River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-27
ENOCH ARDEN, AGENT.
~ JAY EDGARE.

4 beautiful woman Oftwenty-slx sat by
the sitting room window of a small cot
tage gazing listlessly out ut the passers
by.
She had just returned from hard
days work canvassing for n 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 Il low
ing husband and three children she
had lived as happy rs 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 sileEce, 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 n new and bitter trial for the sOr-
rowing wife to 90 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 a piece, and
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 popular subscription book,
in which her education was 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
siderably in arrears, but also to pro-
vide for her little ones, who We're 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 if
she had seen anything of Santa Claus.
Suddenly a knock at the door started
her. Mrs. Arden opened it and adj
mitted her landlord, the rich Senator
Gordon After the usual salutations
she said MIR. Gordon | shall have to
ask you to wait for the rent
until next week, as some of my sub
Scribers will not he able to pay until
them
"Ahem, that's all right Mrs. Arden, I"
said the landlord pompOusly. suit
yourself about that" Then after a
long pause, during which Mrs Arden
thanked him for his forbearance, he
said uervously. Fact Is Mrs. Arden
| did not call for that tonight, Il
that is-you know it's Christmas eve
and that Is TO say ! wanted to speak
about another matter"
Here the senator paused, and wiped
his troubled brow with his silk handker-
chief while Mrs Arden waited in sur
prised silence.
At last the senator looked far away
from her and said-"Your husband
has been dead now-hOw long,
Nearly two years sir, said Mrs. Ar
den, depressing her tears. and the great
throb that welled up from her heart at
the thoughts Of her husband.
''And you've never believed anything
else than that he was-dead. That is,
no news lately that would make you
think.
''Mr. Gordon" exclaimed Mrs Ar
den, excitedly. as she sprnng up and
took a step towards him. What dc
YOU mean? For heavens sake. tell
mo * he's he
NO, no, Mrs. Arden" exclaimed
the Senator, Il didn't mean to hint
that he was alive We all know he Is
not. | only wanted to know if you felt
certain Of it.
Yes, yes, too certain of it, sighed
Mrs Arden, sinking to her seat with 4
sigh.
1t was too dark for the Senator to sec
the widow agitation, or perhaps he
would have postponed what else he
had to say till Il more fitting Opportun-
itv. SO he said, Mrs Arden, two
years Is rather long time, and you
have had rather hard time to get
along. You must often feel lonely
Don't you think that, ahem, under
circumstances you might think ofmar
rying again?
"Sir," said Mrs. Arden, In I tone o
mingled pain and Indignation.
Il ask you if you will not marry
again, said the Senator, still obllviou>
to the widows state of feeling, or think
ing it came from some other cause
Mrs. Arden. Edith, l loved your moth
or and lost her May not her daughter
he kinder to me. Edith, will you mar
4 m, lDralN- or,I ~
Mr.. Gorden," interrupted the wild
CIV in A trembling voice please dom
saw anv more. 1t can never be. Nc
othcr can fill my .ushand's place IL
my affection.
VERY well ma am, said the senator
IN a husky voice as he arose. Il think
lgood deal of YOU because loved YOU
mother and / thought maybe vol
might ike me a little-but-it's al
right | suppose. was foolish to thlnI
If it. Good evening ma'am. Don
trouble Yourself about the rent, any
time its convenient.
Good evening Mr.. Gordon saic
Edith kindly, Il respect YOU anu an
grateful for Your appreciation, but
shall never marry another.
After Edith had pUt her little ones Il
sleep, she sat gazing nj their little limo
cent faces long time, thinking wheth
er she mad done right by them in re
fusing home, wealth and kind pro
lection. At last She raised her eyes
they fell on her husbands portrait, an
she murmured-
No, no! it would be sacrllege.
will work for my little ones, but ! wi
not take another in thy place, Will no
sell myself for gold"
But She little thought how hat resc
luton was to be tried. Christina
came, but no Santa Claus came 10 tn
little cottage; but sickness came III
stead combining Edith to the house 70
months, and the rent and doctors bl
grew frightfully large. credit at tn
store was at first hesitatinglv granted
and at last refused
She was advised to ask asSiStanc
from Senator Gordon as her mother
friend, but even had She consented.
was impossible, for the senator ais
was confined to his bed by a dangerou
illness.
At last Edith recovered; and as sh
looked over the accumulated bill
which she must work to pay, beside
supporting her family, she almost dc
SPARED. Then was the senator