Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-10-08
/ BasiI's First Wife.
3 BY ANNH SHIELDS.
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and asked IL he might bring his wife
TO my house, his home from infancy
or II he had better provide another one
for her, l answered at once:
"Come here and try it. II you are
happy, stay; II not, IL will be time
enough to seek 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 childless widow when she died
so 1t will be readily understood gave
the boy true mothers love. We live
Mt Stony Hill, my husbands legacy tc
me, spot abounding in natures beau
ties, in spite of its harsh name, and
we did not want for society, being only
two miles from fiourishing city.
1t was natural Basil should marry;
he was 22, 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 i knew; some one, per-
haps, L loved already. His letter was
full of praise of his wfe-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 filling the air with howls and
walls.
/ did not care that the girl was poor
Basil was rich, and would have, in addi-
ton to his fathers fortune, all had
10 leave. He had no need to seek .
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
lect, accomplishments or worth. Only
her beauty was the theme Of her hus-
bands praise.
When / saw her scarcely wondered
that the face of Basil's wife had ex-
cited such enthusiasm. They came
home in June, at early morning, and
drove from <he station to the house,
where, just after sunrise, / went out
upon the porch to meet them.
From the carriage there sprnng a
little figure dressed in all the colors
of the rainbow, bedecked with jewels
utterly sout of place upon a traveller.
as were the gay silk dress and feather
trimmed hat.
But the face under the hatl 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 velvety, 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, gentle difference
to my years and position, were sue
ceeded by petulance and restless VI
vacity.
She was a will-o'-the-wisp, butter
fly. a 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
sision of her wardrobe" he said to me.
HShe was married in calico dress and
a sun-bonnet, and her feet were bare.
OF course / gave her money, and she
bought what she pleased. l don't un-
5erstand 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, mov-
ing with a peculiar, darting movement
that threatened total annihilation to
INV nerves until became accustomed
to it.
"You are ashamed of mel" she cried.
"You are! You are!'
"Ellen!" he said, gently, his face
flushing; II can never be ashamed OF
my wife!"
He kissed her gravely and went out,
but she tore up and down the room like
a Gagged bird.
"He is ashamed of me-he isl" she
repeated, angry tears raining over her
hot cheeks. 81 saw it on the cars. l
saw It at the hotels. ] see it here. How
did I know he would be? He said he
loved me. and II would have died for
him! He praised me-he put me in
his pictures! He asked me to be his
wife! Twas all alone, and ! loved him!
I married him, but he never asked me
what knew-what l could do. He saw
the log cabin where my mother lay
dead! He knew the soldiers burned
down our house, killed my father! l
was too young to know the horror OF it!
am only 16 now. Then when we were
married and went to the city, ne was
a 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
NV fingers on my dress. Why didn't
he tell me before we were married?
Whv didn't he go away and leave me?
! would have killed myself! l had
rather kill myself than know he is
ashamed of mel"
All this was poured out with such
ranid utterance / could not interrupt
her by one word, and ! might as wei
have tried to catch butterfly as to
to,ch her as she paced rr and down.
sand now / set his teeth on edge!
was not listening. I heard him as l
came ip. never bought things before.
They told me at the stores what to buy,
and all they showed me were pretty!
Why aid hs not come toe and tsll met