Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-05
If MY FIRST WIFE :

MY dear Frank. l am glad to see
you"
"Lesbia has not beaming ever
cried Frank Reston, barrister, who had
just leaped down from the dog-cari
after cold drive from the station al
Ramford to his brother-in-law's hand
some place, the Coppices, Calkston
where that new relative had settled
after his return from Australia, where he
had been sent the younger son of 8
good old country family-to see whai
he could do as what is euphoniously
termed a squatter. He had squatted tc
some advantage, the fates having been
kind; and, after making moderate
fortune, he had suddenly doubled it by
marrying the widow of a colonial
magnate.
At the lady's desire-her viii being
paramount-they were on their way to
England, when one night they were
awakened by an awful crash, and, rush
ing on deck, they found all in confus
ion. Some vessel had run into them
during fog, cut the great Australian
liner down below the waters edge. and
during the next half hour there was q
fight for life.
John Audas behaved admirably.
When the rush was made for the boats,
he knocked down half a 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
STIMULATING that his shrieking, elderly
wife should be one. Then he helped
with the next and got that off safely,
before being oyerpowered, for a mad
rush ensued, the other boats were fill
ed anyhow, and at last the captain,
second mate, half dozen men and the
brave young passenger were left alone
upon the deck of the sinking ship, with
just time enough TO lash a few spars
together, throw them overheard, and
thrust 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 a widower, at
thir.y-fve and far from inconsolable,
for report said his existence with the re-
lict of the colonial magnate had been of
the kind to which, some people give a
very unpleasant term.
So little indeed was the handsome
young colonist affected by his loss that.
after settling down at Coppices, where
he revealed in the life of country
gentleman, year had hardly passed
before he was a sutton for the hand of
Lesbia Reston, the daughter of the old
vicar of Calkston, and the belle of the
country ball
Matters followed one another in the
most prosaIc way. John Audas was
beyond reproach for a son-in-law; his
wooing was downright and honest; and
the lady found the bluff, sun-browned,
well-informed fellow-albeit he was far
from clever-quite a contrast and relief
after the insipid ''locals' of the neigh
bOrhood; so the result was that, after
rather short intimacy, John Audas
proposed, was accepted, 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
a few days at the Coppices, to have a
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?
Surely Jack is not behaving badly to
you?''
mo. Oh, no! 1t is nothing, Frank;
/ am a little hysterical.o
''But it is something's he exclaimed.
'I'll have it out with john
"My dear Frank, you'll make me
if you say n word. "
"Oh, well, if you take that tone, of
course will not said her brother;
'but / came down here for rest and
have bit of enjoyment, and find you
in tears"
"Yes, yes, and it's all my nonsense,
Frank, dear. There, It's all gone now.
It's the weather, | think,"
where's John?"
EITHER in the stables, or down the
garden, dear. I'll send for him."
"Oh, I'll go and look him up. | sup
pose he'll be glad to see me?''
why, of course, dear. He has been
talking about nothing else since he
heard you were coming. and making
no end of plans
"Ah, that's right said Frank Res
ton, 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 company as-as think his
first wife was.
"Well. you're n deal better company
than she is now"
'rll try very hard to take an interest
in his pursuits; but I'm SO stupid, Frank,
that I'm afraid he gets out of pa
tience."
'I'll tell what il is, Lesby," said
Frank Reston bluntly; ''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-you deserve
there, l don't know what you don't
deserved
Eyes, dear, we do" said the lady
meekly. "Ah, here comes dear John
I'll run away; don't tell him I've been
crying"
stuff! Is it likely?"
And, pray, pray, Frank, don't let
him think that | have been murmur-
ing. 1t would make him so unhappy. "
As she spoke she ran off. and Frank
Reston crossed the hall to meet his
stalwart brother-in-law, who looked
the beau ideal of q country gentlemen,
and striking contrast to the pale,
f,sA,, Ia
gloomy chambers in town.
''Ah, Frank, my dear boy, am. glad
to see you. Why, you pale, bleached
bookworm here, come out in the open
air, and let's get some color in your
checks. Come and have look at the
dogs"
They went and had look at the
splendid settlers and retrievers in theil
Kennels, and rs Reston admired them
"Ah,n said Audas, ''if my first wife
had been alive, how She would have
idolized those dogs
Better have idollzed you" said Res
ton bluntly.
''Ies, of course. said Aadas, in no
wise appeased Gwen have a granC
ride or two while you are here. Come
over to the stables. I've got n mar,
that will suit you to a T. "There," h,
said, rs he patted first one and thel
another satin-skinned beauty, as
turned its head around with rattle o
the hcad-stall for the expected bit Q
sweet carrot or cake, they're right
aren't they? All. if my first wife ha
been alive, she would have loved fey
gallops over some of the wolds.
"Humphi would she?'' said Restor