News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-08-28

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broker in the city, and like many
other brokers, he was possessed of a
small house and garden in one of the
outlying suburban towns, to which
he was won't to retire when his days
work was over. He was, in short, a
! plain, everyday merchant, about
thirty years old, and by no means
lacking in manly beauty.
Mr. Matthias Coddleman certainly
seemed to be very matter-of-fact
and good young man, for he regularly
attended to his business, and was,
moreover, the superintendent of a
| Sunday-school in the town where he
lived. He was nevertheless possessed
of a romance, and a very substantial
romance it was, weighing, | should
think, nearly 200 pounds; for Mr..
Matthias was married.
This is how it came about. Some
two years before the time at which /
write, he had taken his summer out
ing at one of the popular seaside re-
sorts, and there had met for the first
time the future Mrs. Coddleman.
Eta Sayles, as she was then, was a
plump and pretty maiden, under the
charge of an old aunt, her father be-
ing dead, and her mother and only
sister in Europe.
Etta's aunt had but one failing,
and that was the Patagonian saw
ages. On learning of the deeply re-
ligious nature of Mr.. Matthias, this
estimable gentle-wOman pounced up
on him forthwith; and SO much was
she interested in discussing with him
plans for the conversion of these
heather, that she never perceived the
conversion of Eta, as effected by
Love and Mr. Coddleman, till it was
too late. AS Mrs. Sayles was a great
invalid and had gone to Europe for
her health, it seemed useless to wait
for her return. So after much letter
writing and discussion, itwas decided
that the young couple should be
married, and they were the next
spring.
They had now been man and wife
for more than a year, and thus far
nothing had occurred to mar their
tranquility. Indeed, there was no
reason why there should, for Mrs.
Matthias believed her husband to be
perfection, and Mr.. Matthias returned
the compliment. His wife, indeed, al
most merited that belief, for she had
but two failings; one failing of eye
sight, and the other a most inOrdl-
nately Jealous disposition. Of the
first of these failings her husband was
aware; of the second he knew moth
ing, because he was such "a thoroughly
good young man that even his jeal-
Gus wife could find nothing to carp
at.
The day OF the 10th of July, 1875,
was noted for two things: the arrival
of Mr.. Coddleman's sister-in-law from
Europe and the arrival of the green
eyed monster, jealousy, i'll his house
hold.
Shortly before the time of which |
write, Mrs. Sayles had died abroad,
and her daughter was now returning
to live with her married sister. The
day in question opened auspiciously
enough, for, though sultry, it was
very beautiful. As Mr. and Mrs.
Coddleman rode into town that
morning, he to his business and she
to meet her sister, no pair of turtle
doves could have been more devoted.
Before the train had proceeded far on
its way, however, an accident occur
red to ruffie the composure of Mrs.
Matthias, and this was the loss of her
| glasses.
"Oh, Mattp' she cried, when she
had discovered the fact, Il have left
my glasses behind me at home; what
shall | do? Why, | should not know
my sister without them unless she
was within three feet of me-
Well, my love-" replied he, sit
strikes me that as you can't find her
without them, and can't go back to
get them, the best thing will be for
you to wait at the station and let her
find you"
His wife agreed with him in this,
and SO the matter ended
All through the heat of the day Mr..
Coddleman toiled at his desk, stop
ping occasionally to wonder how he
should like his sister-in-law, whom he
had never met, and whether she had
yet found his wife When four O'Clock
came he arose from his work and
sought the railway station with Joy.
All the trouble of that unfortunate
afternoon arose from his eXtrava-
gance, tor as he knew that the com
mon car would be both hot and
crowded, he determined to treat him
self to the luxury of a drawing-room
seat
Entering the first of the coaches he
found it full, and passing through it
secured one of the two remaining
chairs in the forward car. He had
scarcely settled himself when, just as
the train started, the porter showed
lady, laden with many bags and
bundles, to the remaining seat. Just
then the car gave a lurch, and before
she could seat herself, her baggage
flew in every direction. As the porter
had meanwhile disappeared, Matthias
came to the rescue and collected hel
scattered belongings.
$50 kind of you she murmured
as she sank back in her seat with g
sigh of comfort.
"Not at ALL, he replied, "but yor
should have some one to assist yOU