New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
IF MY FIRST WIFE
BY G. MANVILLE FEM.


Lesbia has not beaming eye cried Frank Res
ton barrI.ter who had Just leaped down from the
g-cart after "A cold drive from the station at Ram
ford. to his brother-in- avs handsome place. the
Coppices Calkston, where thai new relative nh hu
mad bcen seDt-the younger son OF n good Ola
country family-to zee what he conld do as what Is
euphOnously termed a sgnatter; lie had sqnatted
IN some advantage the Fates having been kind
and nf, er making n moderate fortune, he had sud
denly doubled it by marrying the widow OF colo
nial magnate. III, ; .,
,brv were on their way to England. when one night
they we're awakened 10y an awful crash, anu, rush
lag oD deck, they found all IN confusion some some
vessel naa run into thep during 10y. cut the great
Anstrni liner down below the waters edge, aud dur
mo the next half hour there was fight for he
John Audas behaved adnraDlvi n9n ihe nu ,, Il
dozen towards one alter the other, aud by sheer
strength helped the captain TO send oil the hrat
boat properly manned win han me women Pr Is
<rlv win should he one. Then he helped with the
ueXt and got that oil safely, before being over
powered for mad Insh ensnch' tne DINER Don, !
mate half n dozen men and the bravo voung pass
enror were left alone upon the deck OF the sinking
ship. with Just tine enonah 10 Ia'n rev 1pans
selves to this frail support before the vessel went
down. ,.,
baIt dead nv a passing ship, having seen no more
of the boats all of which were lost. presumably, IN
the Gale which came before many hours had
passed and thus ii was that Jonh And9 $50 io"Dd
ronsOlable for report SAID his existence with the
rrlct Of the colonial magnate had been Of the KIND
TO which some people give u very unpleasant Term
fleet, bv his loss that. alter settling down at the
C'oppices where he reyecd IN the life OF country
gcnteman year ar vi Ta rsha Rrston hc daneEter
of the old vicar of Calkston and the belle OF the
comfy la l. ,. ,
way. John Audas was beyond reproach for SON
in-law: his wOOiug was downright anu honest I;
and the lady found the bluff sun Drowned. well
formed fellow albeit ihe was lar from clever-quite
n contrast and relief after the insIpid locals OF
tho neiRhhOrhood the result was that. AFTER
rather a short int macy. John Audas proposed. was
acceptnd Frank RestOn cam6 from the Temple 10
he present at his sisters wedding and now that six
months lister. he had run down To spend few ddvs
at the Coppces, to nave little shooting lie ionnd
her thin. pale. carcworn and ready at word to
WHY. lttIe Lesby.' he cried with all his old pct
ting wavs what is VI Surely Jack is not behaving
o" 10. Ohm 1t is nothing. Frank: am little
But it is something" he exclaimed. I'll have it
ont with John.
s,y dear Frank, you'll make me wretched if You
'Oh' we'll. If you take that tone. of course will
not said her brother: but came Town h.Ie inr u
/ est aud to have bit OF enjoyment, and ma you
Yes, yes, and it's all my nonsense, Frank. dear;
There. rs all gone now. It's The weather THINK
Either in the stables, OF down the garden, dear
I'll send for him ~
oh, I'll % and look him up. suppose neil 10
:Why' of conrse. dear lie has been talking
about nothing else since he heard you were coming.
and making no end Of plans.
All thatfs right said Frank Reston smiling.
And Fm so glad you've come, Frank. dear. J on
see I'm afraid I'm not much OF COMPANY Tor dear
John--not such good company as-as think MS
first wife was.
We'll. you're deal better company than she is
now. .-...,. ,,--
snts; hut I'm 50 stupid, Frank. that I'm afraid he
Gets ont OF patience.
I'm toll you what it Is, Iesby' said Frank Reston
bluptiy; il YOU two people can't be happy IN
this glorious place. with every luxury about you.
and only to speak to have Whatever yon please. yOn
desorvo-you deserve-there. l oont know what
Yes. dear we do said tho lady meekly. 'Ah.
here comes dear John. I'll run away; don't toll
him I've been crying.
And pray pray Frank. don't let him think that
! have been murmuring 1t would make him so
the hall to meet his sawart brotber-in-law. who
looked the beau ideal OF country gentleman, and
striking cGntra,t to The pale, caroworn student
An, Frank. my dear boy am glad to SCI you.
Why, yon pale, blcached bookYorm-here, come
cheeks Come ana have Il look AT the dogs
They went and had look ut the splendid settlers
and retrievers III their kennels, and as Reston adj
mired them
All, said Audas If my first wife had been alive
how she would have idolized those dogs
Better have Idolized you said Reston bluntly.
Yes of course said Audas. in ncwise appeased.
Well have a grand ride or two willis you here.
Come over to tine stables. I've got h marc that
W i'll sui You toaT i. There he SAID, as he patted
first one and then another satin-skinned beauty,
Lnn1 mad t.lfl al
head-stall for the expected bit Of sweet carrot or
cake they're right, aren't theyf All, if my first
wife had been alive she would have loved a few
gaops over Some of the wolds.
'Humph, would she Y said Reston.
Yes; she asplendd woman on horseback.
Well come in now and dress ana etS get to dinner
don quest and with his brother ln-laws hand
resting upon his shoulder. they went
in, and in due time dined.
Rut somehow that was not 80 pleasant a meal an
il might have been and the acute barriser was not
long in finding that the grit that showed itself III
the cooking the acidity in the wine and the jar in
the conversation on, was an que 20 one thing which
Jack loves her. said Frank Reston 10 himself
as he lay in bed that night, she worships hnl, and
but not oyer-wse. Lesby ia the most amiable
little darling that ever breathed. and yet they don't
seem as they should be. Hang his first wife
Humph well. no she's deceased What fool tie
man 10 10 poison his cup Of happiness like this BY
Jove, what good thing II would be If Lesby had
u dangerous NJ OF sckhess' IL Woul III bring JACK 10
his senses. nd-heigh, ha, ba, hum, how sleepy
am-and-
That WAS all for he dropped of to sleep at once
But he had similar thoughts to these every night
duriLg his stay. and again on his way back TO Lon
Ion after doubling the length Of his visit. and
hen his brother-in-aw being half offended because
no would not rs Audas said make Il few more
days
If my first wife had boon alive. If my first vile
had been aliyev tho very beat OF the train seemed
TO pour those words III Frank Reston's ears "a he
sped south. and thought over the matrimonial sit
uation ut the Coppices.
Poor little Lesby He'll break her heart he
said % himself. do not wonder at it. She feels
jealously miserable about that first wife. wish
now had spoken to jack
mo, don't he said after little moro thinking
II would not have been wise
Perhaps something may happen to bring him TO
his senses he said, after another pause some
thing alwa, does happen
And then he read The TINES till he reached town.