The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-25
HIS FIRST WIFE'S RELATIONS.

izen there would undoubtedly bay
been talk enough in regard to the un
suitableness of the match: but M,
Stickney was not an ordinary citizen
He was selectman, surveyor, master o
the Grange, general administrator an,
adviser on all legal, moral and domes
tic subjects. The governor himsel
could scarcely be more in demand tha,
this well-informed and high .minde,
Vermont farmer. Now for such maj
to choose companion from fashionabl
city life was inevitably to cast som,
doubt on the soundness Of his judgmen
in the past, and SO friends and neigh
bors shook their heads sadly, and TOLD
each other that Stickney's influence wa!
thing of the past.
Now this gentleman, honorable as b,
had certainly proved himself in ever,
department of life, had not been quite
frank with his lady-love. He had told
her with some prido the exact amount
OF his income. He bad pictured the
fine old homestead with the warmth o.
one who loves what he is describing
His intended wife had known Just how
many elms there were in front of the
house, as we'll as their ages and his
tories. The lawn, the orchards, the
mountains, the little lake in the heart oil
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 gentlenan's voice did not seem
quite natural when he presented his
wife to the ladies assembled at the
homestead to meet the travellers.
"FIorence," he said, "allow me.
This d 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 comical
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- 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 inexplicable than
the rest; but perhaps it was the fashion
in Vermont to treat the lady of the
house as 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 newcomer
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-even 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.
and now, in "the twinkling of an eye."
everything 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
wretched 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 60 away this noon,"
she said, so I suppose you'll have to
milk, Hubert"
Mrs. Mazonson was very tall, very
thin, very dark, and her voice was 80
unutterably deep and hollow that Mrs.
Stickney could not rid herself of the
notion that it belonged to somebody
else. The city-bred young lady knew
that COWS had to be MIXED, 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.
at must bc fun to milk" she re-
determined to put the best pos
sible face on affairs. "Pll go and see
you"
Not in that dress 1 hope" said Mrs.
as Mr.. Stickney left the
room. "I was going to say, little
while ago." she went on "that seeing
as you was dressr', up. you needn't
mind about the Dishes"
The dishes? What in the world did
this dreadful woman mean? Before
she had time to inquire, her tormentor
had left the room; and now, more per-
picked than ever, Mrs. Stickney went
in search of her husband. She found
him at last in the barnyard, and in the
excitement OF new sensation almost
forgot the disagreeable things that had
preceded it. In dilapidated straw hat,
patched coat, and blue overalls, she did
not at first recognize her husband; but
when she did, she clapped her hands
like child, and laughed as merry
laugh as was ever heard on the Stickney
farm.
"Is that the way the people always
dress when they milk p she inquired,
touching the old coat caressE.a with
her little white hands.
"One must dress according to ones
work on farm, Florence" Mr.. Stick.
ney remarked, sententiously.
Something in her husbands words OF
manner must have recalled her late an
nQyances, for the smile faded away from
her lips, and her eyes grew sad and
troubled. HUBERT" she said, softly,
"who are those-those ladies at the
house?"
"Why, they are tho Mazonsons,
lorence-Mrs. Mazonson aud her two
daughters" the master Of the grange
replied.
1t was very kind of you to ask Mrs.
Mazonson and her daughters to meet
me-" the young wife resumed, with a
touch Of something in her tone that her
companion was not familiar with, "but
l can't understand why they should
seem SO very much at home, Hubert"
Mr.. Stickney moved the three-legged