Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-13
From the whitehall Review.1
IF MY FIRST WIFE ---.
By g MANvILLE FEM.

By MANv111E FEM.
"Ah, my darling little sis, how are
you? 'Lesbia hath beaming eye.'"
"My dear Frank! I am glad to see
you"
There was an embrace and the lady
burst into tears.
"Lesbia has not a beaming eye!" cried
Frank Reston, barrister, who had Just
leaped down from The dog-cart after a
cold drive from the station at Ramfor6
to his brother-in-laH's handsome place;
the Coppices, CalkstoD, where that new
relative had settled utter his return from
Australia, where he had been sent-tbe
younger son of good old country fami-
Ito see what he could do as what is
euphoniously termed q squatter. He
had squatted to some advantage, the
fates having been kind; and, after MAX
ing moderate fortune, he had suddenly
doubled it by marrying the widow of a
colonial magnate.
At the lady's desire-her will being
paramount-they were on their way to
England, where one night they were
awakened by an awful crash, and, rush
ing on deck, they found all in confusion.
Some vessel had run into them during
fog, cut the great Austral liner down
below the waters edge, and during the
next half hour there was o fight for life.
John Audas behaved admirably.
When the rush was made for the boats.
he knocked down half q dozen towards
one after the other, and by sheer strength
helped the captain to send off the first
boat properly manned, with half the
women passengers, merely stipuleting
that his shrieking elderly wife should be
one. Then he helped with the next.
and got that off safely, before being
overpowered, for mad rush ensued. the
other boats were filed anyhow, and at
last the captain, second mate, halt a
dozen men and the brave young pas
senger were left alone upon the deck of
the sinking ship, with Just time enough
to lash few spars together, throw them
overheard, and trust themselves to this
frail support before the vessel went
down.
From this raft they were picked up
exhausted, half dead, by passing ship,
having seen no more of the boats, all of
which were lost, presumably, in the
gale which came on before many hours
had passed; and thus it was that John
Audas found himself q wilower, at IS,
and far from inconsolable, for report said
his existence with the relict of the
colonial magnate. had been of the kind to
which some people gave very unpleas-
ant term.
So little indeed was the handsome
young color ist affected by his loss that,
after settling down at the Coppices,
where he reveled in the life of country
gentleman, year bad hardly passed be-
fore he was sutton for the hand of Les
bic Reston, the daughter OF the old vicar
of Calkston, AID the belle of the county
ball.
. Matters followed one another IN the
most prosaic way. John Andas was be-
yond reproach for a son-in-law: his WOO
ing was downright and honest; and the
lady found tt bluff, sun. Drowned, we'll
informed fellow-albeit he was fur from
clever-quite contrast snd relief after
the insipid ''locals" of the neighbor-
hood; so the result was that, after rather
short intimacy, John Audas proposed,
was acceptea. Frank. Reston came from
the temple to be present at his sisters
wedding, and now that, six months later,
he had run down to spend q few days at
the Coppicef, to have little shooting,
he found her thin, pale, careworn and
ready at word to burst into tears.
"Why, little Lesby," he cried with all
his old petting ways, ".what is it !? Sure
~ Jack is not behaving badly TO you ?"
emo. Oh, no. It is nothing, Frank; I
am little hys.erical." = -.
"But it is something's he exclaimed.
" II have it out with JOHN"
my dear Frank, you'll, make me
wretched if You say word"
"Oh, well, if you take that tone, of
course I will not" said her brother;
"but 1 came down here for a reet and
to have bit of enjoyment, and find you
in teare."
"Yes, yes, and it's all my nonsense,
Frank dear. There, it's all gone now.
It's the weather, I think"
Where's John ?" ~
"Either in the stables, or down the
garden, dear. I'll send for him."
ooh, Ill 70 and look him up. sup
pose he'll be glad to see me p
."Why, of course, dear. He has been
talking about nothing else since he heard
you were coming, and making no end Of
plans" II y
cab, that's right said Frank Reston,
smiling. ,-~--.-- -...-.....-..-......-
"And I'm so glad you've come, Frank.
dear. You see, I'm afraid I'm not much
of company for dear John-not such
good company as-as I think his. first
wife was"
"Wel], you're a deal better company
than she is now" - <~[tE~5s ::
7 try very hard to take an interest
in his pursuits; but I'm 80 stupid,
Frank, that I'm afraid he gets out Of
patience"
"IN tell you what it is. Lesby," said
Frank Reston, bllntly; "if you two
people can't be happy in this glorious
place, with every luxury about you, and
only to speak to have whatever you
please, you deserve deeerve-thcre,
I don't know what you don't deserve r.
"Yes, dear, We do" said the lady
AAA0S0Ays A3A2 .AAOA0 ~OAASO0 uOo4 OOAAs
I'll run away; don't tell him I've been
crying. j. !; e j, .Issey4.. II sr,s
"stuffl Is it likely p 9 7 49,.
And, pray, pray Frank, don't let him
think that IehaYe. been murmu1ipg. It
would make him SO unhappy"
As she spoke she ran of, and Frank
Reston crossed the hall to meet his stall
Wart brother iu-4aw. who looked the
bean ideal Of Soountsy gentleman. and .
striking contrast to the pale, careworn
student, fresh from his gloomy chambers
in . toXn. S,.nt Z. / -.
to see you. "Why, yod pale, bleashsd
bookworm-here, come out in the open
air and let's eetsome color in your cheeks.
Come and have 8 look at the dogs"
They went and 5hadssa look at the
splendid settlers and TetriieeversS in their
kennels; and Is Reeton admired them
81. Al. !" said Audss. /" il my first wife
bad been alive how ehe would have
idolized those dogs .