite natural when he presented his
wife to the ladies assembled at the
homestead to meet the travellers.
Florence" he said, "allow me.
This is Mrs. Mazonson," presenting the
elderly lady, who certainly did not look
very gracious, and Miss Maria and
Miss Susan Mazonson," indicating two
ladies Of uncertain age, equally stiff and
uncordial.
Miss Susan Mazonsonl The young
wife, whose appreciation Of the humor
GUS was very keen, had all she could do
to keep from laughing in the faces of
the unbending trio with the con- ical
names. 1t was very good of Mr.. Stick
ney to invite friends to meet her, she
told herself, as she pleasantly greeted
her seeming guests. But why had he
selected such a funereal-lo looking party
At the tea-table Mrs. Stickney, fresh as
rose in her pretty summer silk and
dainty laces, sat beside her husband.
The elder Mazonson presided at the tea
urn. This was more inexpIicable than
the rest; but perhaps it was the fashion
IN Vermont to treat the lady of the
house as a guest for time, and so this
insult was good naturedly accounted
for. The table, though unexception-
ably appointed, and covered with every
imaginable good thing, was waited upon
by her guests. This was doubtless
another act of courtesy, the new conner
told herself, but the sight of servant
would have been an inexpressible re-
lief. 1t was very annoying to be served
by ones visitors, but this being the
fashion, she must make the best of it.
After starting numberless topics Of con-
versation, and having them all fall
dead-eyen her husband seemed sud
denly struck dumb-Mrs. Stickney was
Obliged to give up the contest. How
different this was from the home COM
ing she had SO lovingly anticipated !
Such Jolly times as they had had all
through their six weeks wedding tour,
a1S onnT. IN " the twinkling of an eye"
6srvthing had changed, or seemed to
change. OF course it was all seeming,
the young wife told herself, but it was
surely very disagreeable. After the
wretehed meal was over Mrs. Stickney,
almost ready to cry, invited her hus-
band to take walk, but here was Mrs.
Mazonson at his elbow.
Hiram had to go away this noon, .
she said, |" SO | suppose you'll have to
milk, Hubert"
Mrs. Mazonson was very tall, very
thin, very dark, and her voice was so
nnutterably deep and hollow that Mrs.
Stickney conld not rid herself Of the
notion that it belonged to somebody
else. The city-bred young lady knew
that COWS had to be milked, but she
had never associated her husband with
the one that performed the operation,
and now turned an astonished face to
that gentleman and the assembled Ma.
zonsons.
" It must be fun to milk, " she re-
marked, determined to put the best pos
sible lace on affairs. I'll go and see