The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-06-23
SELECTED STORY.
His First Wife,

Madison Janeway was always point
ed out as "self-made man." and was
apparently well satisfied with his own
handiwork, for content radiated from
his full face and from his figure, which
had lost its youthful muscle under creep
ing waves of flesh. Mr.. Janeway had
satisfied his ambitions as far as it is pos
sible for a man to do. Fortunately for
his content, these aspirations were of
the kind that are most often realized.
He had q handsome wife and three
bright children; he was president of
the State bank, an institution known TO
founded on the rock of sound finance;
he had been mayor of Shewanee, and
was member of the Legislature. So
much of earthly glory had fallen to his
share.
When he read the obituary OF an
other self-made man, he always nodded
his head sagely, as much as to say,
know how il goes; l started with moth
ing myself" In fact, Mr.. Janeways's
election to the Legislature came of the
admiration the electors had for man
of the people. When his constituents
hired band and went to congratulate
him, they found him ready with a
speech. He said: Fellow-citizens, l
will not try to hide from you my deep
qualification at the result of the cleo
ton. wanted to be elected. l have
wanted a good many things, and I've
generally got them, but not without
working. / started with nothing; /
did chores for my keep; / went to
school when could, picked up penny
here and penny there; l did any hon
est work that could find. And where
am l now? President of bank, ex-
mayor and a member of the Lsgisla-
ture. l thank you, friends, for your
votes, yet feel that / have won my
own way; that / am one, private per-
haps, in the great army OF self-made
men," He bowed, and retired amid
loud applause. In another this speech
would have provoked criticism, but one
of the privileges of the selfmade man
is to praise his make without stint.
Mr.. and Mrs. Janeway had but just
come from a visit to their own house,
which their architect assured them was
in the purest style of the Gothic renais-
sance. But they were sure, too, which
seemed to them of far more Importance,
that it was the finest house in town,
and quite eclipsed Mr.. Morgan's red
brick mansion.
They were to move into it at once,
and Mrs. Janeway went about the old
house planning what should be left be-
hind, as not coming up to the artistic
standard of the new place. "Come
here minute, Madison" she called
from an obscure entry back of the din
ing-room.
Mr.. Janeway laid down his paper
and went to her, followed by Florry,
their youngest child. "What is it, my
dear?" he asked.
"Hadn't l better pack this awayP
The frames 30 shabby that it isn't fit
for the new house." She pointed to a
faded photograph hanging in dark
corner. 1t was the likeness of plain
woman, with broad mouth, and eyes
widely separated; the hair was parted
and drawn back from the forehead like
two curtains; a watch chain picked out
in gilt encircled her neck, and her lips
and cheeks were touched by carmine,
giving the face CHASTITY pretence OF
life.
Mr.. Janeway stared at it meditative-
ly. 81 hadn't noticed it for long
time, he said.
"Who is that lady, papa?" Florry
asked, looking at the picture as if she
saw it for the first time.
"Why, Florry, that was my first
wife," he answered, surprised that she
had not known it before.
"Was she my mamma, too?"
"No, no." he replied, hastily; "she
was Sarah Deering."
"Wasn't she any relation to me?" the
child persisted. She was but eight
years old, and the ramifcations of kin
ship were yet mystery to her.
s'Of course not" her mother said
rather sharply. "Your papa was mar
ried to her when he was very young
long before he lived here or knew me,
l thought you had heard that before"
She turned to her husband. "Madison
shall lay this picture away?"
Mr.. Janeway looked at her atten'
lively. Was it zeal, or an artistic sense
or was there lurking jealousy of the
it away if you like" he said, turning
away. cit is shabby"
Long after his children and wife were
sleeping, Mr.. Janeway sat smoking, ant
thinking complacently of his success
nothing, and at fifty he had won tn,
iOhSCo iOl ~ tWCdtJ
The opening and closing of the doc
attracted at his attention. He looke'
up.
A woman walked across the room
plain woman, with an honest, ugly fac
and short, thick figure.
"Who are your" Mr.. Janeway asked
frowning at her intrusion.
"Don't you know me, Maddy?" sh
returned.
He was startled when she called hiI
Maddy-it was more than twenty veal
since he had been called that. Are
you--are-you-but you can't be Sarah,
he stammered; "she has been dea
these many years."
81 am Sarah," she answered. ego
have changed, Maddy."
"Yes, yes. We are apt to-" he r
piled uneasily But you look ju
the same" He said this to see if 81
would account for her presence.
The living can only see the dead
they were in life." she returne