The Osceola times., 1883-07-14
If MY FIRST WIFE
BY q. MANvILLE FEM.


"Ah, my darling little sis, how are
you? -? 'Lesbia hath beaming eye.'"
any dear Frank l am glad to see
you
There was an embrace, and the Lady
burst into tears.
"Lesbia hath not beaming eye! p"
cried Frank Reston, barrister, who had
just leaped down from the dog-cart after
a cold drive from the station at Ramford,
to his brether-in-law's handsome place,
the Coppioes, Calkston, where that new
relative had settled after his return from
Australia, where he had been-the
younger son of good old country family
to see what he could do at what is
euphoniously termed sqlatter. He
had squatted TO some advantage, the
Fates having been kind; and, after max.
ing moderate fortune, he had suddenly
doubled il by marrying the daughter OF
a colonial magnate.
At the lady's desire-her will being
paramount-they were on their way to
England, when one night they were
awakened by an awful crash, and, crush.
ing on deck, they found all confusion
Some vessel had run into them during a
fog, cut the great Australian liner down
below the waters edge, and during the
next half-hour there was fight for life
John Audas behaved admirably
When the rush was made for the boats
he knocked down half dozen towards
one after the other, and by sheer
strength helped the captain to send of
the first boat properly manned, with
half the women passengers, merely stip-
ulating 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 en-.
sued, the other boats were filed anyhow
and at last the captain, second mate, hal
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 then
overheard, and trust themselves TO thi.
ffail support before the vessel went
down.
From this raft they were picked NJ
exhausted, half dead, by passing ship
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 ii was that John Audas found
himself widower Mt thirty-6ve and fal
from inconsolable, for reFort said hi,
existence with the colonial magnate hat
been of the kind to which some peopl,
give very unpleasant term.
So little indeed was the handsolc,
young colonist affected by his loss tha
after settling down at the Coppices
where he reveled in the life of coun
try gentleman, year had hardly passeC
before he was a suitor for the hand Les
bi, Reston, the daughter of the old vical
of Calkstcn, and the belle of the coun
try ball.
Matters followed one another in tn,
same prosaic way. John Audas was be
yond ropioach for a son-in-law. his WOO
ing was downright and honest: and tn,
lady found the bluff, srin-hrowned. wei
informed iellow-albeit he was far from
clever-qttite contrast and relief afie
the insipid locals Of the neighborhood
IN the resul, was that, after rather shor
intimacy, John Audas proposed, was ac
cepted. Frank Reston came from tn,
Temele TO present at his sisters weddin.
and now that, six months later. he hat
run down to spend a few DAYS at tn,
Coppiccs, to have little shooting. h,
found her thin, pale, careworn and read,
at word to burst into tears.
"Why little Lisby," he cried with al
his old petting ways, what is it? surel,
Jack is not behaving badly to your"
"No. Oh no, IT is nothingi Frank
am little hysterical."
"But it is somethingw he exclaimed
"I'll have it out with John"
my dear Frank, you'll make m,