St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-11-13
! Basil's First Wife.
) eY HNNH SHIELDS.
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NTHEN Basil wrote to me from
wv Virginia that he was married,
end asked Il he might bring his wife
TO my house, his home from infancy,
Or If be had better provide another one
sor her. ! answered at once:
''Come here and try II. II you are
happy, stay; If not, 1t win be time
enough ia seek a new home after test
Ing the old one"
| But the letter gave me sore pain.
Basil was my charge from the time
his parents died and left him, baby.
inheriting large fortune. to my care.
His mother was my twin sister. and ]
was o childless widow when she died.
so it will be readily understood gave
the boy true mothers love. We live
at Stony Hill. my husbands legacy to
me. spot abounding In natures beau
ties. in spite OF It's harsh name, and
we did not want for society, being only
two miles from a dourishing city.
1t was natural Basil should marry;
he was 20. had studied profession.
though he devoted his time to painting
In an amateur fashion that promised
no great results; was wealthy, hand
some and a thorough gentleman by
birth and education.
But ] had hoped he would marry one
OF the ladies l knew; some one, per-
haps, loved already. His letter was
full Of praise of his wife-but who was
she? He had found her when on a
sketching trip through Virginia, in a
wild part OF the country. Her mother
was lying dead, and two old negroes
were filing the air with howls and
walls.
/ did not care that the girl was poor.
Basil was rich, and would have, in addi-
tion to his fathers fortune, all I had
TO leave. He had no need to seek q
wealthy bride. But was afraid he
had married for beauty only. Not one
word could / find. in most careful
perusal. in praise of the brides intel
lects accomplishments or worth. Only
her beauty was the theme Of her hus-
bands praise.
When saw her scarcely wondered
that the face OF Basil'a wife had eg-
cited such enthusiasm. They came
home In June, at early morning, and
drove from the station to the house,
where, just after sunrise, I went out
..x,ox n v,or.oh IN 1onat.fhary, e
From the carriage there sprang q
little figure dressed in all the colors
of the rainbow, bedecked with jewels
utterly out Of place upon traveller.
as were the gay silk dress and feather
trimmed hat.
But the face under the hat! How
can describe It? A perfect oval, with
features of classic regularity, but with
out any of the coldness that usually
accompanies classic beauty. For the
dark complexion. pure, clear olive, was
crimson-tinted on lips and cheeks, the
eyes. large, brilliant eyes, were yet
soft and yelyety, and the black hair was
glossy and luxuriant.
Every moment the expression was
changing in those glorious eyes, the
sensitive mouth. Child-like pleasure
in the new home, q gentle Difference
to my years and position, were sue.
ceeded by petulance and restless Vi
vacity. !.
She was will-o'-the-wisp, butter
fly, q wasp. loved her In two minutes.
and my love never lessened. But even
then knew Basil had made fatal
mistake.
do, Aunt Martha. take some super
vision Of her wardrobe" )" he said to me.
.sShe was married in q calico dress and
sun-bonnet, and her feet were bare.
OF course I gave her money. and she
bought what she pleased. ] don't un-
derstand women's dress, but hers set
my teeth on edge
And just as he spoke she flashed In.
She never seemed to me to walk, NOV
ing with peculiar, darting movement
that threatened total annthilation TO
my nerves until became accustomed
TO 1t.
"You are ashamed OF mel" she cried.
'You are! You Rrel"
"Ellenl" he said. gently. his face
flushing; II can never be ashamed OF
my wifel"
He kissed her grayely and went ont.
but she torelup and down the roomlike
8 Gagged bird.
HE is ashamed OF me-he isl" she
repeated, angry tears raining over her
hot cheeks. i saw it on the cars.
saw it at the hotels. see ii here. How
did I know he would be? He said he
loved me, and IL would have died for,
him! He praised nae-he put me in.
his picturesl He asked me to be his
wife! was all alone, and loved him!
7 married him, but he never asked me
what knew-what I could do. He saw
the log cabin where my mother lay
dead! He knew the soldiers burned
down our house, killed my fatheri ]
was too young to know the horror OF It'll
/ am only 16 now. Then when we were
married and went to the city, he was
ashamed because he asked me to read
the newspaper one morning and / never
learned to read. Why didn't he ask me
before we were married? He told me
! must not eat with my knife, or wipe
my fingers on my dress. Why didn't
he tell me before we were married?
Why didn't he go away and leave me7
7 would have killed myself! I had
rather kill myself than know he Is
ashamed OF meln