The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-08-26
THE STORY OF EVA RAY,

school together. Surely 1t is better to
love than to hate. Gladys Martin was
prettier than |. Gladys was my cousin,
and when Frank was twenty-five he
suddenly discovered that she was the
girl he wanted for wife, offered him.
self and was accepted.
Now, when heard that from her own
lips, went away tony room for awhile,
and knelt down beside the bed and
prayed for my soul. For felt the most
unreasonable anger and jealousy thrill
me from head to foot.
And why should feel so? Only satan
knew, was assured-only satan. And
when arose from my knees l had con-
quered him within me. was Franks
friend, who loved him as a sister, and
nothing more, and ! went to the we'd
ding, and was first bridesmaid to Gladys,
and said to myself that there were some
women to whom love and joy were given
and some who had their duties to per-
form, and that was of the latter sort
and Cousin Gladys of the former.
Frank Barron was only poor doctor,
and Cousin Gladys had nothing. But l
was rich, and when they went to the
country town where he was to practice,
went with them. l had lost my relish
for the gay life had led in the city, and
had made up my mind to be spinster,
and felt that could do great deal for
Frank and Gladys. She was one who
never thought of the future and could
not manage small income well, l knew.
And so it proved. She never guessed
nor did he--how much trouble they
would have had but for me.
As 1t was. every one was saying what
q pretty home they had, and how we'll
the young wife cared for it, and how
nicely she dressed.
AS for me, they knew me as Mrs. Bar
ron's cousin, Eyangeline Ray, and I
think many thought me poor one.
What did care so that Gladys and
Frank were happy and fond of me?
After awhile there was some one else to
love-a little girl baby, who soon grew
to believe that there was no one else like
Aunt Evangeline, and later came boy.
When he was but two years old there
was sent to Gladys cablegram from
England, where her grandfather mo kin
Of mine, for we were cousins on the
mothers side, and he was her fathers
father) lay dying. He wished Gladys to
come to him-to remain with him for
the few months he had to live, and prom
ised that il she would he would leave her
his fortune.
Duty and interest both called upon her
to go, but still she cried out, How could
shep Ahi how could she-how could
she leave the babies and brave the sea
alone? Where were the needful things
for voyage to be got at moments no.
tice? What should she do? But I had
crossed tho ocean thrice and knew what
to do. / had her trunks packed and all in
them that she could want while she was
still wondering what to do And took
her to the steamer and left her with peo-
pie whom l knew who happened to be
going on the same boat--as If she were q
child. She seemed 80 young and fair
and girlish that no one could believe
that she had been married SO many years,
and I could see that she would enjoy
herself for all her pretty terrors, and her
last words were: "Take care of Frank
and the babies. wouldn't leave them
with any one but you. You are our
guardian angel"
was glad. 1t is SO much to me to
be loved, and always was and always
will be.
] went back to Frank and the children.
The old servant, half cook. half house,
keeper, whom had engaged, and who
knew how managed to make Frank
and Gladys believe that they lived on
what would never have sufiiced for half
their needs, made 1t a proper thing for
me to stay. Indeed, the idea that it was
not proper never had crossed either Of
our minds.
We were very quiet after Gladys was
gone. Sometimes fancied that Frank
looked more content than he usually
did. Gladys. though so pretty and gay
in company, had way of fretting him
in private. Our time was half taken up
In soothing her Now and then she
quarreled with him because, working as
he did at his profession, he had little
time for company. She wanted him to
change his nature, it seemed to me.
Now no one bothered him. l kept the
children in their little nursery, and in
the evening when he sat down with us,
IL he were not called away, let him
lead the talk, as men like to do.
! knew, too, what callers he would
like to see, and which to entertain my
self, and, Of course, being only his wife's
cousin, did not expect him to spend
any time entertaining me.
However, he often drove me out
with the children, of course-and we
enjoyed the ride. And the poorer pa
TENTS fell to asking to see me and tell
ing me their troubles, and when could
help them did.
"You'd make a far better doctors
wife than the real one does" an old
woman said to me once. "She turns up
her nose at us poor folks, and seems to
think my ailments always something
catching. God send ye doctor Of your
own, missp
I laughed, but was glad Frank Bar
ron did not hear her.
We got a letter from Gladys as soon
as she reached London. Her grandfather
was dying of cancer, she said, and might
live long while, and indeed he did.
She wrote, but not very often, and the
months went by and year was gone.
Then the poor old gentleman died, and
still there were things to be done about
the win. Five months more went, and
then indeed she wrote that she was COM
ing. She named the steamer, and we
heard Of its sailing.
Then nothing more. What happened
no one knew--no one will ever know. A
piece Of her hulk was all that was ever
found, and there was woe in England
and woe in America. Husbands and
fathers, sons and daughters, and many a
woman's true love had gone down in
midocean with no power to send fare
well word to any one.
And Gladys Barron was among them
Our Gladys-Frank's wife.