The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-11
i" Yes" said Cntbbert


at heart. The'truth flashed upon him. He
knew why he was so happy at that simple
home. He loved his friends wife. The
feeling had come to him. He had had no
thought that it could be. He had done
nothing man should not do. He could nc
more help it than he could have helped
sudden attack OF illness, or a lightning
stroke; but it was true. Ii was true, he
loved her; and this the first love of his life,
and love at first sight at that, had come to
him when he was nearly forty, a stronger,
deeper, and, as he felt, more enduring
passion than he could have harbored in his
heart ct one-and-twenty.
His friends wife, yirtuous matron, sit
ting amongst her children, unconscious OF
his thoughts. Well, at least, he was only
pitiable wretch. He had said nothing, done
nothing, to show it. He had not suspected
thought life sweeter than it had ever beer
before. Oh, so much sweeter! And now
ne would do the only thing gentleman
and man OF honor conld do. He would
leave the dangerous spot He would rise
with the dawn, and before he could see that
sweet woman again, would quit the house.
He sat down and wrote this little note tina.
night, with a trembling hand and eyes thai
could scarcely see the paper; - g
Mrs. FrELDNa-Dear Madam Sudde1
news has reached me which compels me tc
leave ct once. | cannot even wait to thank
you for your kind Hospitality. Give my
love to my dear old friend, whom I hope to
see soon. Yours truly,
BENJAMIN CurHBERr.
This he enveloped, sealed, and gave tic
black Sam scraping his fiddle in the kitch.
en-.
He did not sleep MITCH that night Albert
Edward cried terrifcally with long, cat-like
squalls and choking sobs, and his light
drew number of curious winged things
into his room that buzzed about, and crack
led the newspaper, and licked in the sur
oase, and rustled in the curtains. At day.
break, unrefreshed and very miserable, he
took his portmanteau in his hand and shut
the door behind him
Goodbye, dear woman, he said, sadly.
g Goodbye forever He looked at certain
window as he spoke it was quite the wrong
room; but that WAS not the only mistake
he had made and then walked to the sta
lion, accommodating alternate layers of dust
and mud on his boots, and, breakfastless
and forlorn, took the earliest morning train
cityward.
He had been trying to forget his folly foi
two good weeks, when one morning some
body asked for him, and that somebody
proved to be no other than his old frend,
Richard Fielding. Hnnds clasped and kind
words passed. and then Fielding cried in
his own hearty, honest way
q But why didn't you stay at my house,
Benz I should have been SO glad. Cathrine
says it was too stupid, My wife says the
baby kept you awake It's a frightful little
squaller. Splendid child, though, weighs
fourteen pounds. Nurse Smith says You
asked after it so kindly when you met her
on the stairs she thought it must be sick
Quite unfortunate, your coming when was
away and my wife couldn't entertain YOU
q Mrs. Fielding was most kind" said
Cuthbert.
{" Oh! yes, Cathrine would do ner best
out my wife is different said Mr.. Fielding,
spreading his hands abroad. Ny wife has
plons6, md all that--the life of every COM
pany she is in-good talker. Now Cathrine,
nice, domestic little woman, is very quiet
q little serious and silent, Ell ?"
Who is Cathrine ?" asked Cuthbert,
with wildly beating heart.
/" Cathrine was Mrs jefferson Fielding.
You remember poor JEFF. She's his widow.
She's lived with us for years. The children
adore her. You know she says she never
said anything about the new baby didn't
like to. / wonder why not But Nurse
Smith says you must have known, for you
asked after it; and it's shrek, no baby over
four weeks shrieks like that. Or course you
know, Cuthbert"
II don't know. Pm an old bachelor. !
laid it oil to Albert Edward" said Mr..
Cuthbert ~ made several mistakes in
your family. / couldn't think why Nurse
Smith carried SO many trays of provision
upstairs, and II thought your brothers
widow was your wife" 5..
"Poor little sister. in law !" said Fielding.
" Yes, yes, a nice body, but not Amelia
Jane. She is quite another person.
Thank Heaven" gasped Cuthbert.
g see how it ia thought Fielding,
" Cathrine has been prm aud dull or Of
Tended him somehow. Come down with me
Amelia Jane ia up now and wan's you to SEE
baby" said Fielding.
Cuthbert went. 9l3tk ~
All the way along he sang song Of re.
joicing to himself He had not fallen in
love with Fielding's wife he had nothing
to DO ashamed Of. There was no harm in
adoring Jefferson's widow.
Standing at the railway station one day
To think" said Mrs. Richard Fielding
how things come about. Who would have
dreamt that your friend was coming here to
marry Cathrine Well, it's good match
for both. Pm delighted" i.a tsfa
- So am T." said the husband. Then they
waved their kerchiefs TO the departing bride
and bridegroom, and went home together
Mary Kyle Dallas.
TIE CUTTER OF THE PERIOD.