Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-01-09
VI0LA'S HUSBAND.


Viola Clayton laid down tho photo
graph with low, mirthlsss laugh.
IL was the photograph Of u man-.mid
die aged, bearded and stupid-lookiDg--
a more unprepossessiDg face 1t woult
BE- hard TO conceive.
And this cloi-bopper IL 10 be my
husband p snsored the girl THAT Ia
he Is willing TO bs If ! will have him
and | must, suppose" with Q
glance around the little, dull room, &C
companied by dismal sigh; yea,
must have him can't go on teaching
school to the end Of my days ~
The poor girl was in sud plight In
deed. Born 70 and brought up in DIFF
ferent circumstances, death and Imam
cial disaster bad deprived her ofall she
held dear upon earth, and reduced hel
to the hard necessity Of facing thu
world and working her way single
handed.
Nothing remained to her but to try
b hand at school teaching.
Through application 10 An agency she
heard Of Il vacancy in u stupid littl.
New England village, which paid fivs
dollars a week aud found her board.
There was no alternative.
To MunsDn's Corners she must 60
and struggle Tor nint months OF thu
year with Muuson Cornsred young
IDEAS.
Her nticipations were Of the gloom.
lest, nor was she disappointed.
IL was q hard ,un0ougenial life Visols
led among a vet OF rustics with whom
she had nothing In common, but sht
plodded on bravely, without. hope, thank
ful only that she had no one 10 thanh
for the bread she ate.
You may call her foolish girl, never
the los you cannot but respect her. And
be 1t said to the honor Of our country
there are not few like her.
After two years and = half Of exist
ence at Munson's Corners, and wheI
her spirit WAS well.nigh spent and he
fortune ut an end, came q letter from he
aunt, which to the d0wn.trodden CIR
seemed Ikea reprieve.
One passage from this missive will OK
plain itself.
"And now, my dear VIOLA" il ran
shall insist upon you passing thu
Christmas holidays with US. / know
that you will have two weeks TO your
self, and unless you accept my invita-
ton this time, shall consider II as {
personal affront and an objectionable
neglect of your dear mothers sister.
do not hesitate to say that l anticipate
great results from your visit. A gen.
tleman Of our acquaintance, Bertram
Harland by name, has fallen desperate.
ly In love with your photograph In Ell.
las album. Mr.. Aarland is fine,
manly fellow, one after my own heart
and AZ wealthy as LIE IL noble and high
toned. Oh. Viola, dear, since you will
not come and let me care for you az my
own child, how inexpressibly happy
should be II you could reciprocato Ber
trans infatuation and some day be hit
happy wife, Tor he Ii worthy Of you
Ella has promised to secure his photo
graph and will send it to you within a
few days."
The romantic thrill which this i'm,
po7tant letter had engendsred in Viola,
breast was destined To be dashed
to earth by the receipt Of her cousin
Elias letter containing the photograph
of the man who had seen fit to honor
her with his admiration.
At first overwhelming disgust had
taken possession of her, to be succeeded
by d desperate resolve TO better hel
fortunes in spite Of the odds therefore
she prepared her slim wardrobe, and
one week before merry Christmas day,
she took her seat In tho train for sr
eight hour ride.
For while the novelty Of her posi-
ton, coupled with the exhiliration Of
travel, occupied her mind, but Az thu
long day waned, she gradually settled
down TO . contemplation of the un
known fate that was In store for her.
About dusk, the "express " paused
at Worcester, its last halt before reach
ing its destination.
There was crash Of people entering
and departing, and amid the confusion
Viola heard o low, melodious voice
close ut her side.
EXCUSE me-" said the voice, "buI
you look 80 pale and tired that venture
to ask If l may get you cup Of tea
This il our last STOP"
Viola raised her eyes with start,
and found herself confronted BY n.
handsome q man AZ 1t had ever been
her good fortune to look upon.
"Thank you," she replied with a
conscious blush, ~ should be glad Of
. cup Of tea"
The young gallant was evidently
charmed by her unaffected frankness,
and for the remaining hour Of their
journey he made himself most agreeable
in perfectly respectful fashion.
Arrived in this city, tho gentleman
placed her i'll a cab, and bowling deep
", left her completely mystified.
"To-morrow evening Bertram will
dine with us" said Aunt Lane, as she
kissed her niece good. night, and slsly
pinched Viola's cheek you must
like him, dear you will, for you
you can't help It,"
With no pleasurable anticipations
Viola descended to the parlor on the
following evening to meet her fate.
He was not present, but to her con
fusion, her handsome travelling com.
panion was seated chatting with Mrs.
Lane.
The moment Viola entered the room
the aunt beaminply pronounced the In.